Welcome to Friday Reads!
Katie's publisher has agreed to giveaway a print copy of The Sowing Season (US ONLY)! You can enter to win by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of my blog post. (Giveaway ends October 16, 2020.) Click To Tweet If you are the randomly chosen winner, I’ll contact you.
Blurb…
Can an unlikely friendship give them the courage to start again?
Forced to sell the dairy farm he’s worked his entire life to make successful, Gerrit Laninga, now sixty-three, doesn’t know what to do with himself. He sacrificed everything for his cows–his time, his health, his family–with nothing to show for it but bitterness, regret, and two grown children who want nothing to do with him.
Fifteen-year-old Rae Walters is stricken with panic every time she climbs behind the wheel. But any failure, including not passing her driver’s test, jeopardizes The Plan–the detailed blueprint for high school and beyond that has her following in her lawyer father’s footsteps. Though she’s always been committed to The Plan, now that the pressure to succeed is building, doubts about whether she has what it takes begin to haunt her. What was supposed to unite her family in purpose could end up tearing it apart.
When their paths cross just as they each need a friend the most, Gerrit’s and Rae’s lives begin to change in unexpected ways. Can they discover together what really matters in life and learn it’s never too late for a second chance?
Story behind the story…
I grew up on a dairy farm and saw firsthand the hard work and sacrifice required to run a family operation. The farming life is not for the faint of heart. Over the years, family member after family member either moved away or passed away until only my uncle was left working the farm. When he finally made the decision to sell after years of unrelenting labor, he was free from the daily demands of the dairy for the first time in his life. His story inspired mine as I imagined the hundreds of men and women around our country in similar situations. I wondered: When farming is the only life you’ve ever known, how do you navigate life without it?
The Sowing Season is my first published book, but it is the fifth full-length novel I’ve written. The first four were all rejected by either agents or publishers—or both. When I started working on The Sowing Season, I had no reason to believe it would net any different results than my previous books, but it was personal to me and came from my heart, so I kept going. Now, here we are! I guess the old adage is true: “Write what you know.”
Excerpt…
Cow manure spewed from the burst pipe and rained down on him like retribution. With a tight-lipped growl, Gerrit Laninga rolled up a flannel sleeve and exposed a clean bit of skin to wipe the muck from his eyes. This wasn’t how he’d imagined his last day on the farm. But . . . well, it was fitting.
The sun had already passed its zenith. He’d better hurry if he was going to make it to Jim’s office in time to sign the papers. If he didn’t value his old Dodge so much, he’d be tempted to drive to the meeting exactly like this. Covered in crap. That would give Nicholsen an idea of how Gerrit felt about him and his so-called “deal of a lifetime.” And an idea of what Nicholsen was getting himself into with this godforsaken piece of property.
Gerrit trudged across the field with unwilling steps, the wind drying the manure so that it cracked and crumbled off of him as he walked. After sixty-three years, he’d gotten so he hardly noticed the cow smell anymore—most of the time. But even he wrinkled his nose at the stench coming from him now. “Smells like money,” he’d heard other farmers say. But he’d never made a dime off this place.
The farm was supposed to stay in his family forever. He’d meant to retire at the ripe old age of a hundred and be buried in the back forty under a cottonwood tree. But after last winter? Neither his old bones nor his bank account was going to make it through another year. Which he mentioned to the vet, who mentioned it to Grant Nicholsen down the road, who swooped in with an offer Gerrit couldn’t refuse before sunrise the following day.
After cleaning up and changing his clothes in the office behind the milking parlor, Gerrit climbed in the Dodge and sat with his arms resting on the wheel. In a couple of hours, Nicholsen’s crew would show up for the afternoon milking, and the farm would hum with steady progress, but for now it was quiet and still. Holsteins flicked lazy tails at fat black flies. Barn cats bathed themselves in the sun. The breeze blew bits of sawdust from the top of the pile.
Everything about this place felt like home and reminded him of his failures. He hated it, but he loved it. It was death, but it was the only life he’d ever known.
For the first time, he was glad Luke was dead.
Purchase links…
About Katie…
Katie Powner is an award-winning author who lives in Montana…where cows still outnumber people. She is a two-time OCW Cascade Award and ACFW First Impressions Award winner. Katie loves candy, Jesus, and red shoes (not necessarily in that order) and is a mom to the third power: biological, adoptive, and foster. The Sowing Season is her first book.
To learn more, please visit www.katiepowner.com.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Website: www.katiepowner.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorkatiepowner
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorkatiepowner/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/katie_powner
Rules for giveaway can be found here.
This sounds like a wonderful story as I grew up in a rural town where there were dairy farms also
Sounds like you’d enjoy it. Good luck, Heather!
I love rural towns and dairy farms! Thank you for commenting!
Love the cover. Thanks for introducing me to a new author. I’m excited to get to know more about the author and this story. Thanks for the opportunity to win this book.
I agree. The cover is lovely. I’m glad I could introduce you to a new author ? Good luck, Nora!
I love the cover, too 🙂 Thank you, Nora!
If I were to write about what I know, it would be about juggling a hospital career with family life, or maybe fulfilling long-held dreams, or possibly a romance, because I read so many of those…the possibilities are endless! Thanks for introducing me to a new author!
Sounds like you need to start writing, Candice ? You’re very welcome! Good luck!
I think a book about all those things wrapped up in one story would be fabulous, Candice! Thanks for commenting!
My story would be about strength, perseverance, and independence. My childhood was chaotic, then I carried that along with me throughout my young adult years. Married twice and now happily single, doing what I love…rescuing and fostering. I live with 6 cats snd a dog. I am semi-retired and live a somewhat peaceful life now…other than noisy neighbors with no respect for others but that’s seems to be our world today unfortunately. But enjoying life for the most part ?
It sounds like you would have an interesting and inspiring story to share. That’s wonderful that you’re rescuing and fostering! I’m sorry to hear about the neighbors, but I agree that it’s becoming all too common in today’s society. Thanks so much for sharing. Good luck!
It’s funny you should say that because my friends tell me a lot that I should write a book about my life LOL. Maybe someday ?
Sounds like it could be a sign ?
Sounds like you’ve been through a lot, Tracy, but I’m glad you’re living a peaceful life now. Thank you for commenting!
I love your cover and look forward to reading The Sowing Season. I am a first-time author and am writing another book which I never planned to do. (My book is Golden Memories – A Timeless Story of First Love and Enduring Friendship) It’s based on my great-grandmother’s journals written in the 1920s and I wrote about her growing up in the 1880s. If I were to write about what I know, it would be current and recent political happenings and the concern I have for our country. It would also be about the Christian Church and the need to take a stand against abortion, gay marriage and social rot from Hollywood, TV, music, etc. I will be interested in reading your blog and connecting with you and other authors to share thoughts and advice. Thanks.
The story you’re writing based on your great-grandmother’s journals sounds interesting. All the best to you! I look forward to connecting with you on my blog. If you’re interested, you can sign up for my newsletter, as well.
Good luck, Linda Ann!
I hope you enjoy the story, Linda! What a blessing to have your great-grandmother’s journals, that is a family treasure, I’m sure. Thank you for joining us on the blog today!
My story would be about being a victim of an abusive relationship. It’s 40 years later and it’s still painful to remember.
Diane, I’m so sorry that you had to go through that. Prayers your way. I’m sure if you were to ever write a story, it would be helpful to others to let them know they’re not alone.
Good luck, Diane.
Hi Diane, I’m so sorry for all your pain. Sometimes telling your story can be part of your healing. Thank you for being here today.
Katie’s book sounds good! If I were to write what I know it would be about mental illness and how the people who love you help you navigate life in good times and bad.
That would be an interesting book! I hope you’re able to write it some day. It’s definitely needed.
Good luck, Shannon!
Thank you, Shannon! We are fortunate when we have people like that in our lives. I hope you get the chance to tell your story.
I would write about fishing
That sounds like a fun topic. Good luck, Leland!
Who doesn’t love a good fish story? 🙂 Thanks for commenting, Leland!
I would write about knitting
I know there would be a big audience for that. Good luck, Xia!
Knitting is what I would write about
I wish I knew how to knit, that’s fantastic! Thanks, Xia!