real interview: Laura Anderson Kurk

Glass Girl

by Staff Writer Jennifer Grimes

After the death of her brother, heroine Meg Kavanagh realizes that she is made of glass―she’s fragile, and she’s about to break. But moving to Wyoming and attempting to hold together family bonds begins to change things, and Meg realizes she’s not as fragile as she seems. It isn’t until she meets cowboy Henry that she discovers the one thing that will really make her strong: faith in Jesus Christ. Glass Girl by Laura Anderson Kurk is a story packed with sorrow, hope, redemption, and love. (more…)

real story: grace in the face of abuse

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By RTF Guest Writer Elora Ramirez

Sometimes, the biggest step we can make with grace is the acknowledgment of the wrecking ball of pain inside.

My recognition came in the form a whisper and a prayer.

The minute I admitted my childhood abuse the power shifted and I knew nothing would be the same. (more…)

real interview: satellites and sirens

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By RTF Staff Writer Sam Gardiner

[Originally published here.]

Note from the editor: we’re super-excited to introduce our newest staff writer, Sam Gardiner. Give him a warm welcome in the comments!

You may know Satellites & Sirens as being responsible for “Anchor”, their debut single that climbed the Christian rock radio charts last year. After releasing their debut album Satellites & Sirens in 2010, the band broke away from Word Records and launched their independent career. I recently had the great pleasure of catching up with Geoff Hunker, lead singer of the band, to talk about their new single “Ready To Save”, their upcoming sophomore project Frequency and their touring plans for the future. My questions are in bold, followed by Geoff’s answers in black.

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So, what’s been going on in the Satellites & Sirens world over the past eighteen months? (more…)

real interview: Lynn Cowell

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Lynn is the author of His Revolutionary Love, a book that helps girls develop  a higher self-esteem by discovering Christ’s life-altering love.

Interviewed by RTF Staff Writer Shannon Meiers

How long did it take for you to formulate the idea behind your book?

Several years ago I started hanging out with a group of high school girls. We went to the book store to get a book, but we couldn’t find what we were looking for – a book that communicated that Jesus was crazy about us and only He could fill the love gap in our hearts. (more…)

real interview: abandon (the band)

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By RTF Staff Writer Matthew VanTryon

Abandon, a contemporary Christian band that is quickly gaining popularity, has had quite a journey. From their hit songs Hero and more recently, Feel it in your Heart, they have gone from a humble beginning to being nominated for a Dove Award. (more…)

real interview: annie f. downs

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By RTF Staff Writer Matthew VanTryon


Matthew: You’ve been blogging since 2006, now you’ve written a book…what is it about writing that you enjoy so much? What or who first got you interested in writing?

Annie: Here is the truth- I love to talk. I love telling stories. I love entertaining people. I find it to be very challenging to do that well in written form and I like that challenge. Something about a well written paragraph, or sentence even, can take my breath away. I think it is just something that the Lord put in my heart from a young age.

(more…)

exclusive interview: sanctus real

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By Staff Writer Derek Hanisch

With the recent release of Sanctus Real’s Pieces of a Real Heart CD, I was given the opportunity to interview Mark Graalman, the drummer in the group.  Mark had some great answers to my questions. I hope you enjoy getting to know more about Sanctus Real — I know I did!  (Thursday I’ll let you know what I thought of their new album.) (more…)

real interview: Betsy St. Amant

Betsy St. Amant

I was privileged to have the chance to interview Betsy St. Amant, Christian fiction author with Steeple Hill. Along with writing romance novels, Betsy also writes for Crosswalk, Scribble Chicks, and keeps a personal blog.

Sarah: When did you first know you wanted to become a writer?

Betsy: I think I’ve always known. One year in elementary school for Career Day, I took a pen and notepad with me and said I was an author. I remember pounding out stories (usually never finished and without much of a plot line!) on my parents’ first computer when I was about 7 years old. I have disks after disks of saved manuscripts as a child that crack me up! But the dream was always there. (more…)