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Christa

I am here for Friends

About Me

Well, my hubby and I picked just about one of the coldest places to live, save for Antarctica or the North Pole, but we like it here most of the time.

These days, we're both of the insanely busy schedule persuasion between seminary and all that entails (him) and freelance writing (me). And when I'm not reviewing music, movies or books, writing artist bios or a a feature on whatever my editors at Christianity Today, Crosswalk.com, CCM Magazine, BurnLounge, Christian Single and more ask for, I've written a couple of novels in my spare time (what's that?). My debut, Around the World in 80 Dates, released in October 2007 and the sequel, Blessed Are the Meddlers will hit store shelves in August 2008, so stay tuned for all the latest.

My Interests

Hanging out with the most amazing husband on the planet. A nice grande, non-fat caramel macchiato from Starbucks. Traveling. Reading. Cooking (yes, I'm a bonafide Food Network addict). Writing (A no-brainer, right?). Movies. Magazines. Shopping. Watching my Packers win and lose (but mostly win this season!). Power-walking. Nice long naps.

I'd like to meet:

Like everyone else, I wouldn't mind meeting Bono. Hugh Grant and Paul McCartney wouldn't be so bad, either. And I would LOVE to make a 30-minute meal with Rachael Ray. Yeah, I'm a dork.

You Belong in London
A little old fashioned, and a little modern.
A little traditional, and a little bit punk rock.
A unique soul like you needs a city that offers everything.
No wonder you and London will get along so well. What City Do You Belong In? Get this FREE MySpace layout and more at MySpaceOrYours.net

Music:

My list of favorite musicians is an exhaustive one, so I'll namedrop a few...U2, Radiohead, Coldplay, Keane, Oasis, Ryan Adams, Ray LaMontagne, Josh Rouse, John Mayer, Paul Westerberg, Nick Drake, Gavin DeGraw, Jamie Cullum, Harry Connick Jr., Feist, Ben Folds, Jars of Clay, Death Cab for Cutie, Elliot Smith and Delirious.

Movies:

Roman Holiday, Gone With the Wind, It's a Wonderful Life, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Charade, Casablanca, Amelie, About a Boy, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Elizabethtown, Miss Potter, Elf, Love Actually, The Holiday, Moulin Rouge, Sunset Boulevard, Pride + Prejudice, Two Weeks' Notice, Almost Famous, Notting Hill, Pretty Woman, Waitress, Jerry Maguire and many, many more.

Television:

LOST, Project Runway, The Office, 24, 30 Rock, and I know it's a little late, but I've finally gotten into Gilmore Girls (TV on DVD rules!). As for favorite shows no longer on the air (R.I.P), Alias and Felicity.

Books:

The Bible (particularly Psalms and Phillipians), The Ragamuffin Gospel, A Moveable Feast, The Great Gatsby, The Year of Living Biblically, U2: At the End of the World and a smattering of chick lit that includes everyone from Jane Austen to Sophie Kinsella to Nicholas Sparks.

My Blog

Breaking Up With ColdplayFor Now

Coldplay's foray into pretentious art rock was inevitable. I mean, after three hugely successful albums packed to the brim with radio hits galore, the falsetto-laced anthems the entire planet fell in ...
Posted by Christa on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:19:00 PST

I Heart Trashionista!

Happy Monday everyone!So as many of you know, I had a book signing at Northwestern Bookstore in Edina on Saturday. It was a gorgeous day out, so I knew the odds of having a really productive signing w...
Posted by Christa on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 06:19:00 PST

New Blog!

I'm still going to be posting here as always, so please don't stop reading. But I am launching a new, more comprehensive blog as the release of my second novel, Blessed Are the Meddlers, gets closer. ...
Posted by Christa on Fri, 20 Jun 2008 02:06:00 PST

My Interview With Abigail Breslin (a.k.a "Little Miss Sunshine")

Well, have I become a negligent blogger or what? It has been ages and ages since I've posted but with good reason, I promise. I actually took a much-needed vacation to California with Will. We were no...
Posted by Christa on Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:05:00 PST

Radio Interview With Yours Truly...

As everyone near my hometown of Ladysmith, Wis. already knows, I do a weekly pop culture/Christian music radio gig with WWIB's fab dee-jay extraordinaire, Matt Selvig. And now, I recently branched out...
Posted by Christa on Wed, 18 Jun 2008 09:31:00 PST

Please Pray for the Chapman Family...

Steven Curtis Chapman has always been one the classiest acts in Christian music and one of my favorite people to interview. So naturally when I heard about the passing of his five-year-old daughter Ma...
Posted by Christa on Thu, 22 May 2008 06:15:00 PST

Harrison Ford Still Has the Indy Flair in "Crystal Skull"

Here's my review of the much-anticipated fourth installment of Indiana Jones.
Posted by Christa on Thu, 22 May 2008 06:12:00 PST

My First Review of "Blessed Are the Meddlers" Is In...

And it's a great one...I am so excited.
Posted by Christa on Wed, 21 May 2008 05:16:00 PST

A Breakthrough at Borders...

So I was pretty happy yesterday...Every time I'm in Roseville, I swing by the Borders bookstore in the mall. Not only do I love checking out whatever is new this week, (and always find way more than I...
Posted by Christa on Fri, 16 May 2008 09:04:00 PST

Book Giveaway: Five Free Signed Copies of "Blessed Are the Meddlers"

As many of you already know, the sequel to "Around the World in 80 Dates," "Blessed Are the Meddlers" is releasing on August 15. In fact, if you get my e-mail newsletter (sign up at www.christabaniste...
Posted by Christa on Wed, 14 May 2008 12:05:00 PST