Introducing Guest Blogger Katie Ganshert

Katie Ganshert is a writer who used to make a living as an elementary school teacher. Given my background in education and desire to make a living as a writer, I instantly connected with Katie's life story upon reading her blog earlier this year. Eventually, I connected with Katie and asked her to write a guest post for my blog. Gratefully, she agreed! Katie is a very talented author whose first book, Wildflowers from Winter, released May 2012 is a wonderful portrayal of how God can work in our lives to bring beauty out of pain.

So without further ado, here is Katie's first guest post for my blog:

Faith and the Writing Journey
Written by Katie Ganshert

I always loved writing as a little girl. Instead of watching TV, I’d curl up in bed and fill notebook after notebook with penciled stories.

I had no idea, at the time, that God was working in my heart long before I ever knew Him. Hindsight is the coolest, because of course now, I can see His hand in my life. I know with absolute assurance that He plants dreams and passions in our hearts for a reason.

My debut novel, Wildflowers from Winter, hit shelves this past May. It was a huge, giant dream come true. And I’ve loved every minute of being a published author. However, I can’t help but look back with fondness on the uncomfortable, sometimes confusing road that led me to this place.

It was a journey that was littered with doubt and deferred hope and excruciating bouts of waiting. I wrote novels and I got rejections from agents and editors and all I could do was get on my knees and surrender my dreams over and over again.

Until something pretty amazing happened.

My prayers changed from Lord, let me be published to Lord, give me more of you. I began to praise God in the midst of the waiting and the rejections. Because both were drawing me closer to Him. And drawing closer to Him is a pretty breathtaking thing.

I’m discovering that this side of publication is no different. I still have dreams. I still have fears. I still have desires and hopes and doubts. Publication is everything like I thought it would be and nothing like I thought it would be. I’m continually having to take my dreams and my fears and my expectations to the foot of the cross and hand them over.

As I travel this journey, I realize more and more that the point isn’t publication or making the best-seller list or winning awards.

The point is obedience and surrender.

It’s learning to trust that if God has put stories in our heart, then all we can do is write them. Write them the best way we know how, then get on our knees and trust Him with the rest. Come what may.

Question for You: Have any dreams or passions in your life strengthened your faith?

Leave your answers to this question in the comment section.

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Author Biography: Katie Ganshert was born and raised in the Midwest, where she writes stories about finding faith and falling in love. When she’s not busy plotting her next novel, she enjoys watching movies with her husband, playing make-believe with her wild-child of a son, and chatting with her girlfriends over bagels. She and her husband are in the process of adopting from the Congo. You can find her online at her blog and on Facebook.

Great news for you (the reader): Katie would love to send my readers a welcome packet. If you'd like to receive one, please visit her website and click on the Welcome Packet button.