I’m happy to introduce you, my readers, to Aspiring Author Deena Adams. Deena is the administrator of Marathon, a Facebook group encouraging networking among authors, and the Hope Collective Community, providing hope-filled stories for today’s readers. Deena is here today to share her brand-new novelette, Behind the Scenes.

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.

Welcome, Deena!

Hi, everyone! And thanks so much for the opportunity to share about what I’m working on and how readers can connect with the Hope Collective Community.

Since starting my journey toward Christian Fiction publication in 2018, I’ve completed two manuscripts and recently completed a novelette, which I offer free as a thank you to newsletter subscribers. If you’re asking, “What is a novelette,” it’s longer than a short story and shorter than a novella.

Here’s the book cover and a brief description of the story:

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.

My novelette introduces Clayton Richards, the hero in the novel I’m currently polishing and planning to pitch to agents and editors in hopes of representation and tells his childhood story of abandonment and adoption.

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?

In the novel, Clayton is a twenty-eight-year-old behavioral psychologist and homeless shelter manager. When he meets a guilt-ridden young widow turned court-appointed special advocate, a carved angel keepsake uncovers a link between the woman and a shelter resident, sending the trio down a path of discovery none of them could have imagined.

The idea for the novel came from my three-and-a-half years as a court-appointed special advocate volunteer. The circumstances many children live in are heartbreaking and my prayer is that my story will inspire readers to step out and help abused children in some way and encourage those living with overwhelming guilt and shame to find freedom in Christ.

As I mentioned, subscribers to the Hope Collective can download my novelette free as a thank you. Each month you’ll also receive my newsletter filled with book recommendations, reviews, giveaways, updates on my publishing journey, and other bookish news.

If you’re interested in meeting other inspirational authors and weekly opportunities to win Christian novels, you can subscribe to my blog.

To find out more about me and my writing and subscribe to the newsletter and/or blog, you can visit my website, or simply click here for the subscribe link.

Thanks so much for reading and considering supporting me on my publishing journey.

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

Website: https://deenaadams.com

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BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/3775115257