Wildflowers from Winter
Like the winter, grief has a season. Life returns with the spring.A young architect at a prestigious Chicago firm, Bethany Quinn has built a life far removed from her trailer park teen years. Until an interruption from her estranged mother reveals that tragedy has struck in her hometown and a reluctant Bethany is called back to rural Iowa. Determined to pay her respects while avoiding any emotional entanglements, she vows not to stay long. But the unexpected inheritance of farmland and a startling turn of events in Chicago forces Bethany to come up with a new plan.
Handsome farmhand Evan Price has taken care of the Quinn farm for years. So when Bethany is left the land, he must fight her decisions to realize his dreams. But even as he disagrees with Bethany’s vision, Evan feels drawn to her and the pain she keeps so carefully locked away.
For Bethany, making peace with her past and the God of her childhood doesn’t seem like the path to freedom. Is letting go the only way to new life, love and a peace she’s not even sure exists?
Read a Sneak Peek
Release date: May, 8 2012
Publisher: Waterbrook Press
ISBN-10:0307730387
ISBN-13: 978-0307730381
Amazon
Bonus Features
The Inspiration
The Cast
- Behind-the-Scenes with Bethany
- Behind-the-Scenes with Evan
- Behind-the-Scenes with Robin
- A Romance Blossoms (Spoiler Alert!)
The Setting
- Peaks, Iowa–population 1,539 according to the green sign on Jorner’s Corner–is a fictitious town in eastern Iowa loosely based off LeClaire.
- Why did I name the town Peaks?
- Because I knew young Bethany would not miss the irony. Iowa is incredibly flat.
- Also because I was reading Twilight at the time and I liked the one-syllable simplicity of Forks.
A Word From Bethany Quinn
- On Returning Home
- On Shame
- On Redemption
Fun Facts
- I had a very hard time choosing a main character for this novel. I started with Bethany. Switched to Robin. Then cut out a lot of Robin’s scenes and switched back to Bethany. I decided to save Robin’s story for later, which is what led to Wishing on Willows (releases in 2013).
- In the unedited version, the only first-person scene was the prologue. My amazingly-talented editor felt that the first-person prologue felt orphaned, so she asked me to intersperse 6-7 additional first-person scenes throughout the novel. I think the end result makes for a much deeper story.
- I originally wrote the novel in first person, then switched to third because I couldn’t pull off three different first person point-of-views. Kathryn Stockett, I am not.
- The book was originally titled Beneath a Velvet Sky.
- I read Richard Mabry’s The Tender Scar to bring life and depth to Robin’s grief.
- The whole duck conversation between Evan and Bethany was inspired by this real-life experience. And for fun, here’s the follow-up.
- The same cast and crew will be back for Wishing on Willows. Only somebody new comes to Peaks and divides the town’s loyalties.
- Hope after Abandonment
- Hope after Death
- Hope after Divorce
- Hope after Depression
- A Wildflowers from Winter Blog Tour
An Exclusive Bonus Scene
Were you wanting more of Bethany and Evan when you finished the last page? Then check out this exclusive, bonus scene written especially for YOU on Novel Crossing.
The Theme
Quotes from the Book
Book Club Fun
Is your book club reading Wildflowers from Winter? Check out these discussion questions and bonus, in-depth conversation topics.
Praise for Wildflowers from Winter
“Katie Ganshert knows how to wring the heart of a scene in order to place her reader within a character’s pain and wonder. Wildflowers from Winter is a romantic beauty-from-ashes story – and a promising series starter from this debut author.”
– USA Today
“In this novel rich in details and well-thought-out characters, Ganshert offers something for everyone: romance, secrets, a few laughs. The reader will come away with the knowledge that even in the arms of grief, hope emerges after loss.”
– Romantic Times
“Themes of loss and redemption, believable characters, and a realistic view of life’s challenges make this debut a worthwhile, gut-wrenching read. Recommended for fans of Francine Rivers.”
– Library Journal
“From winter’s chill to the warm breath of spring, Wildflowers from Winter is a poignant and powerful tale of love, faith and hope through seasons of grief. A stunning debut, Katie Ganshert has penned a breathless journey that will steal both your heart and your sleep.”
—Julie Lessman, award-winning author of The Daughters of Boston and Winds of Change series
“Katie Ganshert writes with a compelling mix of honesty and soul. With compassion and a keen eye for the dynamics of relationship, she wrestles with complex issues of love, freedom, and faith.”
—Nicole Baart, bestselling author of Far From Here
“In her debut novel, Wildflowers from Winter, Katie Ganshert brings readers deep into the human complexities that occur when we resist our roots. Readers will find themselves rooting for Bethany as she learns some of life’s most crucial lessons about friendship, family, and faith. Readers will also want to stay tuned. With a second novel in the works, Ganshert is sure to be a new CBA favorite.”
– Julie Cantrell, New York Times and USA TODAY Bestselling Author of Into the Free
“An impressive debut novel. Ganshert weaves a genuine story of love and forgiveness, family and friendship with simple but beautiful prose. She didn’t just capture my interest with this story, she captured my heart. Well done!”
—Rachel Hauck, award winning author of The Wedding Dress
“Katie Ganshert’s debut novel is wonderfully and lyrically written. Don’t miss this refreshing new voice in book-club fiction for Christian readers.”
—Susan Meissner, author A Sound Among the Trees and The Shape of Mercy
“Wildflowers from Winter offers characters displaying true-to-life emotions, a plot that engages the reader, and beautifully turned phrases. One of the best debut novels I’ve read.”
—Richard L. Mabry, MD, author of The Tender Scar and the Prescription for Trouble series
“With a fresh voice, Ganshert grips you from page one and takes you on a soul-searching journey. Her characters, in all their imperfections, leap off the pages and into your heart. The richness of the story will move your faith and emotions, leaving the warmth of hope long after you finish the last page.”
—Jody Hedlund, bestselling author of The Preacher’s Bride
“Wildflowers from Winter will touch your heart and leave you longing for a more simple life—and more stories by this new author. Katie Ganshert has penned an impressive debut novel about family strife and going home again, even when it’s against your will. This tender story blends human drama and fragile relationships with true-to-life characters that will jump off the page and into your heart.”
—Deborah Vogts, author of Snow Melts in Spring and Seeds of Summer
“What a powerful story! In Wildflowers from Winter, Katie Ganshert gives readers a very touching tale about the power of love and faith to heal a hurting heart. The cast of characters will grab hold of your heart from the first chapter and stay with you long after you turn the last page. The issues raised and their resolutions are realistic and thought provoking. Katie knows how to write a romance with deep emotion and meaning.”
—Carrie Turansky, author of A Man To Trust and Surrendered Hearts
“As soft as new snow and as beautiful as a field of flowers, Wildflowers from Winter is a refreshing and illuminating journey from anger and doubt to understanding and peace. Once you meet the characters of Peaks, IA, you won’t want to say goodbye.”
—Erica Vetsch, author of A Bride’s Portrait of Dodge City, Kansas
“Wildflowers from Winter is a beautifully-written, poignant story of coming home and learning to accept love and grace. Its pages teem with insight and raw honesty about the pain inflicted by misdirected religion and the healing needed to return to faith. Katie Ganshert’s lyrical style makes her debut novel a compelling read that introduces a fresh and unusual voice in contemporary romance.”
—Rosslyn Elliott, award-winning author of Fairer than Morning and Sweeter than Birdsong
“Beautifully drawn characters will win your heart from page one of this poignant story, lingering in your mind when you’ve finished. It’s a tale of loss and sorrow and of dreams redeemed. Novel Rocket and I give it a very high recommendation.”
—Ane Mulligan, Sr. Editor Novel Rocket