Katie Ganshert, Author at Katie Ganshert

Merry Christmas, Dear Readers!

Posted on December 23, 2013December 23, 2013 by Katie Ganshert

It’s hard to believe this is my last blog post of 2013.

Where does the time go?

I want to say a hearty thank you to all the people who signed up for my Welcome Note and Devo! Last night, I used random.org to select a name from my welcome note list. So without further ado, the winner of a signed copy of Wildflowers from Winter and Wishing on Willows is…..

Alicia Unger!

Congrats, Alicia!

For another chance to win, head over to my Facebook author page and help me name the town in my 4th novel!

Thank you readers, for all your support and encouragement. Connecting with you is one of the highlights of being an author.

I wish you all a blessed Christmas filled with comfort and joy.

And for those who find themselves in a place of hurt or longing, for you….

I pray that God, THE source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the holy spirit. ~Romans 15:13

Join me in 2014 and stay tuned for an invitation to be a part of the launch team for A Broken Kind of Beautiful!

Oh – and don’t forget to enter the Christian Fiction Christmas Giveaway. The contest closes soon!

In Celebration of Breakthroughs (plus a Giveaway)

Posted on December 16, 2013December 16, 2013 by Katie Ganshert

Writing….

Sometimes it’s awesome.

Sometimes it’s just flat out stressful.

Yesterday, it was awesome.

And that awesome came on the tail end of a whole lotta stressful.

What made it awesome, you ask?

Because I’ve been wrestling with a story that I needed to have plotted (like, last week). The characters were there. The theme was there. Various complications were there. But the rising action leading to that all-important climactic moment?

Completely elusive.

The ever-lovin’ pieces were not fitting.

I was hitting my head against a creative brick wall…..reinforced with steel and surrounded by a force field for good measure.

I was positive I would never come up with an entertaining plot, let alone a cohesive one.

I was certain that I wouldn’t reach my deadline and I’d never ever write another book again. My creativity had officially shriveled up and died.

But then yesterday happened!

After some much-needed brainstorming sessions with several writer friends and some much-needed divine inspiration, I wrote not only one synopsis, but TWO! And what’s even crazier is that I’d be excited to write either story.

So do me a favor, would you?

Next week, when I’m freaking out all over again because I’m convinced I will never write another word worth reading, would you please remind me that God has a way of meeting us most profoundly when we think we have nothing left to give?

I’d be forever grateful.

Now, let’s celebrate, shall we?

I’m in the mood to give away a signed copy of both of my books! To be entered to win, all you have to do is sign up for a Welcome Note and Devo (if you’ve already signed up, then you are already in the drawing). You should see a sign up button at the top of this blog page. I will randomly select a winner this Friday.

Oh – and don’t forget to enter the Christian Fiction Christmas Giveaway! There are all kinds of great books and fun goodies to win!

Let’s Talk: Have you had any wonderful breakthroughs lately?

Twitter: A Breeding Ground for Negativity?

Posted on December 9, 2013December 9, 2013 by Katie Ganshert

Social media is awesome!

Except when it’s not.

Okay, so don’t get me wrong. I love the fun that is had on Twitter and Facebook and Google+ (are people really on that?) and Instagram (I hear this is fun, but they have a sign on their door that says, “No Flip Phones Allowed”).

I love that I get to keep in touch with friends I see only once a year (hi, ACFWers!) and I love that I get to know people I never would have had the pleasure of knowing in the pre social media era (hi, so many of my fabulous readers!).

But there is one thing that social media has done that is a bit disconcerting.

And that is its propensity toward negativity.

Let’s be honest. As a collective whole, Twitter can be a big meanie.

Just ask Carrie Underwood.

Don’t get me wrong.

I’m all for funny tweets (there were plenty about The Sound of Music Live that had me chuckling).

I’m all for good-natured spoofs.

I’m all for giving trustworthy reviews.

But it seems like people are much too eager to jump aboard the Criticism Express these days. Tickets courtesy of social media.

So much so that when somebody points out the GOOD, it almost feels like a breath of fresh air.

Hear me out.

I’m not talking about calling something that is bad, good.

I’m not saying there’s no place for honest criticism or critique.

I’m simply saying that there’s something refreshing, maybe even admirable, about a person who takes the time to look for the good parts, too.

Because honestly, we live in a world of critics. Humanity is saturated with them.

What might life look like, if instead of wrinkling our nose at the bad, which is all too easy to pinpoint, we trained our eyes to search for the beauty? What might life look like if we held up those pieces for the world to see?

Let’s Talk: Do you think social media has made people too critical or careless with their words?

Don’t miss the Christian Fiction Christmas giveaway! Enter to win 8 books and an assortment of gifts – all in one fun Christmas package! For more chances to win prizes, make sure to tune in on my Facebook page as I introduce each author participating in the Christmas giveaway, and direct you to her blog, where she will be giving away additional items! So far I’ve introduced best-selling author, Courtney Walsh, and later today, I’ll be introducing debut-author, Kristy Cambron. I hope you win something, and I hope you find some new authors to put on your to-be-read list!