Join me in welcoming fellow Scrivenings author, Deena Adams.
Christina: What is your book called?
Deena: Stronger than the Storm
Christina: When was it released?
Deena: April 28, 2026
Christina: Is it a series?
Deena: Yes. The Holbrook Family series. (This is book one – my debut)
Christina: Can you share your blurb with us?
Deena:
A runaway teen. A wife’s devastating secret. A family’s reckoning.
Beth Holbrook has dedicated her life to helping families thrive. As a pastor’s wife, mother of three, and respected parenting coach, she teaches others how to raise children who love God and make wise choices.
Then her daughter runs away.
Tired of living under her parents’ overbearing rules, eighteen-year-old Leesa leaves home determined to live life on her own terms. But when her choices lead to consequences she never expected, she’s faced with a future she’s not prepared for.
Meanwhile, Beth’s carefully constructed life begins to unravel. Tension grows in her marriage, wounds from her past resurface, and the secret she’s hidden for nineteen years threatens to sever the tenuous threads holding her family together.
When a powerful hurricane barrels toward their Virginia Beach home, the Holbrooks must confront the storm within their own walls.
Will confession and forgiveness heal the damage … or will the truth tear their family apart?
Christina: What inspired you to write this book?
Deena: A difficult season with a prodigal daughter twenty years ago inspired me to write this story to encourage others who are heartbroken over a devastating situation with their child or grandchild.
Christina: What’s your favorite part of your writing process?
Deena: I love editing, and I’m always excited to have something to work with once the rough draft is finished. It’s thrilling to see the story improve with every revision.
Christina: Can you share any challenges you faced during the research or writing process?
Deena: One challenge I dealt with was how to create fiction based on true events. There’s a tricky balance to drawing on my experience and emotions to add authenticity to the story and my characters being purely fictional and having their own journey, separate and unique from our family’s.
Christina: How do you develop your characters? Do they come to you fully formed, or do they reveal themselves as you write?
Deena: I don’t develop any story elements before I write the book, especially the characters. I’ve tried to do those character background studies before I start writing, but it doesn’t work for me, at least for the three books I’ve written so far. Sometimes new people show up on the page out of the blue, and I’m asking, “Who are you, where did you come from, and what’s your purpose here?” LOL.
Christina: If you could give one piece of advice to budding creatives, what would it be?
Deena: It’s never too late to chase your dreams, but don’t rush the process. Learning something new takes a lot of time, effort, and money, so the end goal doesn’t arrive quickly or easily. Immerse yourself in the world where creatives hang out, doing what you aspire to do. Attend conferences. Watch instructional videos and webinars. Read blog posts and listen to podcasts. Get every bit of training possible. Then jump in with both feet and pursue what God has placed on your heart.
Christina: What do you hope readers will take away from your book?
Deena: Oh, there are so many things I want readers to grasp through the really difficult situations every Stronger than the Storm character must overcome. One takeaway I desire is that the Holbrook’s faith journey inspires my audience to cling to the Lord no matter what they’re facing and to know that transparency and vulnerability are a path to healing. Another is the power of forgiveness and unconditional love—from God and the people we’ve wronged, and for those who’ve harmed us.
Christina: I love that.
Now, for a few fun questions. What’s your favorite snack to get your creative juices flowing?
Deena: I usually have a container of pistachios and one of trail mix beside me. I’m not sure if they contribute to my creativity, but they certainly taste good. Haha!
Christina: What book are you reading right now?
Deena: As I’m completing this interview, I’m reading Across the Lake—a combination devotional/Biblical fiction by Barbara M. Britton, a digital ARC of Miss Beth Bettencourt by Eva Marie Everson, and listening to the audio of 26 Below by Kimberly Woodhouse. I recommend all three!
Christina: I’ll need to add those to my list!
Okay, you just won free tickets to anywhere in the world! Where are you going? And who are you taking?
Deena: I’ve always wanted to visit the Holy Land, to walk where Jesus walked and see the sights mentioned in the Bible, so that’s where I’d go. But only when it’s safe to travel there again. I would take my husband of almost forty-five years, and if I received extra tickets, I’d take some friends who want to visit Israel too.
Christina: What upcoming writing projects are you working on?
Deena: I’m wrapping up the first draft of book two in the Holbrook series, which follows the eldest Holbrook child, Tyler, and his new bride, Shelby. Once I reach the end, I’ll dive deep into editing my mess, send chapters to my critique partners, and then to beta readers. The polished manuscript is due to my publisher in August and will launch in June 2027.
Christina: Thank you, Deena, for sharing with us today!
If you would like to connect with Deena or learn more about her books, check out her Link Tree!
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 stories. She is a Certified Mental Health Coach, a multi-award-winning author, an active ACFW member, 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.