Katie Ganshert | The Art of Losing Yourself
April 24, 2015
It’s funny how stories come into existence. Sometimes, it’s a character who won’t leave me alone. They take up residence in
my brain and refuse to go away until I put them on the page. Sometimes, it’s an
interesting story in the news that grabs my attention. Sometimes, it’s a strange
scenario that has my imagination racing. And sometimes, it’s the glint of the
sun off a sign in a parking lot. For Expectant Mothers. I sort of hated that sign. Mostly because I wanted to be an expectant mother.
Infertility had become a part of my story. Some days were better than others. As
I rolled past, glaring just a little, I imagined what it might be like to slam
on the accelerator and run the thing into the ground. Victorious for a split second, and then, I’m sure, the horror would set in. The store owner would probably call the police and the police officer would
probably arrest me, or at the very least, write me a hefty ticket. Maybe I’d
lose my license. Or maybe the story would show up on the news. I could picture
the headlines. Local Author Unleashes Fury on Unsuspecting Stork. Oh my
goodness, I’d have a mug shot. Thankfully, I was able to tamp the impulse down. The sign remained intact. But
the scene unfolding in my mind remained. It was one I wanted to write. In the world of fiction, writing experts often tell authors to raise the stakes.
Up the ante. Amplify. Amplify. Amplify. That is the name of the game. So the question became—what kind of character would make this run-in with a sign
a bigger deal? And just like that, Carmen Hart was born. Florida panhandle’s favorite weather girl. A woman who looks like she has it all
together, with a made-for-TV smile, a postcard perfect house, and a handsome
husband who coaches the state champion football team. What would happen if that character rammed her bumper against the sign?
Or worse, what would happen if her temporary break in sanity was caught on an
iPhone and uploaded to Facebook, where said video went viral? Oh, we writers can be evil to our characters, can’t we? Poor Carmen. But don’t feel too bad for her. It’s this scuffle with the stork that sets her
on a much-needed path toward hope and healing. GiveawayReaders, do you ever play the game of "what if"? Leave a comment below to be
entered to win tea and a mug to daydream with, courtesy of Katie Ganshert. Just like in my dream, I was drowning and nobody even noticed. Every morning, Carmen Hart pastes on her made-for-TV smile and broadcasts the
weather. She’s the Florida panhandle’s favorite meteorologist, married to
everyone’s favorite high school football coach. They’re the perfect-looking
couple, live in a nice house, and attend church on Sundays. From the outside,
she’s a woman who has it all together. But on the inside, Carmen Hart struggles
with doubt. She wonders if she made a mistake when she married her husband. She
wonders if God is as powerful as she once believed. Sometimes she wonders if He
exists at all. After years of secret losses and empty arms, she’s not so sure
anymore. Until Carmen’s sister—seventeen year old runaway, Gracie Fisher—steps in and
changes everything. Gracie is caught squatting at a boarded-up motel that
belongs to Carmen’s aunt, and their mother is off on another one of her benders,
which means Carmen has no other option but to take Gracie in. Is it possible for
God to use a broken teenager and an abandoned motel to bring a woman’s faith and
marriage back to life? Can two half-sisters make each other whole?
About Katie GanshertAward-winning author, Katie Ganshert, graduated from the University of Wisconsin
in Madison with a degree in education, and worked as a fifth grade teacher for
several years before staying home to write full-time. She was born and raised in
the Midwest, where she lives with her family and their goofy black lab, Bubba.
When she’s not busy penning novels or spending time with her people, she enjoys
drinking coffee with friends, reading great literature, and eating copious
amounts of dark chocolate. You can learn more about Katie and her books by
visiting her website or author
Facebook page
Comments
25 comments posted.
Re: Katie Ganshert | The Art of Losing Yourself
Sometime but things happen for a reason. (Marissa Yip-Young 5:53am April 24, 2015)
What if ... all people had the opportunity to follow their educational dreams. What a richer, happier world this would be. (Deb Philippon 12:02pm April 24, 2015)
Yes. What if is always a dream and a thought since that is life. (Sharon Berger 12:48pm April 24, 2015)
Thanks so much for hosting me! Always a pleasure meeting new readers! (Kate Ganshert 1:12pm April 24, 2015)
nope can't really say that I play the game of what it. life is a little to full with the family and job to do any real what if daydreaming. (Angela Parrish 2:28pm April 24, 2015)
Yup, I 'what if' a lot! (Joanne Schultz 3:35pm April 24, 2015)
Sometimes I ask what if??? I think I did it most when I was on my cancer journey and wondered what if my sister and mom had not passed away but they were here and that they could help and encourage me. But then reality sets in and you just have to deal with what life sends your way. My faith does help a lot so I try to trust more and stop wondering what if. (Maryann Skaritka 7:32pm April 24, 2015)
What if you could go back in time? Would you make different choices, and if you did, wouldn't it impact the rest of your life as you know it? For all the missteps and mistakes, I wouldn't trade my life because I wouldn't have the family or friends that I have. (Saundra Thompson 9:19pm April 24, 2015)
I have always been an optimist and don't take time to ponder "what ifs" (Joy Isley 9:32pm April 24, 2015)
Maryann Skaritka & Marissa Yip-Young - I really like what you posted and although it is meant to answer the author's question and to win a prize I agree and I'm grateful you posted this. (Holly Loch 11:22pm April 24, 2015)
I used to think what if but I'm happy with life as it is now. (Nadine Stacy 4:20am April 25, 2015)
I often think "what if" I could travel back in time and meet Queen Elizabeth and tell her about her descendants Queen Victoria and her namesake Queen Elizabeth II. However I wouldn't want to stay there, I'm to attached to my comfortable life! (Lesley Walsh 7:22am April 25, 2015)
Yes, sometimes when I re-read a book and come to some tragedy, I always wish the characters were makingvdifferent choices. (Rebecca Dewey 9:08am April 25, 2015)
When I was younger, I used to play "what if" in my mind a lot, but never acted on it, thank goodness!! I think some of those would have gotten me arrested, or perhaps a different life. Now that I'm older, I still play, but my "what ifs" are quite toned down, as am I. I hope that makes sense to you. Perhaps some of them would have made for a good book, such as you have done. For now, I only have one book in my mind, and all I'm waiting for is the spare time to put pen to paper. Your book sounds really good, and I've put it on my TBR list to read this Spring. The cover is beautifully done, too!! Congratulations on what I'm sure will be a big hit!! (Peggy Roberson 11:19am April 25, 2015)
This seems to be a "story" about real people with real feelings like you and me. We all have felt these feelings all the time. Some expressible. Some not. I think I understand where you you were when Carmen Hart was created. (Kantu Malhotra 1:59pm April 25, 2015)
Yes, I do - like, what if I had the money to pay every thing off then I could afford to work part time, go on more vacations, read more, and drink more tea. (Debra Wolsleben 8:49pm April 25, 2015)
Yes, I play "what if" also . What if I could go back in time and do lots of things different. I tell myself I would do things very much different .But who knows ? (Joan Thrasher 4:28pm April 26, 2015)
I was thinking about things I had not done yesterday but said that was OK because I did something else with that time. If I think what if; it is I wish I could have done more for someone. (Leona Olson 8:07pm April 26, 2015)
What iffing doesn't really serve a purpose, does it? But the book sounds interesting non the less. (Christine Schultz 8:40pm April 26, 2015)
Not really I live more in the moment! (Denise Austin 10:29am April 27, 2015)
When I used to drive from Kentucky to South Carolina and back, I would look at houses I was travelling past and wonder what that family was doing. What was their life like? I would always think "What if that were me?" My husband and I always play the what if game. What if we just picked up and left where we are? What if we were in a position to pursue our dreams? Go where we want to go? Do what we want to do? For right now, those things aren't possible. We are always waiting for one more child to leave the nest. When they are all gone though, that's when our what ifs will become reality. (Val Pearson 11:35am April 27, 2015)
I hope I'm not too late to enter. It would be awesome to win. =) (Ashley B. 12:04pm April 27, 2015)
Yes, but if I do 'what if' too much, I get discouraged. (Connie Sahn 12:29pm April 27, 2015)
My husband and I play what if all the time. Mostly about vacations. What if we could go to Portugal, etc. (Connie Williamson 7:50pm April 27, 2015)
I like to play the 'what if' game. It scares my husband . . .:-) (Julie Robinson 5:48pm April 29, 2015)
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