Tammy Real-McKeighan is news editor of the Fremont Tribune, where she began working as regional reporter in 1981.

An award-winning writer, she's addressed topics such as immigration, Alzheimer's disease and domestic abuse. She's written feature and news articles about churches of various denominations.

Her light-hearted articles have included accounts of animals and a host of interesting people. During interviews, she's fed cookies to a bear, taken a ride in a World War II training plane (and she's afraid of heights) and shouted questions at country singer Garth Brooks during a press conference. (He answered three of her questions.)

She's interviewed pastors and politians, artists and writers and even an astronaut.

In March 2008, she began writing a weekly Christ-centered column called "Spiritual Spinach."

Her first book, "Real Spiritual Spinach - Faith for the Journey" is a compilation of 59 of those columns. In "Real Spiritual Spinach," she dishes up encouraging, faith-boosting stories that show readers how the Bible applies to people today - providing comfort, guidance and Godly wisdom. Newspaper readers have grown to love her weekly faith-based columns, designed to be powerful, poignant and practical.

Pastors from various denomiations have endorsed this easy-to-read book. One of Tammy's dreams is that this book will be sold around the world, comforting the downhearted and strengthening believers from all walks of life.

Tammy was born in Sidney, Neb., and is a 1981 graduate of Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, Neb. She and her husband, Charles Jr., live in Fremont. They have two sons and a daughter-in-law, Michael and Rachel, and Zachary - and three very spoiled dogs.