Tuesday, May 08, 2012

Just released: Wildflowers from Winter by Katie Ganshert

I love to tell friends about new novels. Wildflowers from Winter, Katie Ganshert's debut novel is fresh off the presses and has just released today! Read on to find out how you could be in the drawing for a copy of this book.


Isn't the cover art gorgeous? Here's what the book's about:

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. 
Katie has graciously agreed to visit by blog and chat a bit. 

What would you like to tell us about Wildflowers from Winter?I like to call it Co Ro Wo Fi. I’m declaring it an official genre. Contemporary Romance Women’s Fiction. Wildflowers from Winter is definitely a mingling of the two. In a nutshell, it’s a coming-home love story set in small town Iowa about the bonds of friendship and God’s ability to bring beauty from the barren seasons in our lives. 

What’s your favorite season and why?
Summer! I’m sure some of it has to do with being a kid and a teacher and forever associating summer with freedom. But I also love it because I hate wearing shoes and socks and makeup, and I love playing squirt guns with my sun and sitting on the porch swing out back, reading a good book while he hunts for bugs. You just can’t do that sort of thing in the winter.

Which compliment related to your writing has meant the most and why?

Ooo, that’s tough! So far I’ve been very fortunate to receive a lot of encouraging reviews and feedback, all of which mean the world to me. I love hearing that readers couldn’t put my book down or stayed up all night to read it. That always makes me smile.

But if I had to pick the one that has meant the most, it would have to be this: Overall, my favorite element of the book was the glory it brought to the Author of creation.

It reminded me why I’m doing this. Not for my glory. But for His. I’m humbled that God would choose to use little old me and my little old story to draw hearts nearer to Him.

Katie, what's your favorite chore?
I feel like this question should be an oxymoron. Is there such a thing as a favorite chore? Okay, if I had to pick one, it would be cleaning our kitchen. There is something so satisfying about having a clean, crumb-less kitchen. And also because it’s the only time I get to watch TV. We have a very small kitchen TV and I like watching reruns of favorite shows while I sweep and sanitize.

How can readers find your book on the Internet?
Very easily! They can check out the Wildflowers from Winter page on my website, which has links to various online retailers and a lot of fun extra bonus features for those who enjoy the story. For those looking for a quick link, you can find Wildflowers on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Christianbook.com.

Katie has kindly agreed to give a copy of Wildflowers from Winter to one of my readers. Leave a comment for Katie, and I'll draw a winner over the weekend. 

Congratulations, Heather Kopp! You won a copy of Wildflowers from Winter.

14 comments:

Unknown said...

Megan, thanks so much for hosting Katie with an insightful interview! Katie, I absolutely love your bottom line: "Overall, my favorite element of the book was the glory it brought to the Author of creation." I can't wait to see what He does with your debut novel! Hugs and CONGRATULATIONS!

Katie Ganshert said...

Thanks for having me, Megan! And thanks for celebrating with me on my release day!

Mark Smith said...

So excited to see your book "birthday" finally arrive. I wish you the very best with book sales, opportunities to meet people and share the Blessed Hope that your characters know, and future writing projects.
I would love to win a copy of this book -- to share with a friend of course! (and to read).
I'm not surprised you're a "summer" person. :)

tstarmom said...

Yay! So glad I spotted this book giveaway at just the right time on Twitter. I love supporting debut novels b/c they give us all hope that it can be done! I have a Journalism degree and finished up my own fictional novel last summer. I sent out 20 queries & got 20 rejections, so I know how much hard work & prayers go into it. I do plan on continuing with my quest to get published, but my son got diagnosed with a speech disorder called apraxia last September. I put my novel on the back burner until I can get my little one talking. Glad to also find your blog & books!

Megan DiMaria said...

Thanks for stopping by, everyone. It's such a pleasure to promote my friends, ESPECIALLY those exciting debut novels.

tstarmom, hang in there. Getting published is a process. You're a lot further than most folks -- you've written a novel and had the courage to submit it. Perhaps you should find a writing group to join. What kind of fiction do you write?

tstarmom said...

I would love to join a writing or critique group in the fall once my little one is 4 and will be at preschool 3 days a week. I want to have a few other eyes read my mss before I submit it again. I believe in my work and know I can make it happen if I just put my mind to it! Any suggestions on a writing group? My mss is women's inspirational fiction.

Keli Gwyn said...

I'm sooo happy for Katie and know her awesome story is going to touch many lives for Christ.

Kendra said...

Congrats Katie! So glad this day has come for you.

Becky Doughty said...

Woo-hoo Katie! Your name is popping up all over the place! You go, girl!

Lovely interview and I know that God is going to bless you with a big return on your investment into His kingdom - and into our lives.

Megan - lovely interview. "Insightful" is a good word, as Donna Pyle put it.

Blessings

Megan DiMaria said...

Hey, Tori. Why don't you email me at mdimaria3 -at- comcast.net, and I'll try to point you in the right direction for your writing.

Paula said...

Oh please, please pick me! I'd love to read this book. It's one of my favorite covers ever and the synopsis sounds wonderful!

Heather L. Kopp said...

Okay, that does it. I have to win now because I wrote a long, witty comment and it didn't save it for me after telling me that I don't own the wordpress identity I claimed. Geesh. Okay, what I said was that I don't read much Christian fiction but I am ready to be won over and I bet Katie's book could do the trick. Plus, I'll give it to my sweet mother and she'll LOVE it because she loves everything.:) Really, I also said that I love that you watch TV while cleaning. I used to think that someone should write a book about how to change your life during commercials. But now DVRs have gone and ruined that idea. Anyway, what a sweet interview and I'm so glad to be getting to know of some of my agent sisters. Congrats, Katie!!!

Erin Cataldi said...

I have to say I loved this book and I'm not overly fond of Christian romance. I cannot wait to read the sequel!

Megan DiMaria said...

Congratulations Heather Kopp! You won the copy of Katie's book.

Please email me at mdimaria3 at comcast dot net, so I can get your address.