Read The Art of Losing Yourself Online
Authors: Katie Ganshert
The Art of Losing Yourself (40 page)
EADERS
G
UIDE
1.
Whose story did you enjoy more—Carmen’s or Gracie’s? Why?
2.
This novel was inspired by the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel. A couple times during the story, Carmen feels like she’s nothing more than dry bones. Have you ever felt this way? Has God ever resuscitated an area of your life you thought was past the point of resuscitation? Share with the group.
3.
Carmen suffers from a recurring nightmare that changes slightly each time. How does the nightmare start? How does it change? What shocking thing happens in the last nightmare? How do these nightmares reflect Carmen’s waking hours? Can you relate? How so?
4.
At the end of the novel, Carmen wonders at what point coincidence stops being coincidence. Do you believe in coincidence? Why or why not?
5.
Ben describes a process called wedging, wherein clay must be broken apart and kneaded back together in order to survive the kiln. How might this analogy relate to Carmen’s and Gracie’s lives? What about your own?
6.
Entropy is the gradual decline into disorder, the idea that without regular upkeep, things fall into disrepair. What things in this story suffer the effects of entropy? In what ways do you combat entropy in your own life?
7.
Carmen believes that a baby will solve her problems. Do you think this is realistic? Why or why not? Have you ever fallen into this same way of thinking? Please share with the group.
8.
Gracie and Carmen cope very differently with their mother’s alcoholism. How does Carmen cope? How does Gracie cope? As the story opens, how have their past experiences shaped who they are?
9.
Carmen thinks God owes her for good behavior, that He has intentionally withheld something good from her life. Has there ever been a point in your life when you felt the same sense of entitlement? Do you think God intentionally withholds good things from our lives?
10.
Who is your favorite secondary character? Why?
11.
Gracie calls Carmen a hypocrite. In what ways is Carmen hypocritical throughout the novel? How does social media play into Carmen’s struggles? Do you feel like the person you project to the world is an honest depiction of who you really are? How can we get better at being real?
12.
In what ways do Gracie and Carmen help each other throughout the novel? Whom do you think ends up being the most helpful?
13.
What do you think the title of this novel,
The Art of Losing Yourself
, means? How do various characters lose themselves throughout this story?
CKNOWLEDGMENTS
I have a different relationship with every novel I’ve written. There are those I fall in love with immediately. Those that begin with a vague sense of fondness. And then there is this one…
For a long while, I did not have happy feelings toward
The Art of Losing Yourself
. It seemed to bring out a whole host of unpleasant emotions, with insecurity, frustration, and weariness leading the way. It’s hard, when you’re in the midst of a waiting season, to write a story about a character in a waiting season too.
If not for these champions cheering me on and offering support, I might never have pushed through the “pull out my hair, grappling in the dark, I have no idea how to make this story better” stage to the place we find ourselves in now. It’s funny how, sometimes, the most stubborn of stories can end up being favorites.
Big thanks go to…
Ryan, for not only being my husband but my best friend. Every writer needs a spouse like you. Unfortunately for the others, you’re all mine.
Melissa Gilroy, for not only reminding me of the things I so easily forget when I’m in the thick of a writerly crisis, but for every other single thing you are in my life. I’d say you don’t know how much you mean to me, but something tells me that you do.
My family, for your ceaseless support. Without you, I couldn’t do this thing I love.
Jill Kemerer, Beth Vogt, Becky Wade, Carla Laureano, Laurie Tomlinson, and any other writer friend who helped me turn a vague idea into a full-grown story.
Hillary Manton Lodge, for providing the perfect idea when I was scrambling. The goat came at just the right time and did wonders to lighten up the story line. Abby Van Gerpen, for sharing a funny story, which led to conspiracy theorist Jimmy. My cousin, Travis McGivern, and the Bettendorf High School
debate team, for answering all of my silly questions and letting me sit in on a practice.
James Zahara, chief meteorologist for Storm Team 8, for sharing with me the ins and outs of weather broadcasting. Any inaccuracies in the story are all mine.
Shannon Marchese, as always, for your brilliance and for seeing what isn’t there. It’s a pretty amazing gift. You have this way of pulling out the potential until it’s not just potential but, as Malik would say, kinetic. Thank you for believing in me and this story.
Lissa Halls Johnson, for walking beside me and holding my hand when I was all wrung dry with no more brain cells left to spare. Your specific feedback was the perfect amount of light I needed to pull this story apart and put it back together again.
Laura Wright, for your amazing attention to detail. The entire team at WaterBrook Multnomah, for the enthusiasm, energy, and hard work you’ve all poured into my writing career. I’ve got nothing but love for all of you.
Rachelle Gardner, agent extraordinaire, for all you do to get my work out there.
My readers, for being the best in all the land. Your notes of encouragement—whether they be through e-mail, Facebook, or Twitter—come at the perfect time, every time, just when I need them. I pray this story ministers to you.
And, of course, to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ—the giver of every good gift, the only one who can breathe life when there is none. As the title of this story suggests, there is an art to losing ourselves. My prayer is that I would lose myself more and more each day in the all-encompassing glory that is knowing You.
BOUT THE
A
UTHOR
K
ATIE
G
ANSHERT
is a Midwest gal who’s passionate about Jesus, her family, adoption, writing, grace, Africa, and all things romance. When she’s not plotting her next novel, she enjoys going on ice-cream dates with her husband, playing make-believe with her son, and chatting with her girlfriends over coffee and bagels. She could talk books all day and absolutely loves connecting with her readers.
You can connect with Katie at
Twitter:
@KatieGanshert
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/AuthorKatieGanshert
Pinterest:
http://pinterest.com/katieganshert
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