Katie Ganshert's Blog, page 9

Things That Make Me Want to Write…

It’s weird, what sparks my creativity. Usually, it’s random things.

For instance…

Country music.

I know, I know. Some of you might be rolling your eyes. Country music isn’t for everyone. In fact, I don’t really listen to it very often. But recently, my husband and I found a station on Pandora that we love. 90s country music. Because that’s when we both listened to it and every song seems to bring back memories.

Here’s the thing about country music.

It tells a story.

Often those stories involve love...

Sunflowers from Iowa

Before I turn the microphone over to my friend, I feel prompted to say that she was not bribed, blackmailed, or coerced in any way to say such kind things. Take it away, Jennifer…
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Thank you Katie, for the opportunity to guest post here. I promise not to use this space to ask people for money. Like. More than once.
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Kidding!
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How about twice?
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Ha. I know, you’re all rolling in the aisles…
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Let me introduce myself. My name is Jennifer Major, I’m Canadian, a wife and mom, an avid reader, a thrift...

It Ain’t Easy, but It is Simple

There’s this line in my newly released novella, An October Bride, where Emma Tate and her father are having a fire-side chat about the concept of trust…

***

This is another thing cancer has done. It’s taught my father the art of living in each moment. He doesn’t look ahead. He doesn’t let himself spiral into a storm of what-ifs. He relies on God’s strength for today and trusts him with tomorrow. For me, it’s a constant struggle. I let out a puff of breath. “You make it sound so simple.”

“Trust i...

Bucket Lists

The first time I ever heard the phrase “bucket list” was when that movie with Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman came out in 2007. I have no idea if that phrase was a thing before that movie or not, but I do know since time immemorial, people have been making them.

Maybe we don’t write them down. Maybe the list is simply something we’ve considered in our minds. But I think we all have at least one or two things we’d like to do before we “kick the bucket”.

It could be a place you want to travel o...

A Fall Love Affair

Fall is my favorite.

Never mind what comes after. We won’t talk about that now. (This is a happy place.)

For now, we will strictly focus on FALL and all that is lovely.

The vibrant leaves on the trees.

The air turning crisp.

The scent of burning leaves.

Pumpkin spice coffee creamer.

Bags and bags of candy corn in the candy aisle at the grocery store.

Pumpkin patches and hay rack rides and jack-o-lanterns.

Apple orchards and sweatshirts and jeans and the crunch, crunch, crunch of leaves under my sneake...

Why Hello There!

It’s hard to believe that the bare-feet, sunscreen-on-our-noses, pool-side days are behind us. Kids are back to school with new backpacks and sharpened pencils, ready to learn. Air conditioners are turning off. Windows are opening. Leaves are starting to change. Stadium lights are shining on Friday nights. Candy corn’s in the candy aisle. And ever so slowly, the air’s turning crisp.

I love summer. But man, do I loooooove fall.

Since I’ve been away these past couple of months, I thought we’d cat...

Soaking up the Moments

When Brogan was a baby and I was still working as a 5th grade teacher, I remember looking at the kindergarten students walking in a cute little line down the hallway, thinking, “I wonder what Brogan will be like when he’s in kindergarten.”

It felt like an eternity away. Like I had all the time in the world.

Then I blinked.

And this happened…

In a little over a month, my little man starts kindergarten.

Which means these final weeks are precious weeks. I will be spending them outside in bare feet wi...

Authors at Work

There’s this fun blog hop that’s been going around amongst authors and I’ve been tagged!

By the fabulously talented Dani Pettrey, I might add.

Do you know her?

I think everybody knows Dani, and if you don’t, you really should. She’sa best-selling author of romantic suspense and an all-around fabulous person. I had the privilege of debuting alongside Dani in May of 2012 when her debut novel, Submerged, and my debut novel, Wildflowers from Winter, hit shelves at the same time.

To read Dani’s answer...

Wishing on Willows Devotional: Moments

Excerpt from book:

I had this terrifying thought that something could happen. That moments were fleeting and with the snap of a finger, he could be gone. ~Robin Price, Wishing on Willows

Devotional:

It’s hard to believe that my son will be off to kindergarten in the fall. Something about this milestone, more than any other, has me pondering the speed with which time travels. It honestly feels like just yesterday I was lying in that hospital bed, cuddling his tiny, warm body in my arms.

Moments ar...

Wishing on Willows Devotional: Identity

Excerpt from the book:

“…you take heart that failure doesn’t define you. Neither does your past.” Mom fingered the silver cross hanging around her neck. “When that truth sinks in, you dust yourself off and get back up again.” ~Maureen McKay, Wishing on Willows

Devotional:

The past is a hard thing to escape, especially when failure is part of it.

I don’t know anyone who likes to mess up. We all want to succeed. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to make the people in our life proud. That is a natu...