Author: Katie Ganshert

I write Christian romance and my debut novel, Wildflowers from Winter, releases in May, 2012 through Waterbrook Press (a division of Random House).

Friday Faves

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

Chin-Grabbers for Everyone:

  • When the God of Heaven Sends You to Hell  by Kelli Standish (@KelliStandish)

    Talk about powerful, spirit-soaked, truth-filled words–this is an honest-to-goodness must read. I guarantee you will never look at Jonah the same.

  • Four Ways to Make the Most of your Season  by Sarah Markley (@sarahmarkley) on (in)Courage

    “Comparison will steal your passion, chase away your joy and kill your soul.” Such a refreshing read for any person who calls themselves human. Seriously.

  • The Power of Touch  by Jamy Whitaker (@JamyWhitaker) on Encouragement Café

    I just found this site. The devotionals are short and sweet with some applicable take-aways.

 Chin-Grabbers for Writers:

  • Do Agents and Editors Expect Novelists to Blog  by Jody Hedlund (@JodyHedlund)

    Jody goes straight to an agent and an editor for the answer. Just remember, this is only the view of one agent and one editor, albeit well-respected ones in the industry. I think the comments are worth reading, especially the first one from Jody.

  • The Seven Stages of Publishing Grief  by Robin LeFevers (@RLLAFEVERS) on Writer Unboxed

    I think every writer experiences these stages differently (I didn’t experience all of these or in the way indicated), but even so, the stuff she writes before she gets into the stages resonates. Especially the bit about Amazon’s new author rank. I am steering clear!

  • Big Dreams vs Realistic Expectations  by Rachelle Gardner (@RachelleGardner)

    Great thoughts on how to pursue big dreams, but guard our hearts against the emotions that come when reality is a little smaller.

 Let’s Talk: Any blog posts you’d like to share? Cares, concerns, celebrations? I love reading them!

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Word Flubs

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

I was composing a tweet recently and typed, “All the rage”

And then I had to stop and Google whether or not it’s all the rage or all the rave.

From what I could find, the first is the correct version.

And my critique partner pointed out that it’s not “another thing coming” but actually, “another think coming.”

Huh. Who woulda known?

These little errors got me thinking of all the words I mix up…

Like how up until fifth grade, I honestly thought those cement things that separate the grass from the street were called curves. To my defense, curve makes more sense than curb.

And ornaments? No, really? You means there’s no D? I totally called them ordermints throughout all my formative years.

Every time John Elton’s Tiny Dancer came on the radio, I’d sing…

Hold me closer, Tony Danzaaaaa.

I really wish I were kidding.

I know. It doesn’t make nearly as much a sense as curves. I guess I thought John Elton was a big fan of Who’s the Boss.

Up until about four years ago, my cousin, who is now a senior in high school, thought meteorologists were talking about the windshield factor instead of the wind chill factor. (This is just one of the many reasons why I love her.)

So it seems I’m not the only person who botches words. Surely, my cousin and I are not alone….

Let’s Talk: What words and phrases and song lyrics have come out of your mouth incorrectly?

For your entertainment, here are some hilariously botched song lyrics from the movie 27 Dresses (warning: this takes place in a bar and a female body part is mentioned, so if either of these are offensive, stay clear)

If I haven’t already, I’d love to send you a welcome packet! The sign up button is at the top and bottom of this page!

Literature through the Years

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

It started on the couch of my childhood home. 1404 Lincoln Road. My brother and I would sandwich my dad on the middle cushion while he read Berenstain Bears and Little Critters and I’d search for that spider. Anybody remember that spider?

I went to a special reading teacher in first grade because they thought I might have dyslexia. Her name was Mrs. Detmering.

And then my second grade teacher, Mrs. Getty, read the Mrs. Piggle Wiggle books out loud to the class and books began casting their spell.

Not Ann of Green Gables. I got a set of those for Christmas and tried. I really did. But I couldn’t get through the first one.

But Boxcar Children and Judy Blume?

Oh, how I loved Fudgie’s shenanigans.

I must have read hundreds of books in my younger years, but these are the ones I remember…

The Phantom Tollbooth. If books hadn’t already grabbed my allegiance, this one sure did. After such a magical experience, there would be no going back.

Where the Red Fern Grows. I cried real tears over those two dogs.

The Face on the Milk Carton. My first re-reader. Anybody else remember it? I think it was the romance that got me.

Then I went on a major Mary Higgins Clark kick.

And in high school, I picked up Gone with the Wind.

I remember reading it on the bleachers before basketball games. I remember reading it late into the night. I remember finishing it and immediately checking out the sequel (not written by Margaret Mitchell) at the library because what in the world!? Rhett and Scarlett had to be together.

I read I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb in my high school popular adult lit class and decided I would be a psychologist.

Then in college, on my dorm room floor in Madison, Wisconsin, I gave my life to Christ and a friend introduced me to this genre called Christian fiction.

I read Redeeming Love and The Mark of the Lion trilogy (life-changing) by Francine Rivers. Karen Kingsbury’s One Tuesday Morning (unputdownable).

Somewhere along the line I met Harry Potter, and oh my goodness, I was a goner. I think I’ve read those books 4 times through, at least. Hubby would often joke, “Is Harry coming between us again?”

More magic. And I’m not talking the actual magic that occurs in the Harry Potter world. But the magic that comes when we are swept into words on a page. When we’re transported to another place and try on somebody else’s skin.

That’s the magical part. That’s why I love books.  And that’s why I read them to my son.

I wonder which ones he’ll remember when he’s grown.

Let’s Talk: What books do you remember from your childhood? What are some recent favorites? When did you fall in love with reading?