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.
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.
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. 😉
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?
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?
*journal photo by Twigy Posts
I practically have SENSE AND SENSIBILITY memorized – the Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet version. It’s such a beautiful movie. Alan Rickman as Colonel Brandon helps the cause immeasurably.
Can you believe I’ve never seen it??
Oh, I think I know all the lines in IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE. Thanks so much for the interview Sarah! It was fun getting to know you, Katie. Congrats on the debut–it looks beautiful!
I love It’s a Wonderful Life. Definitely my favorite Christmas movie!
I would love to win a copy of ” Wild Flowers For Winter” Reading is what I really enjoy.
I will forward this email to my friends.
Thanks June! I hope you enjoy if you end up with a copy!
I think I have almost every line of Ever After memorized. I also have whatever movie has been playing in the kids DVD player in the car memorized, even though I’ve never actually watched it!
I’ve never watched Ever After. Maybe I’ll have to check that one out!
Reblogged this on calebcash.
So fun to be here, Sarah! Thanks for the interview, girl!
Hi Sarah & Katie –
I learned a lot about Katie in this interview. I would never have guessed you were a tomboy!
Please enter me in the drawing. Even if I don’t win, this book is on my Wish List.
Blessings,
Susan 🙂
yep – total Tomboy! Good to see you here, Susan!
I am not a fan of coffee at all. At all. I love the smell and I am constantly taking whiffs of my husbands coffee at church. However, I think it tastes like dirt. I do LOVE soda. It’s my coffee. I frequent stop at White Castle and get a large Pibb Xtra. That’s my favorite and only White Castle has it on tap around here in a drive through. 🙂 Try it! It’s my coffee.
I’ve never had Pibb! Isn’t that similar to Dr. Pepper? Good to know I’m not the only one who loves the smell, hates the taste.
Fun(ny) interview! I’m with ya on the coffee…smells lovely, but blech! Been following the release of this book and can’t wait to read it! Congrats, Katie! Tweeting this interview and posting it on my facebook blog (facebook.com/1bookme)
Thanks for your support, Brenda! I hope the novel lives up to your expectations!
What’s Up Doc! Awesome movie…and yes, I have it memorized. 🙂
Unlike Katie, I love coffee. Like Katie, I love Diet Coke (with lime, that is)…and it’s pop all the way, not soda. Go Midwest! 🙂
I already have Katie’s book – and love it! So feel free to exclude me from the drawing. Such a good book!!
I’ve never even heard of What’s Up Doc! Do I live in a bubble or is this not a well-known movie??
Thanks for the fun interview, Sarah. I’m with Katie on coffee. Can’t stand the taste even though I love the smell. I gotta admit I have a hard time thinking that anyone could have mistaken Katie for a boy. I mean look at her. She’s beautiful.
I have two copies of Katie’s book (or will have once my Amazon shipment arrives today or tomorrow), so please don’t enter my name in the drawing. Love that book!
You’re so sweet, Keli. But trust me, I totally looked like a boy. I should post a picture on Facebook!
Love these interviews! Excited for Katie and the release of her book. I need to pick up a copy. 🙂
I hope you enjoy it, Karen!
Katie, now I know why we’re friends. We are soooo alike. I totally had a bowl-like haircut when I was 10 too. And looked like a boy. And I hate coffee, though I like the smell. And I love WYWS, and don’t really care for Sleepless in Seattle for the same reason. Did you get inside my head when you answered these questions? …
Twins separated at birth, perhaps? If you have lots in common with me, then you probably have lots in common with Jenny Hale, as well. You two know each other, right?
Love knowing you! Love how supportive you’ve been, Lindsay!
Yes, I met Jenny a month or so ago on Twitter and have been reading her blog. Love her! Love you!
Hi Katie! I’m looking forward to reading your book. I’m always on the lookout for new books to read, especially from authors that I’ve never read before. I’m an aspiring writer myself, and I soak up the different styles of writing while I’m figuring out my own.
As for which movie I’ve practically got memorized . . . there are so many. I’m going to have to go with Love Comes Softly. That whole series of films is wonderful, but I particularly enjoy the chemistry between Marty and Clark in Love Comes Softly.
Nice to meet you, Katie, and I hope to win a copy of your book. Happy writing!
Andrea
Oh, and I shared the link on Facebook, too. 🙂
Nice to meet you too Andrea! I love meeting other writers!
OK — I’m just not buying the rule follower thing, Katie.
😉
You mean after our practice run on Tuesday?? 🙂 That was way too funny. I’m earning a reputation for myself….I better be careful.
Great interview, Katie & Sarah!
I’m hearing such great things about this novel, so I look forward to reading. Thanks for hosting this giveaway. Oh, and I agree about being cozy all day, Katie!
Funny you say this, because right now i’m wearing an uncomfortable shirt and it’s making me irritable. Time to change!
Katie, you crack me up! I’m a pop girl, too – soda is something we put into our cookie recipes here in Minnesota. 🙂 Coffee, they tell me, is an acquired taste, but I’m not sure why you’d want to acquire it?!?! Give me a good cup of hot tea any day. Ahhh…
I’m privileged to own a copy of Katie’s book, Sarah, so please don’t enter me into the drawing. So happy to join the conversation today!
Hey you – I didn’t realize you lived in Minnesota! Where in Minnesota? You don’t happen to be in the Twin Cities area, are you?
I don’t know what my favorite line from a movie is, but now I’m remembering lines from “While you were Sleeping” which I haven’t seen in forever! My family and I still do the whole scene from that movie whenever we get talking over each other at the dining room table. “Caesar Romero was tall” “Caesar Romero wasn’t Spanish.” “I didn’t say Caesar Romero was Spanish. I said he was tall.” … “These mashed potatoes are so creamy ….” Too funny! Congrats on your book, Katie!
I love the smell of coffee, too, but hate the taste. I definitely prefer soda, especially Coke. I would love to receive a copy of your book, reading is my passion, especially Christian Fiction.
Melina Mason
Ah, love the post. But then again, I’m just a Katie stalker and tend to follow everything she writes and does, because it is plain brilliant. Now, where’s the pic of the bowel cut? 😉
Oops, BOWL, sorry for the extra ‘e’. 🙂
Hey everyone! Sorry I’m so late to the party! I’m still recovering from surgery today and have been known to fall asleep while walking from one room to the other. No kidding…it’s pitiful.
ANYWAYS, Don’t you all just LOVE Katie?! I told you she was the best. All this discussion has me craving a Diet Coke and a night watching While You Were Sleeping. Wouldn’t that movie just fit the theme of my day so well? 😉
Thanks for spreading the Katie love! Keep the comments coming… 🙂
I haven’t watched any movies so often that I have lines memorized, though one of my favorite old movies I’ve seen several times is Arsenic and Old Lace with Cary Grant. I don’t like coffee but do like Diet Coke. I’ve given up having it every day but still enjoy it occasionally. I think Wildflowers from Winter sounds like a great book (I’ve been reading some very good reviews) so it would be fun to win a copy. Thanks!
“Tastes like feet…” Haha! My sentiments exactly, but I love the smell! And yes, it’s pop, even though I drink very little of that too…
Favorite movie….hmm, maybe Never Been Kissed…come on…Michael Vaughn…yum. I LOVE While You Were Sleeping too.
I’ve seen other reviews of this book, and from what I’ve read I would love to own a copy. Thank you for offering this giveaway!
I have shared the post on FB.
Nancee
[email protected]
so i was reading this post in my email….and i’m counting the words….(not having read on, obviously) wondering…how in the heck did katie mess up the seven word question? it’s one of my favorites on meet and greet…..so i sat there, counting, wondering….”did katie count ‘thank you jesus’ in parenthesis? did she count “slighty-frazzled” as one or two words?” totally had me baffled for about thirty seconds or so….
no need to enter me, of course, as i’ve already had the pleasure of reading this most excellent book. it’s so gratifying to see katie’s beautiful face on all these blogs now!! love it.
Well, in my family, we can watch a movie ONCE and have most of the lines memorized – there is never a conversation in our house that does not include at least one movie line! But movies that I know really well include the following: Singin’ in the Rain, Princess Bride, Ever After (like Debbie!), Arsenic and Old Lace, Tangled and many others.
Gabrielle and Katie, I live in MD, but happen to work (as a nanny) for someone who grew up in Minnesota…her husband grew up in NY! And I agree with Andrea that the chemistry between Marty & Clark in Love Comes Softly is great.
I have to say though, that I think that my favorite quote right now comes from Tangled – when Rapunzel first leaves the tower and is clearly torn about continuing the journey: ” I can’t believe I did this. *I can’t believe I did this!* Mother would be so furious. That’s OK though, I mean what she doesn’t know won’t kill her. Oh my gosh. This would kill her. *This is so fun!* I, am a horrible daughter. I’m going back. *I am never going back!* I am a despicable human being. *Woo-hoo! Best. Day. Ever!* ” So much fun! (And my family loves acting it out while reciting it…) 🙂
I too am a person who likes the smell of coffee but not the taste – though I do enjoy Dunkin Donuts regular coffee (with cream and sugar, of course)…..
I shared the giveaway on FB! Thanks for having us!
admurphy(dot)musician(at)gmail(dot)com
Or another oft-repeated line (also from Tangled) in our house is this one, said by the little old man thug/cherub?: “Whoaaaa! Somebody get me a glass! ‘Cuz I just found me a tall drink of water.”
I’m a huge fan of romantic movies especially Nicolas Sparks “The Notebook ” & “A Walk to Remember “. I would love to win a copy of Katie’s book though!
How can something smell so good yet tastes so bad?! I hate coffee but it smells so yummy! Why doesn’t it taste as good as it smells? My favorite drink is Cherry Coke Zero. Great interview with Katie. I ‘d love to win a copy of Wildflowers from Winter!
I shared this post of FB!
Blessings!
judyjohn2004(at)yahoo(dot)com