Katie Ganshert, Author at Katie Ganshert

3 C’s – It’s Friday!

Posted on June 8, 2012June 8, 2012 by Katie Ganshert

Celebrating eight years of marriage!

I loved getting a little glimpse into your lives last week and enjoyed responding to your 3 C’s. I hope you’ll share again today!

Cares:

I love book clubs. I love being a part of one. And I love when book clubs read Wildflowers from Winter. I think it stimulates some interesting conversation because people have such diverse and strong reactions to my protagonist, Bethany Quinn (evidenced by these reviews on Amazon).

If you are part of a book club, did you know about my book club page? You will find discussion questions, in-depth conversation topics, a yummy book-related recipe, and an offer to Skype. Faith Readers recently read Wildflowers and here’s what they have to say about the experience.

Concerns:

A few days ago, 23 kids were rescued from an orphanage in Haiti that was involved in human trafficking. These children have been abused and neglected. All are severely malnourished. God tells us to look after widows and orphans in their distress. Here is a tangible way we can be the hands and feet of Christ to these precious little ones.

Celebrations:

This past Tuesday, Ryan and I celebrated our anniversary. There is something very special about sharing so many days with my best friend. For the record, I have no idea why he’s carrying a baseball bat.

I found my book at Sam’s Club this week! If you’re looking for cheap birthday gifts, hightail thee to Sam’s. It’s only $6!

Wildflowers from Winter won the fiction book of the month at The Book Club Network. Thanks so much for the votes!

Let’s Talk: What are your 3 C’s this week?

Jessica Patch is playing Would You Rather with my characters today!

Sharing our Scars

Posted on June 6, 2012June 6, 2012 by Katie Ganshert

I read this the other day and it really resonated with me. I hope it resonates with you too. Especially for those of you who shared your real-life “wildflowers from winter” stories a few weeks ago…

“How often our mistaken sense that we need to present a perfect front causes us to think of our wounds and our scars as something to hide; something ugly; something demeaning; something that lessens our value. But look at Jesus. Look at what Jesus thought of His wounds: ‘Here Thomas. Look at my wounds. Touch my scars. These are the proof of My resurrection. I bear the marks of death, but I am alive!’ Jesus knew his wounds were beautiful…

At the places where I am broken, the power of Christ is authenticated for others. Where I have submitted to the crucifixion, the power of the resurrection is put on display. I can say, ‘Look at my wounds. Touch my scars. I have death-wounds, but I am alive.’ I can wear my wounds without shame. They tell a resurrection story.”

-Jennifer Kennedy Dean from He Restores My Soul

Reminds me of a line from the hauntingly beautiful novel, Little Bee, by Chris Cleave:

“A scar does not form on the dying. A scar means, I survived.”

Let’s Talk: Why do you think we are so preoccupied with hiding our scars from the world, especially in the Christian community?

I’m sharing a devotional over on Jessica R. Patch’s blog today. Hope it encourages you!

Pressure

Posted on June 4, 2012June 9, 2012 by Katie Ganshert

Last Friday, I wrote a guest post for Cathy West about publication. How it’s turning out to be everything I thought it would be and nothing like I thought it would be.

One of the things that I probably expected to some degree, but didn’t truly realize was the pressure.

Maybe this isn’t how it is with every debut author.

Maybe I’m just a head case.

Maybe I put more pressure on myself than the average bear.

I don’t know.

But on this side of publication, the pressure is intense.

I didn’t prepare for it – this self-induced pressure.

But it’s there.

For a million and one reasons, I want my book to do well.

Some of the reasons are good. Some of the reasons are probably less than noble.

Regardless, the pressure is there.

And for awhile, I was letting that pressure zap the fun right out of this journey. I was inviting the Joy Thief into my life.

Something had to change.

So at some point last week, I decided enough was enough. No more. It was time to take back the fun.

I could choose to worry and fret and obsess over things I have little control over – like sales and rankings and reviews.

Or I could choose to enjoy my life and this dream that is supposed to be fantastic.

How?

By taking my focus off of me and my book.

By staying away from Author Central (AKA: the devil’s brainchild).

By focusing on the things that make this journey fun!

Like writing stories that stir my soul.

Like meeting and connecting with people.

Like praising God every time I hear from a reader who has been blessed by Wildflowers from Winter.

Like hugging my husband and laughing with my son and stepping away from the computer.

I read this quote the other day on Twitter. A quote I’ve heard before. A quote I absolutely love:

Humility is not thinking less of yourself. It’s thinking of yourself less.

It’s so easy, on this side of publication, to become the opposite of humble. It’s so easy to become consumed with thoughts of my book and my sales.

But man, talk about draining.

Thinking of others? Focusing outside of ourselves?

That’s taking back the fun. That’s the road I want to travel.

Let’s Talk: Do you feel the pressure? Are you letting anything steal the fun out of whatever journey you’re traveling?

Jessica Patch’s entire book club is reviewing my book on her blog today. Hop on over to see what they thought!