By Kelly Dunn

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Kelly Dunn : I first time I saw you, you were performing on an old instrument, tell us about that...

Christie Gerschutz: I remember! That instrument is called a delcimer. It's orgins go back five thousand years in Egypt. It's a trapazoid type of instrument and many people think it's hard to play. It's kind of like a keyboard.

Kelly Dunn: How do you change keys?

Christie Gerschutz: You just strike a different string! It's actually an easy instrument to learn how to play. I don't play it as much as I use to.

Kelly Dunn: This video was part of a Christmas television program?

Christie Gerschutz: It was a Christmas show here in Lima, Ohio on Channel 44.

Kelly Dunn: When did you get inspired to be a songwrter?

Christie Gerschutz: My first song came about when I was fifteen years old. I had taken a psalm out of the Bible and made it into a song. From there I just kept writing. I think I have about thirty songs right now. Songwriting for me is way to let people know more about God in a way they are no used to. It's a great way to reach people and if I change someobody's life through a song then it's worth all the work. Most of my songs are from my own experiences.

Kelly Dunn: What instrument do you find yourself writing on today...

Christie Gerschutz: I really like to play piano but I usually write most of my songs on guitar. I come up with the chord arrangements first and then I add the lyrics.

Kelly Dunn: Are you performing around town?

Christie Gerschutz: We are looking to do a tour of churches around the state.But, we are realizing people do not want to cover our expenses! (Laughs) I'm performing a lot of local gigs right now. We have some coffee shops in town and we play there. There's a wine shop with a cool atmosphere.

Kelly Dunn: So they don't mind listening to relgious songs at this wine shop?

Christie Gerschutz: It's more of a open-minded crowd. It's not like a bar, it's cool.

Kelly Dunn: Are most of your songs religious based?

Christie Gerschutz: I would say most of the songs are about Jesus, somewhere in the songs. They are what we call, "faith-based" music. All of my songs are about real life experiences

Kelly Dunn: The "Blonde Song" is really funny!

Christie Gerschutz: Again, that is based on a completely true story! It's a different song for me to do. (Laughs) I was dating a man quite a bit older than myself. At one point I thought everything was fine. Then, one day, I was at a grocery store in the frozen food section. Standing there is my boyfriend with this totally fake blonde. Thus, the song!

Kelly Dunn: I would call that a real-life experience, so this is how you get inspired to write a song?

Christie Gerschutz: Sometimes I get the idea and write it down. Then, I'll go back later and finish it. I'm very scattered sometimes. I find it hard to complete things that I start. It's just part of being creative I guess! Sometimes I listen to other songwriters to hear what they are doing. It might take six months to finish a song but I'll get there eventually.

Kelly Dunn: I see that you are going to Nashville?

Christie Gerschutz: I'm going to a 3-day open mic and I'm scheduled to play. Last year was my first time in Nashville. I was in a smokey bar. That was a different experience. The great thing is I can go down the row and talk to publishers and songwriters. I also get to do a lot of sightseeing too.

Kelly Dunn: Are you going down there with a band?

Christie Gerschutz: I'm going down there with my parents. I'm meeting some of my friends I met from MySpace.com. We are going to help each other, singing backup on each others songs and giving moral support.

Kelly Dunn: How do you record your material?

Christie Gerschutz: My dad is a computer guy so he's building a computer studio. Soon, we'll be able to record whatever we want from there.

Kelly Dunn: Home studios are so affordable today...

Christie Gerschutz: It's going to be great. I'll be able to sit down and record my songs and produce them too.

Kelly Dunn: Tell us about your book writing ventures!

Christie Gerschutz: Well, when I'm not songwriting I write children's books. Last year I did this show in Charlotte, North Carolina for a Christmas trade show. I'm there with my publisher and we work really long hours. It makes really good money. People buy my books as a Christmas present and a birthday gift.

Kelly Dunn: How did you write your first book?

Christie Gerschutz: I was grounded by my parents.

Kelly Dunn: You? You seem too nice to be grounded!

Christie Gerschutz: Well...(Laughs) I'm not always so sweet, that was a long time ago, four years ago actually. My mom and I were doing a Bible study and from that night I got the idea to write a childrens story. My mom introduced me to a book publisher and they thought that I had a lot of potential. So I went to Denver and that is where I signed a contract to do a series of childrens books.

Kelly Dunn: Do you write full time to fund your career?

Christie Gerschutz: Yes, but I also donate plasma for money too.

Kelly Dunn: I don't understand...

Christie Gerschutz: Well, right now it's slow. We are working to set up a Pay Pal account so I can get more Internet sales from my web site.

Kelly Dunn: So you give blood when sales are down? I have not given blood for money as of yet. Can you explain this?

Christie Gerschutz: You can donate plasma twice a week. For the most part I get twenty dollars the first time and then forty dollars for the second time within the same week. It's fairly decent money for the most part.

Kelly Dunn: Where do you go to give blood?

Christie Gerschutz: I go to BioLife, it's a clinic in town. The plasma is used for burn victims.

Kelly Dunn: That's a good cause! I guess with gas prices going up I think you are onto something. How did you get involved with donating blood?

Christie Gerschutz: My old piano teacher, who was my previous preacher, told me that he gave blood for extra money. He thought I should try it.

Kelly Dunn: It's for a good cause...

Christie Gerschutz: It's really popular around town. A lot of people don't have jobs so it's great extra income. That sounds horrible. You don't think I'm a dead beat do you?

Kelly Dunn: (Laughs) You are far from being a deadbeat! I respect your honesty. I want to say that you are a very talented person. Between your songs and an author of children's books you have an excellent future ahead of you. I wish we had more time but I know you have to go soon. Thanks for meeting today and we'll keep in touch.

Christie Gerschutz: I want to thank you so much for this interview. We'll talk again soon. Thanks again! Bye!

Visti Christie Gerschutz at: www.myspace.com/christiespiritfire