This is an interview I conducted with Sharon when her book, The Secret Life of Becky Miller, came out. Enjoy...

You've been blessed with several book contracts, what one skill do you believe has helped you earn those book contracts?

To be honest, it's simple: Availability. I try to show up each morning and pray, "Lord, here I am. If I can write something to bring you joy, and something to comfort and encourage others, I'm ready for your help and guidance."

Then I lean heavily into Him. The truth is that I don't have the patience, skill, brilliance, creativity, or courage that writing requires. But He has those qualities and gives me a little measure as needed.

Reading your "Secret Life Of Sharon" web page, we can see you've had a rather adventurous life with much dabbling. What is it about writing that intrigues you enough to keep you coming back for more?

All of my life I've been deeply impacted by books that I've read. Some of my early mentors were authors I never met-yet their stories affected me and shaped my choices and the way I see the world.

It's exciting to be part of that world. Since reading is such a joy to me, it's been exciting to do my own story-telling; especially blending aspects of different genres. In my first novel, I write contemporary first-person light women's fiction (also called mom-lit) but weave in scenes that are adventure, suspense, and fantasy for flavor.

When did you begin your writing career and how did your first published piece come about?

I became published in graduate school. I had a wonderful professor who would write things like "You Turkey!" in the margins of my papers when I botched things, but he had a genuine passion for the written word, and when he'd red-pen my papers, he'd also write, "Try submitting this to XYZ magazine."

Sure enough, I sold a first-person account of being a young associate-pastor's wife at an older congregation to Partnership magazine. I went to my professor waving the check (he'd given me a B on the article). Grinning ear-to-ear he said, "I didn't say it wasn't publishable, I just said it wasn't worth an A."

Anyway, once the fearful barrier was broken I sold other pieces to magazines and book compilations until I got too busy with my work as the director of a dance company. Then my writing retired to newsletters, scripts, press-releases, etc.

About four years ago, I was missing the joy of working with words and joined a local writers' group. Each month members shared new chapters from their novels-in-progress and it was so fun. They inspired me to tackle a novel. That manuscript landed me an agent, and I continued to write. My fifth story was the first to sell. It was The Secret Life Of Becky Miller. But the first three manuscripts have since been sold as well.

What do you feel contributed to the success of your story telling abilities?

"Success of my story-telling abilities" feels like a lot to measure up to. At least a few editors and some readers have liked some of my work, but I wouldn't say that authorizes me to consider myself a success. LOL!

How did I get a few people to like what I write? Authenticity. That and letting my characters grapple with questions that are vital to my own life. Reading a ton, and having a melancholy/artistic view of the world that always tries to process things through words also helps. And then there's being teachable--I've soaked up every bit of mentoring, advice, and guidance I could find during my first steps towards seeking a publisher and a publishable novel.

What was your biggest struggle as a writer and how did you overcome it?

My biggest struggle was constant insecurity. Crows that flap around my face daily, telling me that I don't know what I'm doing, and one of these days, my editors and readers will catch on to that, and then I'll be in big trouble.

One of the best weapons against the novelist neurosis is gratitude. While I have these contracts and this opportunity, I'll savor the tremendous blessing of getting to spend my work day playing in the sandbox of words.

On your website, you encourage writers to attend Writers' Conferences. Many new writers are completely lost when attending writers' conferences, what tips can you offer to make the experience more valuable and less "scary"?

I was TERRIFIED as I prepared to attend my first writers' conference. I emailed one of the faculty members (because someone in my writer's group had exchanged emails with him and said he was approachable) and very timidly asked for advice on which editors to submit my book proposal to. He helped me figure that out, but also introduced me to several people when I arrived at the conference. Then I kept watching for people who looked even more scared and lonely than I was...and tried to reach out to them. I'm still super close friends and critique-buddies with several of the people I met at that first conference.

Try to find a conference mentor-someone who can help you navigate it. And don't go with a goal to land a contract...go to LEARN. Listen and listen and listen.

Why did you decide to write, The Secret Life of Becky Miller?

I know so many women (myself included) who beat themselves up because of the crazy expectations we place on ourselves to be Wonderful Wives and Marvelous Moms who work or volunteer while trying to make a huge difference in the world.

I thought of the old James Thurber short story, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, where a beaten-down man has vivid daydreams of doing something grand and heroic and wondered how that would play out with a soccer mom as the protagonist. And speaking of writers' conferences, I wrote the first chapter on the airplane flying home from a writers' conference.

There isn't a mother alive, who doesn't feel like a Super Woman at one time or another, but eventually life takes its toll and that super woman feeling disappears and a feeling of complete overload takes over. What tips can readers glean from The Secret Life of Becky Miller to help deal with that overload?

Becky has a great heart as do the women I know who really want to serve others, make a difference, give love to God and those around them. But Becky takes on responsibilities that aren't hers (single-handedly solving all problems and making everyone happy) and she also compares herself to her friends who all seem to be better at life than she is. Comparison, grandiose expectations-especially of ourselves, and trying to be The Ultimate Savior of the Known World are all dangerous traps. It turns us into exhausted, cranky, martyrs.

Becky learns to accept being a small part of God's bigger work. She also learns to accept support from others as she nurtures her friendships with other women. And of course, she learns a little bit about saying "no" when necessary. (That's one I'm still working on!)

In The Secret Life Of Becky Miller your character, Becky, is often found daydreaming about wonderful life adventures-adventures that take her far, far away from her ordinary, everyday life. Many women daydream of new adventures, and then feel guilty for not feeling content with the life God has given them. What advice can you offer to the daydreamers in this world?

God gave us our imagination. It's a wonderful gift. He feeds us hope, inspiration, and direction through our daydreams. The problem comes when we design a scenario that we think is "The Perfect Woman's Life" and then life gets in the way and we keep trying to squeeze things into that scenario. So dream big! But also adapt when you find yourself on roads you might not have chosen. Trust that God can do BIG THINGS through our small, ordinary, daily choices.

For some writers, articles are easy but books are hard. What one tip would you offer an article writer, looking to write his/her first inspiration fiction book?

A writing group will keep you going. They'll want to hear your next chapter so when you're tempted to give up, they won't let you. If you can't find a local writers' group, on-line writers' organizations help, too.

Figure out if you are a "plotter/outliner" or a "seat-of-the-pants" writer and do what works best for you. Write hard and fast and enjoy the process. Worry about editing the craft later. If you have a zillion writing-technique books buzzing in your brain when you sit down to write, you might come up with something "correct" but it will be stiff and dry. Throw your heart into it and love your characters; love watching for what they will do next. And work through to the end. Finishing a complete novel is such an educational experience; even if you decided two-thirds of the way through that story isn't going to work you need to finish it anyway.

Then write another novel.

I've heard that most authors write four, five, or six complete different manuscripts before being published. I know too many authors who wrote one and kept polishing that one for YEARS - submitting it over and over.

Thank you very much for your time and allowing me to interview you for The Dabbling Mum.com

This has been a pleasure! Thank you so much for your great questions, and for inviting me!

Visit Sharon Hink's at http://www.sharonhinck.com/

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