I was privileged to have the chance to interview Betsy St. Amant, Christian fiction author with Steeple Hill. Along with writing romance novels, Betsy also writes for Crosswalk, Scribble Chicks, and keeps a personal blog.

Sarah: When did you first know you wanted to become a writer?

Betsy: I think I’ve always known. One year in elementary school for Career Day, I took a pen and notepad with me and said I was an author. I remember pounding out stories (usually never finished and without much of a plot line!) on my parents’ first computer when I was about 7 years old. I have disks after disks of saved manuscripts as a child that crack me up! But the dream was always there. (more…)

Happy Retro Day! I hope this helps give you the courage to confront your fears. Enjoy! ~ Halee

By Derek Hanisch, RTF Staff Writer

I still remember that day three years ago. I stood in front of two hundred youth at a juvenile detention center to give a sermon. I hadn’t prayed about what I was going to say. I had done the preparation on my own. I was giving the sermon on my own. And I bombed. I bombed badly. It was a real self esteem crusher for me. Because of it I hadn’t spoken in public since. (more…)

by RTF Assistant Editor Halee Matthews

Sometimes I have bad days.

Don’t we all?

A bad day is like the furry, big-teethed monster under the bed that we feared as children. It grabs us and pulls us down into the depths. It manifests itself as an uncooperative alarm clock that maliciously refuses to beep on time. It’s the little old lady in the car in front of us who stubbornly pokes along at 10 mph under the speed limit. (more…)

“I want to break up with my boyfriend but the last time we broke up, we got back together because he was scaring me. He would punch the walls and hurt himself. That includes cutting himself. I feel trapped being with him but I don’t love him like that any more. Help!” ~ Abby

Hey Abby,

Feeling trapped is not a good thing in a relationship. It sounds like you want to get away from your boyfriend but you’re afraid of what might happen.

He’s using that fear to control you and it’s really not good. You need to tell someone about what he does, how he hurts himself- his parents, your parents, a teacher, a guidance counselor, a pastor. He needs some help, but not from you. (more…)

By RTF Editor B.J. Hamrick

My child, you were never meant to bear
This burden on your shoulders
You’re much too small you lack the strength
You’re such a tiny soldier
And all this time you’ve marched along
Crying “I’m strong too”
When I was here just waiting
To carry this cross for you (more…)

by RTF Staff Writer Judi Weiss

My almost first
My almost dance
My almost love
My almost romance

My almost dark
My almost light
My almost day
My almost night (more…)

Happy Retro Day! I think you can all figure out why I chose this to feature this week. And it’s sweet, unique, and fun. Enjoy! ~Halee

by RTF Staff Writer Debra Weiss

If God sent you a box of candy hearts, what would they say? Perhaps some of these things…

BE MINE

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16 (more…)

the story of Cassidy Ladd as told to RTF Staff Writer Sarah Rupp

Cassidy pressed the eraser of her pencil to her lips and stared at the form for the school play. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Shakespeare” lined the top of the page in big, bold lettering, and three questions followed. Checks marked the page beside the other two, but the third question had Cassidy stumped: “Do you mind kissing on stage?” (more…)