Katie Ganshert's Blog, page 12

Merry Christmas, Dear Readers!

It’s hard to believe this is my last blog post of 2013.

Where does the time go?

I want to say a hearty thank you to all the people who signed up for my Welcome Note and Devo! Last night, I used random.org to select a name from my welcome note list. So without further ado, the winner of a signed copy of Wildflowers from Winter and Wishing on Willows is…..

Alicia Unger!

Congrats, Alicia!

For another chance to win, head over to my Facebook author page and help me name the town in my 4th novel!

Thank y...

In Celebration of Breakthroughs (plus a Giveaway)

Writing….

Sometimes it’s awesome.

Sometimes it’s just flat out stressful.

Yesterday, it was awesome.

And that awesome came on the tail end of a whole lotta stressful.

What made it awesome, you ask?

Because I’ve been wrestling with a story that I needed to have plotted (like, last week). The characters were there. The theme was there. Various complications were there. But the rising action leading to that all-important climactic moment?

Completely elusive.

The ever-lovin’ pieces were not fitting.

I was...

Twitter: A Breeding Ground for Negativity?

Social media is awesome!

Except when it’s not.

Okay, so don’t get me wrong. I love the fun that is had on Twitter and Facebook and Google+ (are people really on that?) and Instagram (I hear this is fun, but they have a sign on their door that says, “No Flip Phones Allowed”).

I love that I get to keep in touch with friends I see only once a year (hi, ACFWers!) and I love that I get to know people I never would have had the pleasure of knowing in the pre social media era (hi, so many of my fabulou...

The Age of Social Media: An Undesirable Outcome

Social media is awesome!

Except when it’s not.

Okay, so don’t get me wrong. I love the fun that is had on Twitter and Facebook and Google+ (are people really on that?) and Instagram (I hear this is fun, but they have a sign on their door that says, “No Flip Phones Allowed”).

I love that I get to keep in touch with friends I see only once a year (hi, ACFWers!) and I love that I get to know people I never would have had the pleasure of knowing in the pre social media era (hi, so many of my fabulou...

December is Here, Christmas is Near

Tis the season!

For giving away gifts (we’ll get to that in a minute!). For trees and lights, poinsettias and holly. For Deck the Halls and Oh Holy Night. For It’s a Wonderful Life and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. For freshly fallen snow, baking cookies, sipping hot chocolate, wrapping presents, hanging stockings, and that red kettle outside of stores.

Most importantly, ’tis the season for celebrating the amazing miracle that is God incarnate.

That’s what advent is all about.

Expectantly await...

Into the Storm

We’ve all heard the story.

Jesus walks on the water in the midst of a storm. In classic Peter-style, Peter gets out of the boat and starts walking on the water too. Notices the waves. Then starts to el sinko.

It’s one of the more well-known and often-referenced stories in the Bible.

I’m sure countless sermons and devotionals have been given and written on this piece of history from Matthew 14.

But what struck me most profoundly, as I sat at a table reading this passage of Scripture one evening in...

Travel Reading

On Friday, I will board a plane. I will fly to Chicago, to Brussels, to Kinshasa, where I will spend one whole week with my daughter.

Made possible by so many of you, who gave hope wings.

It’s something that will never cease to blow my mind.

And on this last Monday before my departure, I was all prepared to write something honest and raw and vulnerable about the state of my heart. But then I thought, “Who has the energy for that?”

Not me.

So let’s go with something a little less…..intense, shall w...

An October Pinterest War: Final Battle

I think our talent stops with hotdogs.

This final battle in the Fall Pinterest War between good friend and fellow author, Becky Wade, seemed simple enough.

In theory.

These bad boys are supposed to resemble mummies.

Who did the best rendition?

That’s up to you!

For a chance to win some yummy Starbucks coffee, go ahead and vote – #1 or #2.

Becky and I will announce whose mummies received the most votes on Friday, as well as the winner of the coffee!

And in case you missed it on Facebook last week, her...

Who We Are in the Surrendering

A Guest Post by Wendy Paine Miller

In my debut novella, The Disappearing Key several characters wrestle with experiences of surrender. We all identify with the convoluted feelings associated with letting go. I know I’ve given up so much in my life already. I’ve let go of expectations, abandoned my will, and anyone married longer than a day will testify to the daily opportunities to demonstrate sacrifice.

Today I want to examine not the act of sacrifice itself, but more who we are in the instanc...

An October Pinterest War: Battle 2 Results

I’m not sure if something’s in the air or what, but Becky Wade and I are managing to put out some respectable end results!

Last week’s messy bun was not nearly as disastrous as we thought, and we had some really fun, amazing participation from awesome readers like yourself!

And this week’s family picture is kinda cute too! This happened to be a perfect weekend for the Gansherts to tackle this challenge, since we were in Wisconsin for a wedding and Ryan’s mom is an excellent photographer.

But les...