Meet Deena Adams, Author
Author Connections
Readers, today it’s my distinct pleasure to introduce you to my friend, Deena Adams. She is an author and blogger whose passion is hope-filled offerings, both in stories and on her website. I subscribe to her site and never come away from an email or blog post without an uplift to my spirit. I encourage you to check out her website and get to know her. (More links below.)
Take it away, Deena . . .
As a new writer seeking publication, I’m thankful for every opportunity to talk about the stories I write, so I appreciate you inviting me to share on your blog, Deb. When you told me you focus on ministering to hurting families, I knew my novels and my own life would be a fit for your readers.
Deena Adams, Author
I’ve always loved stories—written or on the screen—about real-life scenarios. Following the drama of a messed-up family who not only survives their traumatic situation, but thrives and finds hope in the midst of it, captures me every single time. Maybe it’s because my family has seen its share of I-don’t-know-how-we’re-going-to-survive-this circumstances.
Some of the rocky roads I’ve traveled include my parents divorcing just after I had my first child; learning the man who raised me was not my biological father and then he disowned me; marital problems; raising three children alone during my spouse’s military deployments; a prodigal child; a church split; close family members with mental illness, severe disability, anxiety, depression, and gender confusion; and my mom’s cancer diagnosis and death sixteen months later.
I’m not going to lie. Every situation stretched my faith beyond the limit—and some still do.
You may not relate specifically to what I and my family have endured, but I would dare to guess that you’ve muddled your way through some kind of family drama, hurt, or disappointment. And maybe, like me, you’ve asked a lot of questions along the way.
Why didn’t God protect us? Weren’t my prayers enough? Did my sin cause these awful experiences?
At times I wondered if I’d survive, but I’m still here today to talk about it, my faith is stronger, and God has given me a passion to share hope-filled fiction with others to encourage them on their gut-wrenching journeys.
You may ask, “Why fiction?” I wrote a blog post with the answer to that question. You can read it here if you’re interested. Bottom line…fiction can reach some people in a way non-fiction never could. Fiction weaves truth amid a made-up story in a non-threatening way that God supernaturally uses to transform lives.
That’s my hope and prayer for every story I write, including Behind the Scenes, the novelette I’m giving away to newsletter subscribers. In this short story, eight-year-old Clayton finds himself abandoned by his parents and searching for the love and security of family. He meets a missionary couple who serves the underprivileged in the Mississippi Delta region of South Memphis, TN. When tragedy befalls the couple, they—and Clayton—learn God has been orchestrating a beautiful scenario behind the scenes all along.
This giveaway is a prequel to my (hopefully soon to be published) novel, which has been a finalist in three writing contests in the past two years. It features Clayton as a twenty-eight-year-old behavioral psychologist who works with Chattanooga Juvenile and Domestic Court system clients. He also serves as manager for House of Hope, the men’s homeless shelter his parents opened two years prior.
The heroine, Amanda Wright, is a guilt-ridden young widow who becomes a court-appointed special advocate for foster children hoping to redeem her past mistakes, honor her late husband’s legacy, and rescue kids in crisis. Although Amanda vowed to keep her sordid past buried, its resurrection could save an innocent life…and transform her own.
Clayton plays a huge role in Amanda’s journey from guilt, shame, and fear to transparency and healing.
The tough situations I shared earlier inspired several other novels I’m working on or have plans to write. Just as Romans 8:28 assures us, God works all things for good for those who love Him.
He brings beauty from ashes and turns our mess into a message when we’re surrendered to Him and His plans. He never wastes a hurt.
Whatever you’re dealing with today, turn it over to Him and trust that He will use your pain and dysfunction in a beautiful way that will build your faith and bring Him glory.
If you’re interested in reading Clayton’s childhood story, you can subscribe to my monthly Hope Collective newsletter here. The newsletter features hope-filled books and their authors, updates on my writing journey, family updates, giveaways, and more.
A few days after you subscribe, you’ll also receive a free PDF, Ten Steps to Finding Hope When You’re Heartbroken, which I wrote from lessons learned during the season with our prodigal daughter. A third freebie opportunity, five encouraging devotions—one per day for five days—will land in your inbox a few days after that. Of course, they’re all optional.
If you love hope-filled fiction and would like to meet new authors and have a chance to win novels, you can also subscribe to my weekly blog through the same subscribe link. And I’d love to connect with you through my website and social media. My links are below.
Thanks again for hosting me, Deb! May God bless you and your readers!
As a Jesus girl for more than thirty years, Deena understands how important hope is to daily life. That’s why she’s passionate about inspiring others through writing hope-filled fiction and highlighting other Christian authors on her blog.
Deena is an active member of ACFW and two Virginia writer groups, board member of ACFW Virginia, founder of the Marathon online writer’s group, 2019 Foundations contest finalist, 2019 First Impressions contest double finalist and winner, and 2021 Genesis contest finalist.
She lives with her husband near the coast in beautiful Virginia. When she’s not writing, reading, or serving in her church, you’ll find her hanging out with family and friends and doting on her seven grandchildren.
When dreams disintegrate, is God really working behind the scenes for good?
Mississippi Delta missionaries Camille and Raymond Richards are heartbroken over the impoverished people they encounter daily. Having grown up poor in South Alabama, they understand that lifestyle, which compels them to serve families struggling with perpetual poverty.
At age seven, left to fend for himself, Clayton Jenkins longs to be part of a loving family. A family where his parents never leave him home alone. Where his Mama showers him with attention and his daddy plays with him.
From the moment she meets Clayton, Camille envisions the waif as their son. But that was ridiculous. The boy had parents. And she was pregnant. Did compassion for the child skew her perspective? Or was God working behind the scenes, formulating a plan far greater than they could imagine?
Thanks, Deena, for guest posting today. Readers, you can connect with Deena by clicking on the links below.
My dear Readers, for the next blog post on 10/26/21, we will return to our regularly scheduled programming. Get ready to meet Nora Lee, the charming littlest rascal in the Lee family, and centerpiece of my forthcoming novel, No Tomorrows. See ya then–
Thanks so much for allowing me to share on your blog, Deb! I appreciate it so much.
You’re so welcome! We should do it again sometime…?