Sarah Forgrave

Meet and Greet is a regular feature on my blog. Be forewarned…Unlike the typical interview, these brief questions will get to the true heart of my guests…or at least the heart of what’s in their kitchen. Grab a latte (or other beverage of your choice), find a comfy chair, and prepare to make a new friend.

I can’t tell you how excited I am to have Katie Ganshert here today! Katie is one of the first blogging friends I connected with when I started writing, and I’ve loved getting to know her as a fellow writer-mom in the years since then. (Wow, that makes me sound old, doesn’t it?) Katie is the real deal, and I love her authenticity in sharing about her publication journey. I know you’ll love her too after you meet her here today (if you don’t already love her, that is).

Katie Ganshert was born and raised in the Midwest, where she writes stories about finding faith and falling in love. When she’s not busy plotting her next novel, she enjoys watching movies with her husband, playing make-believe with her wild-child of a son, and chatting with her girlfriends over bagels and coffee. She and her husband are in the process of adopting from the Congo. Wildflowers from Winter is her debut novel.

You can connect with Katie at www.katieganshert.com, or find her on Facebook or Twitter.

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Welcome, Katie! Let’s get to the questions, shall we?

Opener Question: What seven words best describe you?

Redeemed (thank you Jesus), slightly-frazzled, inquisitive, outgoing, passionate…

I totally fizzled out after five. So I asked my husband to help me with two more words and the first two that came out of his mouth were: funny and determined (I think this was his nice way of calling me stubborn).

LOL, I agree with him…You are funny. (And I’ll steer clear of the stubborn comment.)

Either/Or Questions:

1) Mediterranean cruise or Weekend in Paris?

Weekend in Paris because I took a cruise once when I was ten and I was sick for an entire day. Not fun. Plus, I would love to visit the city of lights.

2) Fast and furious or Slow and methodical?

Fast and furious, which is probably why I feel slightly-frazzled half the time.

3) Shorts and t-shirt or Sundress?

Shorts and t-shirt. I’m all about the comfort and I’m not much of a dress gal.

4) Soda or coffee?

You mean pop? I’m a Diet Coke addict, so I’m definitely going to have to go with soda. Plus, as glorious as coffee smells, I think it tastes like feet.

5) Trailblazer or Rule follower?

I’d love to say I’m a trailblazer, because I admire trailblazers, but I think deep down in my core, I’m a rule follower.

6) Tomboy or Girly-girl?

Definitely a tomboy. I had a bowl cut until I was ten (I have no idea why) and I liked wearing my brother’s hand-me-downs. So I was basically mistaken as a boy for approximately one third of my existence. While I’m not usually confused for a boy anymore, I still tend to be low maintenance and largely uninterested in shopping and makeup and jewelry and nail polish.

7) Sleepless in Seattle or While You Were Sleeping?

While You Were Sleeping, all the way. I’m not a big fan of Sleepless in Seattle. Probably because the hero and heroine don’t actually meet face-to-face until the very end! What’s that about? But While You Were Sleeping? That is a great movie. Plus, I heart Sandra Bullock.

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Y’know, I never thought about Sleepless in Seattle like that before, Katie. Good point! And I love While You Were Sleeping too…I think I could quote half the lines because I’ve seen it so many times.

Thank you so much for being here today! I loved all your answers…The coffee comment cracked me up, even though I enjoy drinking feet every morning.

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Wildflowers from Winter

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?

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Blog Readers: Let’s talk…What movie have you seen so many times, you have it memorized? What’s your favorite movie quote? Or if you’re drawing a blank, let’s talk coffee…Do you have the same sentiment about it that Katie does? If so, what’s one flavor that makes it semi-tolerable?

*Giveaway Details: Katie has offered to give away a copy of Wildflowers from Winter! All you have to do is leave a comment. (For extra entries, you can Tweet or share this post on Facebook…I’ll add an extra entry for each. Just make sure to mention it in your comment.) Winner will be announced in next Monday’s post. Good luck!

**The winner of last week’s Amazon giveaway is Marissa E! I’ll contact you this week with details.