Interviews

Back Porch Book Chat: Elizabeth Farquhar (Teen Writer)

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

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

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

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 ...
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Lucy Gundersen

Back Porch Book Chat: Lucy Gundersen (Mom, Business Owner)

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 ...
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Mark Hunt

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

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 ...
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Mark Hunt

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

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 ...
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Meghan Cox Gurdon

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

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

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 ...
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Back Porch Book Chat Megan

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

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

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

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 ...
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Back Porch Book Chat: Eli Evans from Exodus Books

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

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 ...
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An Interview with Daniel Nayeri

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

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 ...
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Purple House Press: An interview with Jill Morgan

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

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

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

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 ...
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A Literary Hospital Mission Field

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

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 ...
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2020: Meet the Team —Betsy

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 ...
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2020: Meet the Team —Janie

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 ...
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Back Porch Book Chat: Bridgette Boudreaux (Chemistry Teacher)

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

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 ...
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Back Porch Book Chat: Melissa Deming (Bible Teacher)

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 ...
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Back Porch Book Chat: Lou Hunley (Public Librarian)

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

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

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 ...
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The Author’s Mission: Gary Schmidt

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 ...
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Back Porch Book Chats

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 ...
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cover of faithful spy

The Faithful Artist: an Interview with John Hendrix

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 ...
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Christians and Mental Illness: an Interview with Simonetta Carr

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 ...
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The 2018 Reading Challenge: Interview with a Teen

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 ...
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Interview with Keith Robinson, author of the Origins Series

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

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, ...
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Sherri Dusky Rinker Interview

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 ...
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Pearl Harbor Child: an Interview with Dorinda Nicholson

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

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 ...
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Church History with Tim Challies

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 ...
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Learning from John Wycliffe: an Interview with Douglas Bond

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

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 ...
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Interview with Jonathan Bean, author and illustrator

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: ...
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I Don’t Know How the Story Ends: an Interview with Janie Cheaney

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 ...
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5 Questions on Writing with our very own J. B. Cheaney

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 ...
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Caroline Starr Rose: An Interview!

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 ...
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Fifty Shades Roundtable with WORLD’s Megan Basham

(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 ...
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Interview with Storyteller Jim Weiss

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 ...
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Interview with J. B. Cheaney & Giveaway!

***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 ...
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The Shakespeare Stealer–and an Interview with Author Gary Blackwood

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 ...
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Truth in the Tinsel: A Family Advent Tradition

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, ...
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Anselm: An Interview with Simonetta Carr

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 ...
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The Enemy Stone: An Interview with Robert Treskillard

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 ...
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Space Odyssey for Little Ones: An Interview with Kevin Luthardt

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 ...
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Lemonade and Lit, Week 7: Klavan Discussion

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, ...
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Lemonade and Lit Read Along, Week 2: Booked Discussion

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

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 ...
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Podcast 29: What’s in Your Local Public Library?

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

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 ...
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Church Literacy, Part One: Interview with Mom of a Dyslexic Child

How Is Your Church Affected by Literacy Challenges? How many words do you read in your church worship service?  500 or more?  Don't forget to ...
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Unseduced and Unshaken: An Interview w/ Rosalie De Rosset

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  ...
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2012’s Best Author/Illus Interviews

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

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

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 ...
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Lit! – An Interview with Tony Reinke

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 ...
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RR Podcast 21: Douglas Bond and William Boekestein

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 ...
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Podcast 20: Sally Lloyd Jones on Kids’ Devotionals

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

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), ...
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Podcast 14: Susan Olasky on the Revolutionary War for Kids

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 ...
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Tough Guy: An Interview with Andrew Klavan

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 ...
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Dad-lit: Views and Interviews

Over the past 16 months since launching this website, Janie and I have the opportunity to interview a number of authors and cultural critics who ...
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Welcome to College: Caity Interviews Jonathan Morrow

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 ...
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Thriving at College: An Interview with Alex Chediak

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 ...
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Mother’s Day: Our Interview with Susan Hunt

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 ...
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Interview with Avengers Illustrator, Sergio Cariello

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 ...
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Speaking of Poetry: An Interview with David Harrison

I've known David since the publication of my first novel, when we started seeing each other at children's book events.  He's tall, thin, and genial, ...
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Kingstone Part 2: Interview and Babylon

By Redeemed Reader intern Jack Mertens Today I continue my series on Kingstone Comics, begun on Monday with reviews of two of Marvin Olasky's graphic ...
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RR Podcast 12: Simonetta Carr on Pinocchio and Christ in Italy

Introduction A few weeks ago, I posted a written interview with Simonetta Carr on her novel for young readers, The Weight of a Flame: The ...
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Talking Over the Hunger Games, Part One

Since Susanne Collins’ Hunger Games trilogy (reviewed here) has sparked so much discussion in school cafeterias and dorm rooms (not to mention break rooms and ...
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Simonetta Carr on Reformer Olympia Morata

Simonetta Carr is one of my favorite authors writing about historical subjects today.  Her care for historical detail shows in all her biographies for children, ...
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The Lorax: A Podcast with Dr. James Wanliss

This Friday, The Lorax opens in theaters nationwide.  It's a movie based on Dr. Suess's book by the same name, and it deals with issues ...
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Interview with Author Jane Kurtz on African Stories

More African stories!  Today, we hear from Jane Kurtz, who was raised by missionary parents in Ethiopia.  Since then, she's come to live in the ...
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Africa: A Literary Adventure and Podcast!

This month my local public library is offering a marionette show of African folktales starring Anansi the spider. It's a unique way to celebrate Black ...
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Interview with Kevin Luthardt

I was introduced to Kevin Luthardt's work many years ago, when I was but a mere Operations Assistant at Peachtree Publishers.  I thought his work ...
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Raising Readers: An Interview with Alan Jacobs

Alan Jacobs is Professor of Literature at Wheaton College, where he went to teach for two  semesters and stayed for 28 years.  Teaching is his ...
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RR Podcast 10: Roger Lowther on Japanese Literature

This interview is part of our Japan: Literary Adventure.  See Part One for an introduction as well as links to the books we talk about ...
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Ereaders and ebooks: An Interview with Mike Sugimoto

Should your family purchase an ereader or ipad?  What about your kids--should they be allowed to read book apps or ebooks?  Tablets or ereaders are ...
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RR Podcast 8: Interview with William Boekestein

"Are you ready to begin your quest for comfort...?"  So ends William Boekestein's video of his newest book for kids, The Quest for Comfort: The ...
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RR Podcast 7: Douglas Bond on Reformation Tours

THE PODCAST Plenty of Americans dream of taking a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Europe...to see the Eiffle Tower, hear the chiming of Big Ben, and float ...
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Author Interview: Simonetta Carr on Athanasius

Athanasius.  By Simonetta Carr.  Reformation Heritage Press, sale 2011.  66 pp.  Ages 9-12. What makes a good children's book?  We've talked a lot the past ...
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Podcast 6: Janie and Emily, and a Prayer for Banned Books Week

Over at BannedBooksWeek.org, the celebration has begun.  And while Janie and I made our objections to Banned Books Week clear last week, we are happy ...
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Interview With Meghan Cox Gurdon

Early last June, the YA publishing world was rocked by a column in the Wall Street Journal by Meg Cox Gurdon, who reviews children’s books ...
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Janie on Chris Fabry Live!

Welcome old friends and new!  Most of you probably know by now that Janie was interviewed on Chris Fabry Live! on July 13th.  For those ...
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RR Podcast 5: Douglas Bond from Scotland

Today's podcast is a follow-up to our last interview with Mr. Bond, RR Podcast 4: Douglas Bond on Fatherhood.  Last time we talked about his ...
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RR Podcast 4: Douglas Bond on Fatherhood

Today's interview is regarding Douglas Bond's devotional series for young men and their fathers, Fathers and Sons.  I hope to eventually do another interview with ...
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Interview with Dr. Veith: Part Two

Part Two of our Interview with Gene Edward Veith In Part Two of the interview, we're talking about how to prepare our kids for college--and ...
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Interview with Dr. Gene Edward Veith

Gene Edward Veith: Parent + Educator + Writer Many--if not all--of our readers are praying earnestly for their children to lead God-centered, successful lives.  Of ...
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Author Interview: Caldecott Finalist Ima B. Twitt

Now that April Fool's Day is over, I should probably introduce this as my post on April 1st... Recently I had the extraordinary opportunity to ...
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Contest Winners and More

$20 Bookshelf Challenge Winner Today is the big day for one Redeemed Reader: the announcement of our $20 Bookshelf Challenge winner.  Thank you to everyone ...
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