Interviews

Back Porch Book Chat with Tasha Kazanjian (YA author)

By Megan Saben | Dec 18, 2024

Back Porch Book Chat: a casual conversation about books and writing. Today we're visiting with Tasha Kazanjian, author of A Trick of Spades. A lover ...

Back Porch Book Chat: Kristyn Getty (Singer, Hymn Writer, and Author)

By Janie Cheaney | Aug 30, 2024

Kristyn is the founder, along with her husband Keith, of Getty Music. She is an award-winning hymn writer and the author of Sing! and a ...

Back Porch Book Chat: Elizabeth Farquhar (Teen Writer)

By Betsy Farquhar | Dec 29, 2023

Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Join us as we chat with book lovers like ourselves about a topic we all ...

Back Porch Book Chat: Josiah DeGraaf (Director of Young Writers Workshop)

By Betsy Farquhar | Dec 27, 2023

Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Join us as we chat with book lovers like ourselves about a topic we all ...

Back Porch Book Chat: Carolyn Givens (Author, Publisher, Reader)

By Betsy Farquhar | Oct 26, 2023

Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Join us as we chat with book lovers like ourselves about a topic we all ...

Back Porch Book Chat: Josiah Pettit (Director of Westminster Books)

By Betsy Farquhar | May 12, 2023

Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Join us as we chat with book lovers like ourselves about a topic we all ...

Back Porch Book Chat: Mark Hunt (Author), Part 2

By Betsy Farquhar | Aug 25, 2022

Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Join us as we chat with book lovers like ourselves about a topic we all ...

Back Porch Book Chat: Mark Hunt (Author), Part 1

By Betsy Farquhar | Aug 23, 2022

Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Join us as we chat with book lovers like ourselves about a topic we all ...

Back Porch Book Chat: Meghan Cox Gurdon (Book Reviewer, Author)

By Betsy Farquhar | Aug 22, 2022

Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Join us as we chat with book lovers like ourselves about a topic we all ...

Back Porch Book Chat: Karina Yan Glaser, author of the Vanderbeekers series

By Janie Cheaney | Apr 8, 2022

Our series of Back Porch Book Chats are casual conversations with book-lovers like ourselves: authors, booksellers, reviewers, bloggers, moms and dads. Today we’re delighted to ...

Back Porch Book Chat: Megan Saben (Book Reviewer, Author, Homeschool Mom)

By Betsy Farquhar | Mar 6, 2022

Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Join us as we chat with book lovers like ourselves about a topic we all ...

Back Porch Book Chat: Stephenie Pyles (Mom to 8 and Read Aloud Champion)

By Betsy Farquhar | Dec 29, 2021

Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Join us as we chat with book lovers like ourselves about a topic we all ...

Back Porch Book Chat: Mystie Winckler (Blogger, Author, Podcaster, and More)

By Betsy Farquhar | Dec 27, 2021

Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Join us as we chat with book lovers like ourselves about a topic we all ...

Back Porch Book Chat: Eli Evans from Exodus Books

By Betsy Farquhar | Nov 8, 2021

Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Join us as we chat with book lovers like ourselves about a topic we all ...

Back Porch Book Chat: Ryan Flanders, illustrator of Something Better Coming

By Megan Saben | Mar 4, 2021

Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Our guest today is Ryan Flanders, illustrator of the forthcoming picture book written by Megan ...

An Interview with Daniel Nayeri

By Janie Cheaney | Feb 11, 2021

If you’ve been reading our website reviews over the last six months or so, you know we’ve been raving about Everything Sad Is Untrue (a ...

Have You Seen the Redeemed Reader Quarterly?

By Janie Cheaney | Nov 9, 2020

Remember the days of full-color, glossy-paged print magazines that would arrive in your mailbox every month? Recall that pleasant sensation of opening up the latest ...

Back Porch Book Chat: Gina Dalfonzo (Writer, Book Reviewer)

By Betsy Farquhar | Sep 7, 2020

Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Join us as we chat with book lovers like ourselves about a topic we all ...

Purple House Press: An interview with Jill Morgan

By Megan Saben | Jun 19, 2020

Purple House Press revives delightful out of print stories for a new generation. 1. What motivated you to start Purple House Press? Back in the ...

Back Porch Book Chat: S. D. Smith (Author)

By Betsy Farquhar | Jun 1, 2020

Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Join us as we chat with book lovers like ourselves about a topic we all ...

Back Porch Book Chat: W. R. Gingell (Author)

By Hayley Morell | May 18, 2020

Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Join us as we chat with book lovers like ourselves about a topic we all ...

Back Porch Book Chat: Miranda Collingridge (High school senior and social media intern)

By Betsy Farquhar | Mar 30, 2020

Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Join us as we chat with book lovers like ourselves about a topic we all ...

A Literary Hospital Mission Field

By Megan Saben | Mar 19, 2020

A month ago my mother was taken to the hospital with a serious infection and blood poisoning. The former threatened a sobering 80% mortality rate; ...

Back Porch Book Chat: Tim Challies (Blogger, Author, Book Reviewer)

By Betsy Farquhar | Jan 20, 2020

Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Join us as we chat with book lovers like ourselves about a topic we all ...

By Hayley Morell | Jan 11, 2020

Hayley plays interviewer to introduce the Redeemed Reader team. Today, she's chatting with our managing editor and staff writer, Betsy Farquhar. Last year we started ...

By Hayley Morell | Jan 10, 2020

It's time for Meet the Team, January 2020 edition! Hayley plays interviewer to introduce the Redeemed Reader team. We're starting off with our editorial advisor ...

Back Porch Book Chat: Bridgette Boudreaux (Chemistry Teacher)

By Betsy Farquhar | Dec 14, 2019

Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Join us as we chat with book lovers like ourselves about a topic we all ...

Back Porch Book Chat: Sarah Dempsen (After School Ministry Leader)

By Betsy Farquhar | Nov 7, 2019

Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Join us as we chat with book lovers like ourselves about a topic we all ...

Back Porch Book Chat: Melissa Deming (Bible Teacher)

By Betsy Farquhar | Oct 14, 2019

Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Join us as we chat with book lovers like ourselves about a topic we all ...

Back Porch Book Chat: Lou Hunley (Public Librarian)

By Betsy Farquhar | Sep 2, 2019

Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Join us as we chat with book lovers like ourselves about a topic we all ...

What Makes a “Strong Girl Character”? Thoughts and a Podcast

By Janie Cheaney | Jun 20, 2019

Does rejecting gender stereotypes mean there are no meaningful distinctions between strong girls and strong boys? Not so long ago, librarians and publishers were concerned ...

Back Porch Book Chat: Virginia Lee Rogers (Bookseller and Homeschool Mom)

By Betsy Farquhar | Jun 17, 2019

Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Join us as we chat with book lovers like ourselves about a topic we all ...

The Author’s Mission: Gary Schmidt

By Janie Cheaney | Mar 28, 2019

One question every author gets, sometimes several times a day: Where do you get your ideas? I had the happy opportunity to sit in on ...

Back Porch Book Chats

By Betsy Farquhar | Mar 21, 2019

Back Porch Book Chat: A casual, virtual conversation about books. Join us as we chat with book lovers like ourselves about a topic we all ...

The Faithful Artist: an Interview with John Hendrix

By Janie Cheaney | Mar 5, 2019

John Hendrix grew up in St. Louis, left home to advance his art career, and eventually returned. Along the way he spent some time as ...

Meet the Team: Megan

By Hayley Morell | Feb 23, 2019

We’re taking some time and giving you a behind-the-scenes look at the Redeemed Reader team. Today, Hayley interviews our Associate Editor and Staff Writer, Megan ...

Christians and Mental Illness: an Interview with Simonetta Carr

By Janie Cheaney | Feb 20, 2019

The author of Broken Pieces and the God Who Mends them shares further insights about her experience with schizophrenia. Our readers are familiar with Simonetta's ...

Meet the Team: Betsy

By Hayley Morell | Feb 2, 2019

As we head into 2019, we're going to take some time and give you a behind-the-scenes look at the Redeemed Reader team. So, with Hayley ...

The 2018 Reading Challenge: Interview with a Teen

By Betsy Farquhar | Dec 26, 2018

I (Betsy) interviewed my teen daughter about her experience with the 2018 Reading Challenge. She's a 13-year-old voracious reader who has clear genre preferences, but ...

Interview with Keith Robinson, author of the Origins Series

By Pamela Palmer | Jan 15, 2018

Pamela interviews Keith Robinson, author of the Origins trilogy and other Christian sci-fi works. Read on for more information about Robinson, his work, and his many ...

Bird Boy Project: Discussion Forum 4 (and an exciting giveaway!)

By Janie Cheaney | Sep 29, 2017

Okay readers, this is it: yesterday I sent out the three final chapters and those of you who have been clamoring for "one more chapter, ...

Sherri Dusky Rinker Interview

By Megan Saben | Jul 21, 2017

If you are already fans of Sherri Dusky Rinker's delightful bestselling picture book Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site, you will certainly enjoy the sequel, Mighty, Mighty ...

Pearl Harbor Child: an Interview with Dorinda Nicholson

By Janie Cheaney | Dec 7, 2016

Her father was from Kansas City; her mother was native Hawaiian, and Dorinda Makanaonalani Stagner grew up on Pearl City Peninsula, just around the bend ...

Pastor, Blogger, Author, Editor: More Church History Recommendations for the Whole Family!

By Betsy Farquhar | Oct 31, 2016

We've spent all month reading and learning about church history. It's been such a rich study with interviews and book reviews, but we are not ...

Church History with Tim Challies

By Hayley Morell | Oct 28, 2016

Today we are happy to bring you a virtual interview with pastor, author, and blogger extraordinaire —Tim Challies. Tim serves as a pastor at Grace ...

By Janie Cheaney | Oct 21, 2016

Yesterday's review of Michelangelo for Kids introduced us to a Renaissance artist few people know. Today, the author gives us more insight into her research, ...

Learning from John Wycliffe: an Interview with Douglas Bond

By Janie Cheaney | Oct 14, 2016

Yesterday we reviewed The Revolt: a Novel in Wycliffe’s England. Today we’re happy to have the author of that book answer a few questions for ...

5 Questions for Brian Cosby, author of God’s Story

By Betsy Farquhar | Oct 7, 2016

We are delighted to bring you a virtual interview with Brian Cosby, author of one of our featured church history resources for teens: God's Story: A ...

By Megan Saben | Nov 9, 2015

I'm delighted to introduce our readers to Jonathan Bean, author and illustrator of a recently published picture book about homeschooling based on his childhood experience: ...

By Betsy Farquhar | Oct 18, 2015

Janie's newest novel for young folks, I Don't Know How the Story Ends, hit store shelves this month, and she's been busy signing copies and ...

By Betsy Farquhar | Oct 5, 2015

Janie's sixth middle grades novel, I Don't Know How the Story Ends, is due to hit store shelves this Wednesday (October 6th)! We will be featuring ...

By Betsy Farquhar | Sep 3, 2015

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the closed doors of a book award committee's deliberations? How a group of people can, with confidence, ...

Pilipinto’s Happiness by Valerie Elliot Shepard

By Megan Saben | Jun 15, 2015

*This post is revisited from the archives in honor of Elisabeth Elliot's passing into glory. Pilipinto's Happiness: The Jungle Childhood of Valerie Elliot, by Valerie ...

By Megan Saben | May 20, 2015

Bestselling author, Sally Lloyd Jones, was kind enough to answer a few questions for us today as we review her book Bunny's First Spring. What ...

By Betsy Farquhar | Mar 30, 2015

We're privileged to feature a virtual interview today with Caroline Starr Rose, author of Blue Birds (just released on March 24; read our review) and of May ...

50 Shades Trilogy: The Tim Challies Interview

By emily | Feb 7, 2015

(This interview was originally published Aug 7, 2012. We have repubbed today in preparation for the movie's release this Valentine's Day weekend.) NEW TO REDEEMEDREADER.COM? ...

By emily | Feb 6, 2015

(This interview was originally published Aug 8, 2012. We are republishing today in preparation for the movie's release Valentine's Day weekend 2015.) Fifty Shades of ...

By Megan Saben | Oct 22, 2014

Jim Weiss is beloved in many homes for his warm, ailment original literary storytelling and audiobook recordings. Although he is probably best known in homeschooling circles ...

By Betsy Farquhar | Sep 9, 2014

***As of Sept. 15, this giveaway is over. Winners have been notified. Please check back for more free books!*** GIVEAWAY! Tell us a favorite bus ...

SRC, Week 6: Spy for the Night Riders

By Janie Cheaney | Jul 21, 2014

Welcome to Week 6! Time doth fly . . . We started out with The Blue Comet as our book for this week, but due ...

SRC, Week 4: The House of Arden

By Hayley Morell | Jul 7, 2014

Other Summer Reading Challenge posts: Introduction, Week One: 1) Kids, 2) Teens, 3) Devotional. Week Two: 1) Kids, 2) Teens, 3) Devotional. Week Three: off Week ...

The Story of Owen: Review and Discussion

By emily | Jul 5, 2014

It's officially an off-week here at Redeemedreader. But we've put together one "extra" post for your holiday weekend: a review of The Story of Owen: ...

Divergent: Coffee and Conversation

By emily | Apr 19, 2014

A few weeks ago, Veronica Roth's book Divergent hit the big screen. In God's providence, that morning I also happened to be in the same town ...

The Shakespeare Stealer–and an Interview with Author Gary Blackwood

By Janie Cheaney | Apr 11, 2014

The Shakespeare Stealer (1998), Shakespeare's Scribe (2000), and Shakespeare's Spy (2003), by Gary Blackwood. Penguin Group; Puffin Books. Age/interest level: 12-16. True story: in 1998 ...

Truth in the Tinsel: A Family Advent Tradition

By emily | Nov 29, 2013

Truth in the Tinsel Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I suppose the Christmas race has officially begun now, and with that in mind, ...

Sci-fi Contest Winner and Podcast: From Ender’s Game to Hunger Games

By emily | Nov 20, 2013

To listen to our a read along with real teens or find discussion questions about Ender's Game, please see our Ender's Game Read Along. Also, ...

Winter Book Fair: Gift Books to Support Redeemedreader

By emily | Nov 19, 2013

Dear Redeemedreaders, We appreciate you! If you have appreciated Redeemedreader this year, we'd love to have your support during the holiday season. We have narrowed ...

Ender’s Game Read Along, Wk 4: Conclusions

By emily | Oct 19, 2013

Like sci-fi or dystopian stories? Check out our Sci-Fi Writing Contest for teens. You could win feedback from a sci-fi author and Thomas Nelson editor, ...

Anselm: An Interview with Simonetta Carr

By emily | Oct 16, 2013

Anselm of Canterbury (Christian Biographies for Young Readers) by Simonetta Carr. Reformation Heritage Books, 2013. 64 pgs. Ages 8-up. Simonetta Carr recently published Anselm of ...

Ender’s Game Read Along, Wk 3: The Science of the Story

By emily | Oct 12, 2013

Like sci-fi or dystopian stories? Check out our Sci-Fi Writing Contest for teens. You could win feedback from a sci-fi author and Thomas Nelson editor, ...

Ender’s Game Read Along, Wk 2: Ender vs. Peter

By emily | Oct 5, 2013

Like sci-fi or dystopian stories? Check out our Sci-Fi Writing Contest for teens. You could win feedback from a sci-fi author and Thomas Nelson editor, ...

Ender’s Game Read Along, Wk 1: Considering Sci-fi and Orson Scott Card

By emily | Sep 28, 2013

Like sci-fi or dystopian stories? Check out our Sci-Fi Writing Contest for teens. You could win feedback from a sci-fi author and Thomas Nelson editor, ...

The Enemy Stone: An Interview with Robert Treskillard

By Janie Cheaney | Sep 18, 2013

Last Friday we had a fascinating discussion with our interns about some of the first titles of a brand new YA imprint from Zondervan. One ...

Space Odyssey for Little Ones: An Interview with Kevin Luthardt

By emily | Sep 11, 2013

THE BOOK REVIEW When Edgar Met Cecil. Peachtree Publishers, 2013. 32 pgs. Ages 4-8. Kevin Luthardt is an author-illustrator who has had a pretty big ...

Podcast 34: A Kids’ Review of Amish Fiction

By emily | Aug 31, 2013

Big Year for Lily, A (The Adventures of Lily Lapp) by Suzanne Woods Fisher and Mary Ann Kinsinger. Revell, 2013. 272 pgs. Ages 8-up. With ...

Lemonade and Lit, Week 7: Klavan Discussion

By emily | Jul 27, 2013

Other Lemonade and Lit posts: Introduction, Week One: Booked, Week Two: Booked Discussion, Week Three: Beauty, Week Four: Sexuality in Booked, Week Five: Beauty Discussion, ...

Lemonade and Lit, Week 5: Beauty Discussion

By emily | Jul 13, 2013

Other Lemonade and Lit posts: Introduction, Week One: Booked, Week Two: Booked Discussion, Week Three: Beauty, Week Four: Sexuality in Booked, Week Five: Beauty Discussion, ...

Lemonade and Lit Read Along, Week 2: Booked Discussion

By emily | Jun 22, 2013

Other Lemonade and Lit posts: Introduction, Week One: Booked, Week Two: Booked Discussion, Week Three: Beauty, Week Four: Sexuality in Booked, Week Five: Beauty Discussion, ...

Summer Reading Challenge, Wk 1: Interview with John Branyan

By emily | Jun 6, 2013

It's Thursday, and that means it's time for our Summer Reading Challenge (SRC) extras! In case you missed it, here is the Introduction, our list of ...

Steaming into Sunset: an Interview with Sherri Rinker

By Janie Cheaney | May 14, 2013

Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site (see our review here) hurled Sherri Rinker’s star into the picture-book firmament. Accepted by the first publisher she submitted it to, ...

Interview with Judah Ben: Kai’Ro, Christian Rap and the Progress of Urban Pilgrims

By emily | May 2, 2013

Introduction There are very few modern books that I see as really significant. But I see the Kai' Ro series--an urban interpretation of Pilgrim's Progress--by ...

By emily | Apr 19, 2013

Library Tour Introduction It's taken us all week to pull it off, but we finally have it: a conversation with Janie Cheaney (the kids' book ...

Church Literacy, Part Two: Welcoming Kids and Adults with Reading Difficulties

By emily | Apr 11, 2013

Last week in Church Literacy, Part One, we heard from a Christian mom who dealt with dyslexia in her son. I hope that gave you ...

Words and Pictures: a Talk with Doug TenNapel

By Janie Cheaney | Feb 20, 2013

Yesterday we reviewed two graphic novels by a rising star in the world of "comics" who also happens to be a Christian and a homeschooling ...

Unseduced and Unshaken: An Interview w/ Rosalie De Rosset

By emily | Jan 30, 2013

AN INTRODUCTION Last week, we ran a book giveaway of this book, Unseduced and Unshaken: The Place of Dignity in a Young Woman's Choices by ...

By emily | Dec 27, 2012

While we're finishing off the Christmas cookies and figgy pudding (does anyone really eat figgy pudding? what is it anyway?!), Janie and I thought we'd ...

Andrew Peterson: A Sudden Joyous Turn (Hobbit Read Along Finale, pt 1)

By emily | Dec 12, 2012

Other Hobbit Read Along posts: 1) Introduction, 2) Week One, 2) Week Two, 3) Week Three, 4) Week Four, 5) Week 5, and 6) Finale, ...

The Twilight Effect: RR Podcast 25 with Megan Basham and Thomas Purifoy

By emily | Nov 15, 2012

Has the sun finally set on Twilight? When Stephanie Meyer published The Twilight Saga in 2005, I expect most people were taken aback at the ...

Lit! – An Interview with Tony Reinke

By Janie Cheaney | Oct 31, 2012

Most of the readers of this blog would accept the title of bibliophile. But have you ever thought about your bibliophilosophy—why it exists, what it ...

By emily | Oct 24, 2012

My readers are broken people...children are sinners in need of grace....If I take some other posture to my writing, I'm not going to be authentically ...

Podcast 20: Sally Lloyd Jones on Kids’ Devotionals

By emily | Oct 16, 2012

The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd Jones is a staple among Christian parents these days who want to help introduce kids to the Bible ...

Charlotte Mason and Living Libraries: An Invitation

By emily | Oct 11, 2012

On Monday, we posted a list of book and library resources from Christian librarians Betsy and Megan at . Today, however, I'd like you to ...

Interview with Jonathan Rogers: Flannery O’Connor, Violence, and Mercy

By emily | Sep 25, 2012

MEET THE AUTHORS Jonathan Rogers is not only one of the most talented Christian writers for kids' today (see our review of The Charlatan's Boy), ...

Author Interview: Carol Swain on Religious Freedom

By emily | Jul 2, 2012

Dr. Carol Swain is a Vanderbilt law professor with numerous publications--books and articles--to her credit. Before joining Vanderbilt in 1999, Dr. Swain was a tenured ...

Podcast 14: Susan Olasky on the Revolutionary War for Kids

By emily | Jun 27, 2012

Compared to the aristocracy in Europe, these were really modest people and they weren't perfect people...[but] they really lived motivated by these ideas. If you ...

Tough Guy: An Interview with Andrew Klavan

By Janie Cheaney | Jun 15, 2012

Andrew Klavan's new novel, Crazy Dangerous, is the story of complicated characters in a complex world. Not necessarily the story you'd expect from a Christian ...

Welcome to College: Caity Interviews Jonathan Morrow

By emily | May 30, 2012

This interview was conducted by one of our interns, Caity Kullen, an English Literature major at Oklahoma State University. Thanks, Caity! If you'd like to ...

Thriving at College: An Interview with Alex Chediak

By emily | May 23, 2012

A handbook of practical wisdom for the would-be college student. Essential summer read for every incoming freshman.--Dr. Gene Veith, provost of Patrick Henry College About ...

Mother’s Day: Our Interview with Susan Hunt

By emily | May 12, 2012

Last Thanksgiving, Janie and I had the privilege of speaking with Susan Hunt on the subject of encouraging thankfulness in kids...and in ourselves! We thought ...

Interview with Avengers Illustrator, Sergio Cariello

By emily | May 2, 2012

Who is Sergio Cariello? With The Avengers movie opening in theaters this weekend, I invited Sergio Cariello--a Marvel comics illustrator who worked on Avengers comics--to ...