Wednesday, May 11, 2011

5 Easy Questions with Katie Ganshert!

Every Wednesday, I ask a writer the same five easy questions. In an effort to support and promote fellow wordsmiths, I feature authors who write a variety of genres, from sweet inspirational to mainstream thrillers. The writers themselves may be aspiring, published, or best-selling--all have made an impact on my life.


Thank you for joining me in welcoming… Katie Ganshert!

As you can guess, Katie and I met through--get this--blogging! Shocking, I know! Many of my friendships with writers developed through blogging, and I am so thankful I took the plunge when I did. Katie impressed me from day one. Her honest, often funny, always poignant posts nourish me. It's been uplifting and exciting to watch her journey. She's represented by Rachelle Gardner, and not long ago, Katie landed a two book deal with Waterbrook Multnomah. Her first book will be available in May 2012. I can't wait to read it--and consider yourself warned--you're going to be hearing a lot about this book from me on Facebook, Twitter and my blog!

Let's get to it!

1. Beverage of choice?


While writing, it's most definitely Diet Coke. I've developed an unhealthy addiction. But when  I'm in the mood for something hot (and a little healthier), I got for honey green tea. I love green tea.

2. Any pets?

One pet. My black lab, Bubba. He's almost seven and we love him to death. My son and Bubba are best buddies. Sometimes, in the early morning or before our son falls asleep, we'll hear him call, "Bubba, come!" Our little guy likes when Bubba sleeps with him. Unfortunately, he has elbow displasia and he's starting to limp a lot. I also used to own three hermit crabs, but I became too obsessed and spent way too much money on them. So I gave them to one of my students.

3. Dream vacation?

Europe! I've always wanted to backpack through Europe. Buy a Euro pass and go to England, France, Italy, Spain. Instead of going to the touristy cities (like Paris and London), I'd want to visit smaller towns and villages and experience the culture. While I'm over there, I'd also really like to go to Ireland.

4. What are you listening to right now?

My husband and my son downstairs in the kitchen. Brogan's asking for milk and my husband is getting it for him. Bubba's nails are clicking on the linoleum and now I hear him drinking from his water dish. No music. But if I were listening to music, I'd probably be listening to Matt Maher's Come Awake or Laura Story's Blessings.

5. What's for dinner?

It's Wednesday, which means we're headed to Aunt Peggy's. Every Wednesday, my aunt and my grandma make a homemade meal (always something different, and always a surprise) and the whole family goes over to eat and hang out. It's one of my favorite things about living near family! Especially since I sincerely like my family. :-)

Thanks Katie, for being my guest today! I know all about Diet Coke addictions (and M&M addictions...). I want to give Bubba a big hug, the poor fella. It's so hard watching our pets age. But I am curious about this obsession with hermit crabs. How can you spend too much money on them? New shells? Fancy food? Enquiring minds want to know. :) Oh, and one of my fantasies involves driving through England's countryside and taking pictures of all the old manors. We should make that happen!

Thanks again!

And since spring finally arrived here in Michigan, dandelions have taken over.

Do dandelions invade every lawn in your neck of the woods?

Katie Ganshert graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison with a degree in education. She was born and raised in the Midwest, where she lives with her husband, their young son, and their goofy black lab, Bubba. She’s thankful God gave her a husband who suffers through romantic movies, loves talking with her girlfriends about God, life, and books, and is often spotted around town walking her dog, pushing a stroller, and reading all at the same time. She is represented by Rachelle Gardner with Wordserve Literary and her debut novel, a contemporary romance, is coming out in May, 2012 from Waterbrook Multnomah. 

For more information about Katie, head to her blog, be friends with her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.

Have a fabulous Wednesday!  

27 comments:

  1. Thanks for having me, Jill! You're such an encourager, girl!

    Hermit Crabs. Sigh. Yes. It is very possible to spend a lot of money on those creatures. I'm the type of person that when I own a pet, I go all out. I can't have them in poor conditions. Keeping proper care of hermit crabs involves a lot more work than a person thinks. I kept buying bigger and better terrariums for them to live and toys and nets for them to climb on. It was quite ridiculous.

    And yes - dandelions are upon us!

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  2. Great answers!

    Katie, I'm picturing you hunkered over a tank full of hermit crabs. Neat!

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  3. Hermit crabs. Too much money spent. Pearl shells? Lol And if it weren't for the dandelions, I wouldn't have any flowers in my garden. I miss the days when my girlies would run outside and pick me huge bouquets of dandelions

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  4. Yay! Great interview. :-) I'd love to go to Europe too. *sigh*
    As for dandelions, no, they're rare around here. My kids are always so delighted to find one because of that.

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  5. Katie, great interview and lots of fun! My kids begged for hermit crabs. Um...no. The only crabs I allow are steamed legs with butter for dipping! I'm excited about your book coming out and can't wait to read it!

    We have tons of dandelions. My son picks me tons of bouquets to put in the house. :) I remember doing that as a kids too.

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  6. Jealous of that Aunt and her weekly homecooked meals. Sound fun and yum! :O)

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  7. Great to learn a bit more about you, Katie. Congrats on your book deals!

    We have dandelions too!

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  8. SO FUN!! I love these interviews! And Katie, you have the right idea, the EuroPass is the WAY TO GO! and small towns, especially in Switzerland. Loved Switzerland.

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  9. I'm trying not to be jealous Jaime - it sounds like you've been there! Lucky!

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  10. LOL! I love that you were obsessed with hermit crabs. That would be such a totally great quirk to give a heroine in one of your stories. ;)

    As to dandelions...Sigh. The annual infestation is ON here. My yard is more yellow than green.

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  11. Katie!

    My name is now Aunt Peggy. And I'd love to go backpacking through Europe w/ you. Let's go. We'll bring the dogs.

    These have been great, Jill. I could never know enough about Kate (as her husband calls her) ;)
    ~ Wendy

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  12. Happy to meet you, Katie! A Euro Pass to go through the continenant sounds heavenly. I had an uncle who visited Ireland pretty often. I wish he took more pictures :-)

    We have super dandelions here. The tops are as big as a child's fist.

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  13. I had no idea hermit crabs had toys. Little squeaky starfish, maybe? ;)

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  14. Katie, I so sorry about Bubba's elbows. It's so hard to see our furry friends hurting.

    I hope you get to experience Europe one day. There are so many wonderful places to see, and the people are warm and friendly.

    I'm appreciating dandelions more than usual this year because my sweet five-year-old neighbor girl shows up at my front door with them in the bouquets of wildflowers she picks for me.

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  15. Hermit crabs are very superficial, they always have to keep trading their homes... never satisfied. Or maybe they're just upwardly mobile?

    Heh, great to have you here Katie

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  16. Oh, I LOVE all the comments today! You all made me smile!

    Katie, thanks again!

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  17. I have an aunt Peggy, too, Katie! I don't live as close though.

    Glad you finally got some spring, Jill! Dandelions don't seem too bad in our lawn (or maybe I just haven't noticed) but there are plenty of other weeds!

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  18. Aw...Katie, you're making me miss MY family so very far away in VA. lol... Yeah, I have an unhealthy obsession with Diet Coke as well. If only I had the desire to change that...

    Jill, one nice thing about Hawaii--I don't think we have dandelions. At least, i havent' seen any. I'll bet my girls will miss them though.

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  19. Fun post Ladies! You both are a blessing to know.

    Katie, I'm mimicking Jill your book will rest right beside Jody's on my shelf. I can't wait to escape in the world of your imagination!

    Hermit crabs...interesting:)

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  20. Fun answers, Katie! I'm sooo jealous of your Wed. night meals! We're eating Ragu here...by my husband's request, mind you. :)

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  21. I agree, that Katie's Wed. night meals sound lovely. Nothing like a group of close relatives and mounds of food for a good time!

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  22. Ahh, it's Wednesday and I just got home from a long day of teaching and tutoring so I'm really envious of that homemade dinner right about now. Also a bit envious of the close family since all of mine has moved in the past few years.

    Can't wait for the book, Katie. Great interview, Jill!

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  23. I have a feeling that student's parents are just loving you, KAtie for giving them those hermit crabs. Wow, is that ever a unique thing to learn about you.

    Lots of yellow weeds here too, Jill. Sigh. I hate them!

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  24. I'm loving these interviews! Great to learn more about you, Katie! You're as wonderful and sincere and sweet in person as you are on your blog :)

    The only time I went to Europe, it was a backpacking trip and we slept at hostels and on the trains. What a unique and fun experience!

    As for the dandelions, we don't have too many this year yet. Very disappointing to my little one because she loves them, thinks they're "beautiful" and it always makes me smile when she picks one for me.

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  25. Displasia! I had a black lab with it in his hips. Eventually I split the sides of a tote bag and put that under his belly so we'd have handles to help him up and down steps.

    As for dandelions, I have a love/hate relationship. We have oodles of them and I think they're lovely as sunny, yellow flowers. It's those dang sticks that crop up once the white puffs have blown away!! But here in NC we're actually PAST dandelion season, so the angst is over.

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  26. I forget how sweet it is when young children give us freshly-picked bouquets of the yellow beasts!

    MaryC: Welcome! Our families aren't nearby either. :(

    Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  27. Feeling right at home here today with the two ladies who first befriended me as I wondered around Blogging sites in an on-line daze!!! It's always fun to learn something new about someone we have grown to care about. Jill and Katie, you two are THE BEST. (The only bad thing on here is the Diet Coke addiction. That stuff is ....whispering this...not good for you.)

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