May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Physical strength isn't
something I have much of anymore.
All part of the maturing
process we experience as humans.
But the strength I do
have,
the strength I cherish,
comes from the joy I
have in the Lord.
Many things bring me joy—
my husband
my family
animals
flowers
books
reading
ice cream
But...
My number one joy—
is knowing I'm loved by God—
the one who created me.
I'd like to welcome award winning writer, Deena Adams, to my blog. She's been a great encouragement to me on my writing journey through her Facebook group—MARATHON. If you’re a Christian Fiction writer, she’d love for you to join the group! Click here for the link, and be sure to answer the membership question.
Deena, I
love that you focus on hope in your writing and in your life. What motivates
you to have such hope?
I’ve
experienced some rough times over the years and every time I felt hopeless, I
knew I had to shift my focus back to the Lord. I think about the story of Peter
in the Bible. When his eyes were on Jesus, he walked on the water, but when he
looked at the storm raging around him, he sank.
Keeping my
eyes on Jesus and believing God’s promises is where my hope comes from and is
the only way to not only survive the hard times, but to find joy in the
journey.
Women’s
fiction is probably my favorite—and it’s what I write—because I love stories
that tackle gritty, true-to-life issues and focus on the character’s spiritual
transformation. Of course, I love to be entertained when I read, but I don’t
read for pure enjoyment alone, but to be challenged in my faith.
The beauty of God’s work in a person’s mess and bringing them to redemption and healing encourages me in my spiritual life. It helps me know I’m not alone and if others can have victory in their trials, maybe I can too.
You've
written a short story, Behind the Scenes. Can you tell us a bit about
the story and the novel you are working on?
Behind the Scenes is a prequel to my novel and features the childhood story of Clayton, my novel’s hero. The short story opens with seven-year-old Clayton searching the house for his parents and realizing they’ve left him home alone again. He tells no one when his parents leave him because he’s afraid of being taken to a terrible place, like kid jail or an orphanage.
Camille and
Raymond Richards are medical missionaries who work at a nearby clinic. As they
walk the roads of a poor community in the Mississippi Delta area of Memphis,
Tennessee, she senses God may have more in store for them than their current
ministry.
While
passing out toys to children, they meet Clayton, and Camille is immediately
drawn to him. She envisions him as their son, but keeps that to herself because
that’s just crazy. He has parents, and she’s pregnant with their first child.
Their paths cross several times, intensifying Camille’s prayers for the boy.
You’ll have
to read the story to hear how God works behind the scenes and find out their
journey’s outcome.
In the novel
I’m working on, Clayton is twenty-eight, loves Jesus, and works as a behavioral
psychologist and homeless shelter manager. But he’s still single and longs to
get married and have a family.
He meets
Amanda Wright, who is a hot mess. She has a sordid past she keeps buried at all
costs because when she told her mayor husband her secret, he stormed out angry
and died in an accident.
Amanda’s
abusive stepfather shows up, threatening to expose her past unless she gives
him money. She agrees to his demands but determines to pay penance for her past
sins, protect innocent children from the childhood she endured, and honor her
late husband’s community service legacy by becoming a court-appointed special
advocate for foster children.
She and
Clayton meet and learn they are working on the same court case. As their lives
intertwine, a shelter resident uncovers a link to Amanda’s past through a
carved angel keepsake, and Amanda is thrust headlong into the past she seeks to
escape.
Aspects of
foster care, adoption, addictions, abuse, abortion, death, and an interracial
relationship bring real issues to the surface. You’ll find God’s love, grace
and forgiveness throughout and, of course, hope.
I’ve worked
on this story for the past three years and have fallen in love with these
characters and their journey. I hope readers will too.
I've read Behind the Scenes. It's a wonderful, uplifting story readers will enjoy. I look forward to reading your work-in-progress. How can folks get a copy of Behind the Scenes?
Thanks so
much for your kind words. I’m so glad you enjoyed Behind the Scenes. I offer
the story free as a thank you to my newsletter subscribers. The Hope Collective
newsletter contains lots of hope-filled fiction content and giveaways and goes
out once a month, so it won’t overwhelm your email inbox. Readers who are
interested can subscribe here.
You've won some awards. Can you tell us a bit about those and why it's important for writers to enter contests?
Contests not
only build a writer’s confidence when we place or win and give us a positive
addition to our writing resume, but the feedback and critique from experienced
authors and other professionals is invaluable in helping us grow and better
learn the craft.
With no
idea what I was doing, I started writing my first novel in the fall of 2018
during Nanowrimo. In about three months, I had finished the first, very messy
and way too long, draft. A couple of months later, I signed up for my
first writer’s conference and entered their contest for unpublished writers. To
say it shocked me to win second place is an understatement.
I met with
an agent at that conference who looked at a sample of my writing and encouraged
me to keep entering contests. His praise for my writing, and the second-place
win, gave me confirmation to keep moving forward and keep entering contests.
In the fall
of 2019, I was a double finalist and winner of the ACFW First Impressions
contest, another shocker.
I entered multiple contests in 2020 and didn’t place in any of them. It was a discouraging year in a lot of areas of my life, so maybe God allowed me to be a Genesis finalist in 2021 for a boost to keep plugging onward in this publishing journey.
Where can
people find out more about you?
Social media
is great, and I love interacting with people there, but because of the
algorithms, most of my followers and friends never see my posts. The best way
to learn more about me and keep up with my writing journey is through my
website and newsletter. If you’re interested in connecting, you can find and
follow me at the links below.
Thanks for having me on your blog, Penny. I appreciate your support and friendship. God bless you and your readers!
Newsletter
and/or Blog Sign up
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.
Book Description:
She came in search of the family she’d always wanted—and found the kind of love
she’d never dared to imagine.
When Katelyn Loveland’s car veered off a winding Appalachian Mountain road, she thought she was done for. That is until Cooper Robinson, local sheriff’s deputy, came to her rescue. And though Katie narrowly escaped her brush with death, she still fell. Hard.
She wasn’t the only one. But soon Cooper learns that the
woman he’s more attracted to than any he’s ever met is his brother’s new girlfriend—and
therefore unquestionably off limits. Yet, despite his best efforts, Cooper and
Katie can’t seem to avoid running into each other. Or ignore the undeniable
chemistry between them.
As they grow closer, Katie shares the secrets of her past
and the real reason she moved to their small North Carolina town. She also wins
over Cooper’s welcoming and bighearted family. But they don’t know that her
feelings for Cooper keep growing—all while she’s dating his brother. Soon the
stakes of their emotional connection become higher than either of them could
have imagined. Katie stands to lose the first family she’s ever had, and a
scandal could doom Cooper’s campaign for sheriff’s office. Suddenly they find
themselves on the edge of another precipice—and they’re forced to make a
decision that could change their lives forever.
My Thoughts:
Life can throw you into an unexpected situation. Such is the case for Katelyn
and Cooper. At first, I wasn't sure I liked the premise of Riverbend Gap,
but as usual, Denise Hunter delivered an excellent story filled with emotion
and romance. Cooper Robinson is swoon worthy and Katelyn Loveland is adorable,
but even better, they both have kind hearts. Cooper's brother, Gavin, is dating
Katelyn and she loves his family. Boy, is she surprised to find out Cooper is
her boyfriend's brother. So begins a situation filled with hope, regret,
confusion, forgiveness, and family love. This is a lovely story that portrays a
family who cares about each other. For Katelyn, that's huge. As a foster child,
she's searching for the kind of love she's missed out on, which adds another
layer to the story. I loved the setting in a small town on the Appalachian
Trail and the tidbits written about hiking. If you enjoy romance, family, and a
good story, you'll want to read Riverbend Gap, book one in the Riverbend Romance
story. I received a complimentary copy
of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Acts 1:13-14
When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying.
Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas,
Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas
son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along
with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
Prayer is not a last resort—it is our most powerful weapon.
A newspaper clipping is making the rounds on Facebook that
asks everyone to stop what they're doing at 8pm and pray for our country for
one minute. If we as believers, in the power of prayer to our heavenly Father,
asked for deliverance and safety—imagine the outcome.
At times, I've flung up a prayer in desperation, not
realizing the powerful tool I had at my fingertips. Think about it, we, as fumbling
humans, have the opportunity to speak directly to the Creator of the universe. I
can call on Him any time, and He hears me. That's incredible!
Not only does He hear me, He cares about whatever I'm
asking.
In Acts chapter one, the apostles and followers of Jesus
found themselves in a tough situation. Their beloved teacher and friend had
died. Yes, he rose from the grave, but his closest cohorts found themselves at
a loss. They needed to move forward and establish the church, but were
perplexed about the situation.
They didn't sit around and grumble—they prayed—and
not just a few words aimed toward God, they talked to Him constantly. The folks
who knew and loved Jesus, talked to God all the time, to seek guidance and
direction for their lives and for the church.
These days I find I have much to pray about—folks
who are ill, our military, Christians who are suffering at the hands of evil,
our country and the unrest we all feel, my family and friends, my writing, and
so much more.
God calls me to pray. To seek Him, to talk to Him about the
concerns on my heart. I won't get a better offer.
Pray constantly to the One who listens.
Jesus' light shines
—hope.
When night falls
—pray.
In the morning
—praise.
The rest of the day
—love.
Book Description:
A mysterious song in the forest . . .
A discovery in war-torn France . . .
A journey toward hope.
The trenches of the Great War are a shadowed place. Though Platoon Sergeant Matthew Petticrew arrived there with a past long marked by shadow, the realities of battle bring new wounds--carving within him a longing for light, and a resolve to fight for it.
One night, Matthew and his comrades are enraptured by a
sound so pure, a voice so ethereal, it offers reprieve--even if only for a
moment. Soon, rumors sweep the trenches from others who have heard the lullaby
too. "The Angel of Argonne," they call the voice: a mysterious
presence who leaves behind wreaths on unmarked graves.
Raised in the wild depths of the Forest of Argonne, Mireilles finds her
reclusive world rocked when war crashes into her idyllic home, taking much from
her. When Matthew and his two unlikely companions discover Mireilles, they must
embark on a journey that will change each of them forever . . . and perhaps, at
long last, spark light into the dark.
On the 100th anniversary of the dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
comes an emotive tale inspired by the courageous soldiers of World War I.
My Thoughts:
Yours is the Night filled me with hope and a better understanding of
what the military endured during WW1. In the darkest of times during a great
war, sparks of light shine through the darkness. Amanda Dykes, an amazing
storyteller, created such real characters they could walk off the page. I love
Matthew and his constant awareness and desire to protect. Mireilles strength
and faith inspire. George's journey of faith and Henry's documentation weave
together the heartache of war with the hope of the future. Captain Jasper
Truett carried his heart into battle, as he grew to admire the men in his
charge. Written from five points of view, Dykes lyrical words painted such
vivid pictures, I felt like I was in the midst of the war with the characters.
This story kept me reading well past my bedtime. I've enjoyed every book she's
written, but I think this one outshines them all. If you enjoy a great story
filled with amazing characters, read Yours is the Night. (Sidenote: I
love the gorgeous cover.) I received a complimentary copy of this book.
Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Colossians 3:12-14
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe
yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and
patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you
has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over
all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect
unity.
Glitter, sparkle, shine, but most of all be kind.
When my kids were growing up, our home was kind of messy. We
crafted, drew, glued, and sewed. If the girls had a school project with friends,
our house was often the one where they made dioramas, science projects, and book
reports. On Valentine's Day and Christmas the cards required as much glitter as
they would hold. Little hands scattered the shiny sparkles over white glue and
made a fine mess. Sort of like the sprinkles we shook over Christmas cookies. When
I attempted to vacuum the tiny, sparkly pieces, I inevitably left some behind. It
seemed like I'd find glitter for months, after a project.
What would the world look like if we sprinkled kindness and
compassion like glitter? So much so, that the kindness stuck around and was
difficult to remove. In the third chapter of Colossians, Paul addresses the
church. A place where kindness and compassion should indeed be present. Yet, he
had to remind the very people who said they loved Jesus to be kind. I imagine
if Paul lived today, he would preach his message in homes,
workplaces, at sporting events, and in public spaces.
In a world where we can be anything, shouldn't we be kind? Considerate?
Thoughtful? And shouldn't those traits be so ingrained we don't have to think
about them. I know sometimes I don't feel kind, I get grumpy like everyone
else, but Jesus calls me to have compassion, so I need to work on that daily.
Jesus loves people. When he walked the earth, he showed
kindness. Even when he rebuked or corrected someone, he did it with love.
Sprinkle kindness like glitter, so it sticks around.