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).

How to Write Interviews People Will Actually Read

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

On Friday I admitted to skimming a lot of blog posts.

The ones that grab my attention and demand I read them in their entirety usually have one of the following:

  • A title that makes me feel like I’ll miss something important if I don’t read the text. Which is why I totally agree with Author Media’s blog post, 6 Magic Words that Always Get Clicks.
  • A highly engaging, highlighted snippet in the body of the text that beckons me to go back and read the entire thing

Today it’s time for another admission:

I almost never read interviews. 

I don’t think I’m alone and here’s why:

Most of us in the blogging world know that if we want our blogs to be read, our posts have to be valuable for the reader.

Yet all too often, we throw that principle out the window when it comes to interviews. 

Let’s step back for a moment and think about Twitter.

When you’re on Twitter, what makes you click on a link?

For me, it’s because something about that tiny teaser makes me a promise.

Something about that tiny teaser whispers, “This will be worth your time.”

I will learn something important or have a satisfying emotional experience.

I don’t think I’ve ever clicked on a link when the teaser is something like, “Get to know so-and-so” or “Check out this interview with such-and-such.”

UNLESS, I’m already a big fan of such-and-such.

Which begs the question:

Why do we do interviews?

If it’s to entertain the interviewee’s pre-established fan base, then okay. No worries. Ask fun, interesting questions to your heart’s content.

But if it’s to grow our readership and grow our interviewee’s fan base, then we need to rethink the way we approach interviews.

Before creating any questions, we should answer these first:

  • Who are we interviewing?
  • Who is our target audience?
  • What is something valuable, important, or emotional this interviewee can give that audience?
Okay, so what happens if we’re the one answering the questions?
 
We can’t exactly dictate what questions the interviewer will ask us.
 
But we can control the way we approach our answers.
 
Before answering any questions, it helps to consider:
  • What value do I have to offer?
  • Is it possible to answer these questions in a way that gives this value to the reader?
Not only will this approach help us grow out readership and fan base, it will make our interviews easier to promote on social media sites. 
 
Which are you more likely to click on?
 
A tweet that says:
 
“Check out this interview with Jane Doe!”
 
OR
 
“Learn how to increase your chances of landing a book deal!”
 
The first feels really self-promotiony (totally a word) and not at all interesting unless I’m already a huge fan of Jane Doe.
 
The second feels helpful. Valuable. Time worthy.
 
Let’s Talk: Do you tend to read, skim, or skip interviews? What makes you actually read one?

I’d love to send you a welcome packet if I haven’t already! There is a sign-up button at the top and bottom of this page, so scroll whichever way you choose.

If you’re looking for a story that reviewers are saying made them laugh and cry, check out my debut novel, Wildflowers from Winter. The first three chapters are free.
 
If you’re a fan of books, check out the massive giveaways from Jennifer K. Hale and Lacie Nezbeth on the Bright Side Blog Bash! 

Friday Faves

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

Thanks to the wide world of blogging, I’ve mastered the art of skimming.

Every week I skim a lot of blogs. Inevitably, there are a few that grab my chin, demanding I read them in their entirety.

Every Friday, these are the blog posts I will share with you! 

Chin-Grabbers For Everyone:

A must-read for every woman who has ever felt less than beautiful. I’m pretty sure that’s all of us! Krista’s honest way of sharing an important truth is beautiful.
Of all the 9-11 posts out there, this one stuck with me the most. 
Are you letting yourself soak?
Beautiful thoughts about the pain and freedom we experience when we remove the “splinters” from our lives. 

Good gracious, how can Ann Voskamp pack so much poignancy into one simple blog post? This is a must-read for all the mamas out there with a camera compulsion. Here is a small taste of what you’ll find:

“Sometimes attentiveness may feel like letting go–more like being captured by the grace of the moment than trying to capture the grace of the moment.”

Chin-Grabbers For Writers:

It won’t be what you think! Lisa Cron is the author of a new craft book, Wired for Story. In this post, she explains that story isn’t external. It’s internal. 
This is a great post to bookmark and reference before creating a new cast of characters.
I found this advice especially pertinent, since I’ll have to start looking for endorsements soon. Plus a sneak peek of Gina’s newest novel, Wings of Glass. I can’t wait for this one! 
Therapeutic insights from an expert who knows!
Kristen says, “Be truthful. Are your ‘flowers’ part of a garden or covering a grave?” I love this question!
 
My line editor sent me an article recently called Ten Rules of Writing Fiction. We both love rule #3 by Diane Athill the best. 
 
“You don’t always have to go so far as to murder your darlings–those turns of phrase or images of which you felt extra proud when they appeared on the page–but go back and look at them with a very beady eye. Almost always it turns out they’d be better dead. Not every little twinge of satisfaction is suspect. It’s the ones which amount to a sort of smug glee you must watch out for.”
 
Oh, this has been such a lesson I’ve had to learn along my writing journey!

Let’s Talk: Have any blog posts grabbed your chin this week? Feel free to share in the comment section!

I’d love to send you a welcome packet if I haven’t already! You can find the sign-up button at the top and the bottom of this page.

If you’re looking for a book that will help strengthen your faith in a God who makes all things new, consider reading the first three chapters of Wildflowers from Winter.

Alive in Me

Posted on by Katie Ganshert

A man lost his fiancé and found these words written in her journal:

I am not abandoned.

That was the real-life inspiration behind the song, I Am Not Abandoned, one of ten tracks on HBCD Worship’s debut album, Alive in Me.

Maybe it’s the writer in me, who can’t help but turn everything she hears into story fodder.

Or maybe it’s the mom, who knows her youngest son is half a world away in an orphanage with no mommy or daddy to hold him and if I could whisper one tiny truth in his precious little ear, it would be this:

You,  my beloved child, are not abandoned.

The lyrics resonate deep in my soul. All the songs on the album do.

Which is why I wanted to share the awesomeness with you.

You can check out the album by clicking on the links below:

When I asked Austin Tullos, one of the artists of HBCD Worship, to share his heart behind the album with you, here’s what he had to say: 

From the start, our greatest priority has been to make an album that is focused on Jesus, not us. Our purpose in writing and recording these songs is to make much of Jesus, glorify His name, proclaim His Word, and encourage His people.  

On the physical copy, you’ll find that each song in the track listing has a scripture reference listed beside it. This detail, though small, is one that we are really excited about! There are no words more powerful than the words God wrote for us and we crafted each song with this in mind. Embedded into the foundation of writing the lyrics of these songs is our belief that God’s word brings hope, joy, and certainty to a world that is filled with fear, doubt, and uncertainty. 

On a local level, it’s our joy and honor to serve the people of Harvest Bible Chapel Davenport each week as worship leaders. We wrote this album with them in mind and are encouraged each week by their unashamed worship.  

On a larger scale, I hope this album speaks to your heart. I pray there is a song for you on this album. I’m not sure where you are right now. I’m not sure what you’re struggling with. But I do know that we serve a God of joy who is sufficient for all of our needs and it is not in His nature to abandon or forsake His children.  

I hope that these songs spur you on in your journey as an unashamed worshipper of Jesus Christ. I hope they challenge you to continue to strive to make much of Him in everything you do…Because I can promise you these things: He’s good. He’s faithful. He’s trustworthy. And He’s worth it. 

I pray that you are blessed and encouraged by our music. You are loved.  

~Austin Tullos 

“I can’t always see the light from the valley,
Still you shine, you shine. 

I am not, I will never be abandoned.
For my God will never leave my side.” 

~HBCD Worship, I Am Not Abandoned

Let’s Talk: When is a time in your life when you felt fearful, but God reminded you that you were not abandoned?

If you want to know more about HBCD Worship, you can find them on Facebook, Twitter, and their website.  

If you haven’t signed up for a welcome packet yet, I’d love to send you one! You can find the sign-up button at the top of this page.

If you’re looking for a new book to read, you can read the first three chapters of Wildflowers from Winter for free! Just click on the link.