Oct 22, 2026

Three-Time Award-Winning Author Debbie Engle Shares a Powerful Story of Faith, Heartbreak, and Hope in I Am the Real Runaway Bride
Portland, Oregon Oct 22, 2026 (Issuewire.com) - For many women, the journey toward finding lasting love can be filled with unexpected turns, broken promises, and moments of doubt. In her three-time award-winning book, I Am the Real Runaway Bride - Hope and Encouragement as You Wait for the Right One, author Debbie Engle shares her remarkable true-life story of navigating heartbreak, overcoming societal expectations, and discovering a deeper sense of purpose through her relationship with God.
Engle's story challenges the belief that a woman must settle for a relationship simply to avoid being alone. Despite walking away from three engagements, she faced criticism from others who considered her too picky or feared she would become the family's lifelong single woman. Yet rather than allowing these expectations to dictate her future, Engle continued searching for a life grounded in faith, personal conviction, and hope.
Through candid storytelling, Engle takes readers through the emotional realities of broken relationships, unfulfilled dreams, loneliness, and heartache. Blending moments of humor with deeply moving reflections, she offers an honest account of her 46-year journey as a single Christian woman waiting for the right partner. More than a story about romance, the book explores the importance of understanding one's worth, finding peace in uncertainty, and trusting that life can hold meaningful possibilities even when expectations remain unfulfilled.
The inspiration behind the book came from Engle's own experiences of sharing her story with women who were divorced or unhappy in their relationships. When these women expressed how her experiences had given them hope and the courage to leave unhealthy relationships, she recognized that her story could reach and encourage many others facing similar struggles.
Through I Am the Real Runaway Bride, Engle hopes to remind readers that their value is not determined by their relationship status. Her message centers on the belief that a fulfilling life begins with a meaningful relationship with God, who gives every person purpose and enduring worth. She encourages readers to seek spiritual fulfillment rather than expecting a romantic relationship, wealth, or material possessions to satisfy their deepest needs.
Beyond her work as an author, Engle is a teacher, educational therapist, speaker, and trainer who is passionate about helping individuals and families navigate life's challenges. Her professional work includes supporting children with learning difficulties, consulting with parents who want to strengthen their parenting skills, and speaking about children with special needs. She also advocates greater inclusion and encourages churches to reach out to individuals with disabilities.
As a wife to Dan and stepmother to Patrick, Engle continues to use her personal experiences and professional expertise to inspire others. Her work reflects a commitment to helping people recognize their potential, find encouragement through difficult seasons, and build lives rooted in faith and purpose.
Engle has shared her message through a radio interview with Kate Delaney, appearances on several podcasts through PodMatch, and an interview on Done with Dating hosted by John Petrozzelli. She also participated in the South Carolina Book Lovers Expo in Columbia, South Carolina, in 2024. She welcomes opportunities to speak with women's groups, singles' groups, and churches interested in conversations about faith, relationships, self-worth, and finding hope during seasons of waiting.
For readers experiencing relationship uncertainty, disappointment, or the pressure to conform to society's expectations, I Am the Real Runaway Bride offers an encouraging reminder that being single does not diminish a person's value or purpose. Through her story, Engle invites readers to reconsider what it means to wait, trust, and live meaningfully while embracing the journey ahead.
About the Author
Debbie Engle is a three-time award-winning author, teacher, educational therapist, speaker, and trainer. She is passionate about supporting parents, grandparents, students, singles, and churches through education, encouragement, and advocacy. Her work focuses on helping children with learning challenges, equipping parents, and promoting greater inclusion for people with disabilities. Her book, I Am the Real Runaway Bride - Hope and Encouragement as You Wait for the Right One, shares her personal journey of faith, heartbreak, and hope while encouraging readers to discover their worth and trust God's purpose for their lives.
Media Contact and Further Information
Readers can learn more about Debbie Engle, her book, and her speaking opportunities by visiting her official website at https://debbieengle.com.
The Spotlight Network on I Am the Real Runaway Bride by Debbie Engle

Media Contact
Seven Chapter Literary
+19712989500
8327 SE Schiller St
Source :Seven Chapter Literary
This article was originally published by IssueWire. Read the original article here.
Veteran Chinese hurdler Wu Yanni has responded to renewed public criticism following her bronze-medal finish in the 100m hurdles at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, revealing recent physical health struggles and vowing to continue competing for as long as her body allows. In a series of interview videos released on Tuesday and Wednesday, the outspoken athlete addressed accusations of being “high-profile” and “talking big”. “My mother thinks I talk too big, but I don’t think I do,” Wu said....
Hong Kong delivered a strong medal haul at the Asian Para Games on Wednesday, with the city winning their first gold after boccia player Vivian Lau Wai-yan beat teammate Cheung Yuen in the final in Nagoya. City athletes also won four silver and four bronze medals during an action-packed day in Japan. The main area of success for the city’s men and women was on the boccia court, where Hong Kong enjoyed a dominant outing, eventually claiming one gold, three silvers and one bronze. Lau and Cheung...
Chinese table tennis star Fan Zhendong has again condemned secret filming after photos of a private trip were leaked online. On Tuesday, a self-proclaimed “superfan” uploaded two photo-slide show videos of Fan onto social media, captioning them: “No more hiding, let’s share.” The images showed Fan walking alone through Shanghai Pudong International Airport wearing a mask and hat, showing his movements on escalators and boarding. In one photo taken from just behind him, the poster claimed Fan was...
LeBron James said the Philadelphia 76ers still had plenty of room for improvement after launching their NBA season with an impressive opening night victory over the New York Knicks on Tuesday. James, 41, launched his quest for a fifth NBA championship with 14 points and seven assists in a 106-100 defeat of the reigning champions at Madison Square Garden. But despite an encouraging first win in a Philadelphia uniform, James was keeping his feet firmly on the ground. “It’s going to take some...
Louis Oosthuizen has joined the LIV Golf exodus, saying it was “time to move on” after four years on the breakaway tour. Twice a LIV tournament runner-up, and captain of the Southern Guards GC team, Oosthuizen is poised to return from a two-month injury lay-off in this week’s Link Hong Kong Open from Thursday. The bottom fell out of LIV this year when its Saudi Arabian backers turned off the money taps. Players have until Sunday to declare whether they would commit to a new iteration, after the...
Jay Rooney LOVE TOGETHER - R6 (8) Cracking run on return and can take advantage of a good draw and light weight Owen Goulding EMBRACES - R9 (9) Drawn well, on a dangerous mark and will get the pace needed to mow them down Paul Lally PEGAS - R8 (8) Drawn to get the best run in the race from barrier one and can sail through late on Phillip Woo LOVE TOGETHER - R6 (8) Caught the eye first up and can deliver up in grade off a light weight Trackwork Spy LOVE TOGETHER - R6 (8) Hit the line well...
Chinese table tennis star Sun Yingsha has warned fans against organising any birthday celebrations ahead of her turning 26 years old, calling on supporters to redirect their attention to the court. In recent years, supporters of prominent Chinese athletes have increasingly mirrored the entertainment industry’s so-called “fan circles” by organising lavish tributes, including commercial LED billboard campaigns in city centres, charity drives, offline promotional displays and drone light...
Hong Kong’s fencers have set their sights on the Los Angeles Paralympics after winning silver in the women’s foil team event at the Asian Para Games on Tuesday. Lam Ka-man, Yu Chui-yee, Tong Nga-ting and Chung Yuen-ping lost 30-12 to China in the final at the Nagoya City Inae Sports Centre, having come from behind to beat Thailand 30-23 in the semi-final. Despite the presence of veteran Yu, who also took women’s foil category A bronze on Monday, Hong Kong were always chasing gold and trailed...
Caspar Fownes is “very happy” with the start of his season and is looking to keep the winners rolling in with the likes of Love Together, Perfect General and Forza Toro at Happy Valley on Wednesday night. The champion trainer secured his fifth title last campaign and has slotted home nine winners so far this season, sitting fifth in the championship standings which are headed by Pierre Ng Pang-chi on 12 winners. Known as the ‘King of the Valley’, Fownes is taking his start at face value and is...
Inigo Calderon has called on local football chiefs to join him in “trying to do my part” to grow the game in Hong Kong. The Spaniard’s easy-on-the-eye Kitchee team delivered “probably the most complete” performance of his 15-month reign to embarrass Lee Man 5-1 on Monday, leaving him to conclude that it was a good time to say his piece because “we won and I’m not making excuses”. Unhappy with kick-off times and routinely poor playing surfaces, head coach Calderon said a 6.30pm start had aided...
Gianni Infantino’s campaign for re-election as Fifa president is set to move this week to Japan and a meeting scheduled for Wednesday with the Asian Football Confederation. This comes after Infantino apologised last week in Zurich, Switzerland, to Fifa’s 37-member ruling council – which he chairs – for “mistakes” he made in assembling a now-scrapped US$4.2 billion sell-off plan for the World Cup. The council is the main decision-making body at Fifa with a global spread of officials. The planned...
A charity football tournament in Hong Kong on Monday allowed some players a temporary release from the “quagmire, anxiety and stress” of their daily lives. The event at Kings Park was staged to raise funds and awareness for Branches of Hope (BoH), the non-governmental organisation that serves refugees, asylum seekers and human trafficking survivors in Hong Kong. Featuring 16 teams and around 250 players, the seven-a-side Home and Away Charity Football Tournament was expected to raise more than...
YOUR NEWS, OUR NETWORK.
Do you have Great News you want to tell the world?
Be it updates about your business or your community, you can make sure that it’s heard by submitting your story to our network reaching hundreds of news sites across 6 verticals.