End of Summer Birthday Bash | Kickoff ~ Interview with Katie Ganshert & Giveaway!

Welcome to Christian Bookshelf Reviews, Katie!! Will you tell us a little about yourself? 

Sure thing! I’m a slightly-frazzled Midwest gal who’s passionate about Jesus, my family, adoption, and of course, writing stories! When I’m not plotting or brainstorming or clacking away on the computer keys, I enjoy laughing with my hubs, playing make-believe with my wild-child of a son, dreaming and planning for the day our Congolese daughter will come home, and chatting with girlfriends over coffee.

What is your novel, A Broken Kind Of Beautiful, about?

A Broken Kind of Beautiful is a story about 24-year fashion model, Ivy Clark. She’s been in the modeling industry for ten years now and she’s learned one sacred truth—appearance is everything. Nobody cares about her broken past as long as she can look beautiful for the camera. It’s the only life Ivy knows, so when it starts to unravel, she’ll do anything to hold on. Even if that means traveling to the quaint island town of Greenbrier, South Carolina to be the new face of her stepmother’s bridal wear line—a job Ivy finds incredibly ironic, since she knows she’s far from the pure bride in white.

When she arrives, she discovers that her future rests in the hand of her new photographer, Davis Knight. He’s a man who set down his camera two years ago and currently works maintenance at a local church. You can imagine, Ivy isn’t thrilled. But then she discovers that Davis isn’t some wannabe hack. He’s a brilliant photographer. So why did he leave it all behind?

Throughout the story, Davis, along with a cast of other characters, challenge everything Ivy has come to believe about beauty and worth. And at the end of the day, it’s a novel that asks one question: Is it possible that God sees us—people stained and broken by the world—yet wants us still?

What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk? 

I asked my husband, because I couldn’t think of any. He said that he never knows where he’s going to find me when I’m working. Sometimes I write in the office. Sometimes I write in our bed. Sometimes I’m on the couch. I even write in the garage. Apparently, he finds this amusing. ☺

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I like to go on bike rides with my family. Or walk to Dairy Queen. I love hanging out with girlfriends. Reading books. Watching movies. And chatting with other adoptive mamas who are also waiting for their children to come home.

What are your favorite and least favorite genres to read and why?

One of my favorites to read is young adult dystopian-esque novels because it’s fun getting lost in a completely different world. If they have a strong romantic thread, then all the better. My least favorite to read is horror, because I don’t like to be scared.

Do you have a favorite Bible verse?

Oh man, that’s like trying to pick a favorite candy! There are too many good ones to pick one. One of my current favorites isn’t a verse so much as a passage from Ezekiel 37, when Ezekiel has the vision of the valley of dry bones. Every time I read it, it strikes a deep chord. Nothing is ever too dead that God can’t breathe it back to life. 

Do you have a favorite song and/or movie? 

One of my all-time favorite movies is The Princess Bride. I loved it as a little kid and I still love it as an adult. It has everything—humor, romance, adventure, princesses and pirates. And it’s one of the best movies to quote.


What is your favorite season and why is it your fav?

Fall! I love crisp weather—jeans and sweatshirts and fresh air and the smell of burning leaves. Football and back-to-school supplies and all the pretty leaves. Fall makes me happy.

Do you have a fun birthday or party memory you'd care to share?

Growing up, my parents gave my brother and I the best old-fashioned birthday parties. We didn’t go anywhere. We invited friends over. We played games in the backyard—like Red Rover Red Rover—and we played games in the basement—musical chairs and pin the tail on the donkey. We ordered Little Caesar’s Pizza and ate cake and ice cream and then every year, my dad would put us all in a pyramid and take a picture.

If you were hosting a dinner party and could invite any five people, who would you invite?

I would invite my husband, our son, our Congolese daughter, her foster mom, and a friend from Congo named Paul who would be able to help us translate, since her foster mom speaks French.

This-or-that questions:

Snowstorms or Thunderstorms? 

Thunderstorms

Chocolate or Vanilla?

Chocolate

Tea or Coffee? 

Coffee

Call or Text? 

Text

Cats or Dogs?

Dogs

Early-bird or Night-owl? 

Early-bird

Introvert or Extrovert?

Extrovert

Facebook or Twitter? 

Facebook

Cake or Cupcakes?

Cupcakes

Sneakers or Sandals?

Sandals

Are you currently working on any new novels? If so, could you give us a hint? 

I’m finishing up edits for my fourth novel, set to release in April, titled The Art of Losing Yourself. The story was inspired by that passage in Ezekiel I talked about earlier. It’s about a woman who feels like her faith and marriage are dead and how a troubled teenager and a rundown motel help bring both back to life again.

Thank you so much for being here! Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers and where can we find you on the web?

Thanks for having me! I guess I’d just like to say a big thank you to readers who’ve read my books and big hello, nice to meet you to those who haven’t. If you’d like to learn more, you can find me at www.katieganshert.com

 

Enter for a chance to win a copy of A Broken Kind Of Beautiful! Giveaway is open to the US and ends 9/28.

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