<<< I’M RUNNING A GIVEAWAY OF DEENA’S BOOK . . . SEE BELOW >>>

Comment below for a chance to win an ebook or paperback of your choice–USA only.

Family chaos is not usually a topic we openly discuss except with close friends. Whether the issues are infidelity, abuse, teen rebellion, mental illness, alcoholism, or other addictions, we need to find those safe people who can be trusted with our deepest pain, fears, and secrets. 

This is especially true in the church where the temptation is to perpetuate the appearance of having it all together as the “perfect” family. After all, as Christians, we should be above these problems, right? 

Author Deena Adams would say otherwise. In her beautifully written debut novel, Stronger Than the Storm, she offers a deep dive into the Holbrook family dynamics, and it’s not always pretty. But it’s real life. It’s parents struggling to do the right thing but sometimes failing. 

This is a story in which many readers will be able to see themselves. Not just floundering, but seeking and finding the right lifeline in the midst of wind and waves.

I’m happy to host Deena today, not just as a brand new author, but as a dear friend. 

Blurb:

A runaway teen. A wife’s devastating secret. A family’s reckoning.

Since surviving a rocky season in her marriage nineteen years earlier, Beth Holbrook has prayed and worked toward maintaining a solid marital commitment, raising godly children, and leading a thriving parenting ministry. On the cusp of realizing her publication dream and expanding her influence nationwide, her daughter, Leesa, runs away without a word.

Having recently turned eighteen and graduated from high school, Leesa is livid with her parents for not allowing her to attend a beach party, especially when the only guy who has ever shown interest in her will be there. When her best friend suggests they escape their parents’ strict rules and move to Myrtle Beach together, she makes a spontaneous decision to leave town. A mere six weeks later she returns home with shocking news that affects not only her future, but her family’s.

While grappling with a volatile blend of failure and anger, Beth’s identity as a pastor’s wife, mom, and respected parenting coach disintegrates. Amid mounting conflict in her marriage, continued criticism from her own mother, and strained relationships with her children, God leads Beth to confess a long-held secret, shattering her already splintered family.

As a hurricane bears down on the Holbrook’s house, the storm raging within the walls threatens to rip apart the fragile stitches holding their family together. When Beth’s solid foundation crumbles, will her family come out stronger on the other side of the storm? Or is her contrition too little, too late?

*******************

My thoughts

Deena Adams’ debut novel proves that she is an author to keep an eye on. I was immediately swept into the dynamics of the “nearly perfect” Holbrook family—at least that’s the impression they give from the outside. But things go awry when their middle child, Leesa (18), runs away. 

With the story effectively told from three perspectives—Kevin (the dad), Beth (the mom), and Leesa—I found myself entwined with each character. The tension among them is realistic and palpable. It wasn’t just parents vs. child. The anxiety over Leesa puts additional strain between Kevin and Beth, and the other two kids as well. The temptation to blame and shame sometimes wins. 

I appreciated that these parents were real, complex, and relatable—not cliche and definitely not always able to hold it together. As the situation heats up, another crisis interferes and ramps up the pressure.

The author juggles many balls in this story, with unpredictable twists. If you appreciate  women’s fiction with strong, clear faith threads, you’ll enjoy this novel. 

Join me for some Q & A with author Deena Adams.

<<< I’M RUNNING A GIVEAWAY OF DEENA’S BOOK . . . SEE BELOW >>>

Comment below for a chance to win an ebook or paperback of your choice–USA only.

Questions about Stronger than the Storm

What was your inspiration for writing Stronger than the Storm? What’s your personal connection to the story and/or setting?

Deena: An extremely hard season twenty years ago when our nineteen-year-old daughter ran off without a word and returned home pregnant inspired this book. I’m a firm believer that when we’re vulnerable and share our struggles with others, God can bring good from our mess. 

My hope for Stronger than the Storm is that the story will encourage those going through tough times and will give them hope.

The primary setting is Virginia Beach, Virginia, which is the area in which I’ve lived for the past 30+ years. Also, I love the beach, so the setting was a no-brainer. I even have a few scenes set in Myrtle Beach, SC and Kitty Hawk, NC.

I admire your transparency. That definitely makes you relatable. How is your protagonist like you? Different from you? What would she have to say about you?

Deena: I modeled the heroine, Beth, after me and my Type A personality, flaws and all. She has a sincere heart with a fierce love for her family, and she wants them to obey and follow the Lord so they will have a blessed life. 

The downside of that noble desire is that she tends to try and control people and circumstances to bring about her preferred outcome instead of letting God be God. She learns some important lessons about herself throughout the story that I had to learn years ago.

One difference is that Beth hid a life-altering secret from everyone for nearly two decades. I’m a pretty open book about myself and my past, especially with those I’m close to, or if I believe my transparency could help someone through a struggle.

I think Beth would say that I’m too much like her and need to let go of control, the way she’s learning to do.

Sounds like you have a lot of self-awareness! Letting go of control seems like a lesson we have to learn over and over. 🙂 Which character presented the biggest challenge and why?

Deena: Isaac Madison, the guy to whom Leesa, the teenage runaway, lost her virginity. He’s a manipulator, abuser, and generally a horrible person. It was hard to wrap my mind around his mentality and what drove him to do the things he did.

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “Hurt people hurt people.” I had to remind myself that pain from his past caused him to hurt Leesa. That doesn’t make abuse right or okay. Not by a long shot. But thinking about Isaac’s childhood wounds gave me a bit of insight into his actions.

It’s sometimes hard to see abusers as wounded people themselves. Did the plot stick to a pre-determined plan or did it evolve? 

Deena: I’m not a plotter, so aside from a very loose attempt at an outline, I didn’t have a predetermined plan. The characters ran the show and told me where to go and what they were doing next, so even the minimal rough sketch I tried to follow flew out the window quickly.

Good that you were able to go with the flow! What unusual or interesting thing did you do or discover while researching for this story?

Deena: When I wrote the first draft of Stronger than the Storm in 2019 and sent chapters to critique partners, several of them mentioned making the teenage character a minor instead of an eighteen-year-old to add more tension. 

So, I contacted a local police officer to ask about Virginia law regarding underage runaways. He said not only would they always search for a minor and bring them back home, but they would also do so every time the parents reported the teen running away again.

Making that change would’ve affected major plot points, requiring a massive revision. Not what I wanted to do! So, I was thrilled when an editor I pitched my story to a couple of years ago said she thought the parents knowing the authorities wouldn’t search for their child and bring them home brought more tension. That was all the encouragement I needed to keep the teen’s original age.

You’re right—either of those options spins a different a different tale. The one you chose works great. What is one of your favorite quotes from this novel? Why?

Deena: “God has the power to turn messes into ministry and trials into a testimony when we entrust our hurts to him.” Beth’s best friend, Teresa, said this to her during a heart-to-heart conversation.

I love this line because over many years of heartache and struggles, I’ve discovered its truth. God has a purpose in everything He allows, and He never wastes a hurt. We can waste our trials if we refuse to let God grow us through them or use what we’ve learned to help and bless others.

Such a powerful quote, and so true. God has a purpose for everything. How do you want this book to resonate with readers?

Deena: I hope readers walk away from the Holbrooks’ story with a renewed appreciation for their family members and a desire to be honest about secrets they may be keeping. 

I pray they understand that because of the Lord’s complete forgiveness of our sins, we have the power within to forgive everyone who hurts us. Even those whose betrayal we can’t imagine getting past.

Those are both vital for healthy relationships. What conversation do you hope book clubs will have after reading it?

Deena: Among the themes I noted in the question above, I also hope they’ll discuss the importance of faithful, godly friendships. How a loyal friend consistently points us to Jesus, and they don’t agree with us if we’re going in the wrong direction or making a terrible decision.

Yes, a good, solid friend can make all the difference. 

Questions about writing

Which books or authors have been most influential for you as a writer? What strikes you most about their work?

Deena: There are so many wonderful Christian Women’s Fiction authors I highly respect and admire, but the person who came to mind first was Deborah Raney.

Deb started her writing career thirty years ago, and her debut novel, A Vow to Cherish, became a World Wide Pictures film. Since then, she’s written over forty novels and won multiple awards. 

After my short eight years in the writing and publishing world, Deb’s faithfulness and endurance for three decades is inspiring. Plus, all her books have real, flawed characters who take a spiritual journey throughout the story. Those are the novels I love most.

Definitely someone to admire and be inspired by! Share a little about your novel writing process, and the length of time it takes to complete a book.

Deena: In 2018, with no training and no earthly idea how to write a novel, I sat down with my laptop and finished a one-hundred-twenty-thousand-word manuscript in four months. In 2019, I basically did the same thing, just with fewer words at the end. I spent the next few years learning how to fix my messes.

That second book is now my debut novel, Stronger than the Storm. I’ve only completed one other manuscript since then, which is book two in The Holbrook Family series, which comes out next year. 

It’s taken me over a year to finish the first draft, but that’s because I’ve been in the middle of pitching the first two books, then receiving my contract, which meant editing my contracted manuscript, building a launch team, and learning about marketing, all while trying to draft the book.

All that to say, I don’t really know what my writing process is yet. I’ve been pretty much winging it since 2018. LOL.

Wow, 120,000 words! That’s a hefty start in novel-writing! Why do you write in your particular genre?

Deena: Because it’s what God put on my heart to write. In my Christian walk, it seems like the Lord delights in putting me in situations where I swim against the culture’s current and do the hard thing, the unpopular thing. That has proven true with my writing too.

Writing gritty, true-life heartache and struggles isn’t always pleasant, and there have been lots of rejections because of the sensitive topics I address in my books. But it’s in life’s messes and valleys where God does His most beautiful work and hope shines brightest.

I’ve said many times that it would be much easier, quicker, and less painful to write fluffy stories without deep themes and angst.But I wouldn’t trade sloughing through the mess with a fictional family if it means having the chance to encourage and bless a real family who needs to know they’re not alone. To be assured that God is right there with them in the chaos and disappointment.

I’m glad you’re not afraid to tackle the tough topics. We need more stories like that. If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

Deena: There’s so much more to writing and publishing a novel than you can imagine. Don’t step into this journey unless you want to give more of yourself than you thought possible. Learning to craft a novel effectively will take years, and you’ll spend hundreds, if not thousands, on training.

Then, if you want to publish your work and for people to purchase and read your books, you’ll need to immerse yourself in the writing and publishing world and connect with a network of authors to help you learn how to promote and market yourself and your work. You’ll have to build a brand for yourself around the kind of stories you want to publish and work to grow your platform.

This sounds like a lot of effort and hard work, because it is. But when you finally get that book out into the world that has the potential to touch readers’ hearts and maybe even change a few lives, you’ll realize it’s all worth it.

Writing is not for the faint-hearted, right? How many unpublished and unfinished manuscripts do you have? Any plans to pursue publication for any of them?

Deena: As I mentioned, I’ve only completed three manuscripts, and two of them are being published in my three-book contract with Scrivenings Press. The other book is the very first mess I wrote in 2018. I can’t count the number of months, even years, I worked on polishing that manuscript, and I still believe in that story deeply. So, yes, I intend to revisit that book for publication once The Holbrook Family series is complete.

<<< I’M RUNNING A GIVEAWAY OF DEENA’S BOOK . . . SEE BELOW >>>

Comment below for a chance to win an ebook or paperback of your choice–USA only.

***************************

Back to Laura . . . On a similar note . . . 

If you like stories about family dynamics, try The Broken Weathervane (launched September 2). Two co-workers seek the same information. One wants to publish it; the other has good reasons to keep it hidden. This dual timeline novel alternates between 2015 and the 1950s. Check out the reviews and book trailer here.

If you like historical fiction, you might enjoy A Hundred Magical Reasons (launched January 2025). This story spotlights L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, his friendship with a young girl, and his impact through the decades. Set in Holland, Michigan, this dual timeline novel alternates between 1980 and the early 1900s. Read more and watch the book trailer here. 

If you like Southern fiction and small town/rural stories about family dynamics and secrets, you might enjoy my novel All That Is Hidden. Set near North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains in 1968, the story spotlights the bond of family and the connections of a tight-knit community. Northern exploitation threatens as a father’s hidden past catches up to him and tests family ties. Learn more and watch the trailer here.

All That Is Hidden is now an audiobook! 

I invite you to join my monthly newsletter for writing updates, freebies, and giveaways. Sign up and I’ll send you a prequel and 7 Oz-inspired recipes: StandoutStoriesNewsletter.com  

*************************

Deena Adams bio:

As a Jesus girl for over thirty years, and a pastor’s wife for most of those, Deena Adams understands how important hope is to daily life. This belief fuels her passion to inspire others through hope-filled fiction based on true-life stories.

She is a Certified Mental Health Coach, a multi-award-winning author, an active ACFW member, founder of the Marathon online writers group, and a six-year ACFW Virginia board member.

Deena 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, playing board games, and doting on her seven grandchildren. 

Connect with Deena through her website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, BookBub, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. 

**********************

Join me next time for a visit with author Jenifer Jennings.

Meanwhile, have you read Stronger Than the Storm yet? Do you have a favorite novel about family dynamics?

Answer in the comments below for a chance to win an ebook or paperback of your choice–USA only.

Ever reading,

Laura

Sign up for my monthly newsletter and receive the 7 free Oz-inspired recipes: StandoutStoriesNewsletter.com