By Guest Writer Alexa Schnee

I loved you with my whole being,

Nights spent staring at the ceiling,

Wondering why you didn’t notice me.

I should have known, that you were mine,

If I had only stopped and taken the time,

To realize what you wanted to see.

You got tired of my complaining,

My endless, constant restraining,

Of the person that was clawing inside my skin.

While you saw someone beautiful,

I saw someone ugly, horrible,

And that was enough to make you give in.

Now I’m on my back again staring,

Wondering why I couldn’t have been daring,

Enough to love this skin that I am in.

****

Note from B.J.: Alexa is a talented teen writer who signed with my agent last spring, and has sold her first book to Guideposts. You can visit her website here and her blog here.

Are you a teen girl who loves to write? Do you see yourself speaking to crowds about Christ? What’s the next step? Where do you start? Where do you find the inside scoop?

She Speaks conference has an amazing Next Gen track. Real Teen Faith founder, Suzanne Eller, will be one of the Next Gen keynotes and workshop speakers, working with phenomenal musical artist Lindsey Kane and others to connect with teen girls who want to take their ministry to the next level.

You need to register soon as it will fill up. Mark your calendars for July 31 – August 2, 2009 in beautiful Concord, North Carolina.

Worship. Great food. Fun. Workshops galore! Speaking evaluations (if you sign up). Mentoring from women already doing what you feel God speaking to you about. Check it out for more details!

Congratulations to Lydia Rule, Real Teen staff writer, on the publication of her first book, Devos to Go!

Devos 2 Go is a fun, fast-food themed devotional for busy teens and young adults on the go. It has a quick thought for the day, a verse, and a prayer to help teens get spiritually full.

We are proud of Lydia. You can check out her book on Amazon.com. We’ll connect with Lydia soon in an interview so she can share her publishing journey and what it’s like to be a teen author.

If you want to read more of Lydia’s devos on Real Teen Faith, check out the archives. She loves Jesus and she loves writing, and both are evident in her RTF devos.

Sarah Sumpolec is co-director of the Gideon Media Festival for teens, a hands-on conference that connects teens with some of the biggest names in the Christian world of arts, media, and authors. We shared the news of the festival last week, but wanted to know more. We invited Sarah Sumpolec to join RTF.

Suzie Eller: Before we talk about the festival, I’d love to hear about you. Tell us a little bit about your writing.

Sarah Sumpolec: My Becoming Beka series came out a few years ago but I am so blessed that new girls are still discovering the stories. I get letters begging me to continue the series, but to be honest, there are several other stories that I’ve been working on. (more…)

Are you interested in film, producing, writing screenplays, acting, writing, or broadcasting? If you are, then you might be interested in being a part of the Gideon Intern Program at the Gideon Media Arts Conference and Film Festival May 31-June 4, 2009.

Teens accepted into the program have the opportunity to meet with film directors, producers, screenwriters, actors, graphic novels, and radio personalities. Classes catered to these interests. Must be 16-18 years old.

For more information on the general conference, visit the website for more information.

Tomorrow I’ll interview Sarah Sumpolec, author and co-director of the program. Are you interested? Check back here tomorrow when Sarah shares more about the Gideon Media Arts Conference!

For more information on the teen program, visit here.

What can one teen do? They can publish books! Lydia Rule, RTF Staff writer has signed a contract for her new book, Devo’s on the Go. Her desire is to change the world through her writing.

She’s looking for a few more devos to add to the book. Here’s what Lydia had to say about this project.

Hey Everyone…

I have a book coming out called Devo’s-on-the-Go! My publisher, Power Publishing, is looking for some writers to add short vignettes/couple of paragraphs into my devotional book. The book is based on a fast-food theme… speedy devotions delivered each day! The book’s target audience are teens and college-aged students who have a hard time fitting a daily devo time into their busy schedule. (more…)

Interview with YA author, Jenny B. Jones

by Maddee Schrader, RT Staff Writer

Maddee: When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

Jenny: I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I used to write plays in elementary school and force my classmates to watch my one woman show. (Reasons not to go to the reunion…) The stuff I wrote in school was REALLY bad though, so take heart if you’re age 5-18, and you haven’t cranked out anything fabulous yet.

Maddee: That’s definitely encouraging – I know a lot of writers that age, including myself. I know you’re a teacher – how did this play into the Katie Parker books?

Jenny: I was blessed with the opportunity to start a drama program at a small school some time ago. We saw kids coming into their own, using talents they didn’t know they had and just many a-ha! moments. I had a student who found her place through drama—something she discovered she totally rocked at. But then I also had a student, “Maggie,” who came from a horrible home life and got “stuck” in the class. Though she did her best, it wasn’t her cup of tea. I will never forget the night of the play for the community. The kids got a standing ovation, but “Maggie’s” family didn’t show. (more…)

Writer’s Bloc held a contest for teen writers. One of the prizes was publication on Real Teen Faith. We don’t often have fiction on RTF, but we are pleased to offer this winning entry. It’s a great story!

The Spartan
By Jamin Goecker

Ben rolled over and punched his pillow. His clock beamed 12:03. He sighed and lay on his back. Green blobs vibrated in the lava lamp on his desk. Moonlight cut through the blinds and stabbed a multicolored award tacked on the bulletin board over his desk.

Best eighth grade Bible verse memorizer

Did I get that only a year ago? I’m certainly old enough by now not to be afraid of being alone

His lip quivered as a laundry pile rose and formed an armored figure. The soldier lowered a long spear and tickled Ben’s throat with its leaf point. (more…)