What happens when the "perfect" Christian family faces a storm they can't control? In this episode, I sit down with debut author and pastor's wife Deena Adams to discuss her new contemporary Christian novel, Stronger than the Storm Deena opens up about the inspiration behind the book—the personal heartaches she and her husband navigated with their own prodical child. We also pull back the curtain on the business of being an author. Deena shares her methodical approach to building a platform from the ground up and her deep-seated passion for "paying it forward" by promoting other authors on her own Hope-Filled Fiction blog and podcast interviews. 🚨 LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Listeners can grab the eBook of Stronger than the Storm at a special promotional price! Preorder on Amazon by April 26th to save $1 off the regular price. The book officially releases in eBook on April 27th and paperback on April 28th, 2026. In this episode, you'll hear:

• The real-life ministry struggles that inspired the story of Beth Holbrook.
• Deena's step-by-step strategy for building a writing platform and an engaged community.
• Why promoting other authors is a core part of her mission in the Christian fiction world.

Connect with Deena Adams

• Website: DeenaAdams.com
• Social Media: Follow Deena on Instagram and Facebook.

Author Heidi Gray McGill says writing is a ministry for her—a hands-on craftsperson more than an evangelist. She finds unintrusive ways to weave God through her stories and characters.

Connect with Heidi on her website, sign up for her newsletter (and receive a free book), and follow her writing journey.

Keeper of my Heart: A Shumard Oak Bend Novel

6 of 6 in Discerning God's Best Series

She's never met a man who could keep up. He's never met a challenge he couldn't solve. But when love and faith collide, will either of them surrender their hearts? Cecelia Grace Trexler Shankel has never met her match. Raised on the rugged frontier, she rides harder, shoots straighter, and knows the land better than most men. At eighteen, she's expected to marry, but no suitor has ever been her equal—and she refuses to settle for less. Independent to a fault and fiercely intelligent, Cecelia has no patience for anyone who can't keep up with her. Then James "Jimmy" Reeves arrives. A brilliant but socially awkward pharmacist, Jimmy Reeves has spent his life mastering medicine, not people. After earning his medical degree in Philadelphia, he pursues further studies at the new school of pharmacy in South Carolina, refining his knowledge of formulas and precision-based healing. But instead of returning to a life of privilege, he heads west, determined to learn the practical side of medicine—where science meets survival. His plan is simple: study natural remedies, assist his friend Thomas Shankel's clinic, and return with newfound expertise. What he never expects is Cecelia Shankel—a woman as wild and untamed as the land itself, challenging everything he thought he knew about strength, skill, and survival. Their first meeting is a clash of worlds—her bold confidence against his quiet precision. She thinks he's too stiff and bookish; he finds her exasperatingly unpredictable. But when a sudden smallpox outbreak threatens the town, they are forced to work together, testing their skills, patience, and faith. As sparks fly and respect grows, Cecelia finds herself drawn to a man who challenges her not with strength, but with knowledge. And Jimmy discovers that some things—like love and faith—can't be measured in scientific terms. But Cecelia isn't ready to let any man keep her heart. And Jimmy isn't sure he's brave enough to try. In a world where independence is survival, can two opposites surrender to God's best plan for their lives?

Rachel Trautmiller is not only a published author, but she is also a graphic artist who loves to help others achieve their creative dreams. Her debut YA fantasy novel, The Fracture Within, is available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle versions.

In need of a graphic artist to help create a book cover, website banner, or logo? Rachel can do that, too. You can connect with her on her website, Inflection Studios.

For a sneak peek at The Fracture Within, here is the back cover copy:

Charlotte Wyatt's life is perfect. She's a freshman in college on a soccer scholarship, surrounded by close friends she's known since kindergarten, and supported by a family whose faith runs deep. Her world is soccer and art, fun and friends.

Until a freak accident changes everything.

When a bus slams into her, Charlotte doesn't wake up at the pearly gates or in a hospital bed broken and paralyzed. She wakes up alive and unharmed, but different, and with no memory of the crash. Now she sees things no one else can. The people around her appear fractured—part the way they've always been, part strange and unexplainable. And the visions are only growing stronger.

Has she gone crazy? Or is there something seriously wrong with her mind? Charlotte must navigate a terrifying new reality. But how? And what does it mean? Perfect for fans of YA Christian fiction and supernatural suspense, this gripping novel weaves together faith, friendship, and the search for meaning.

Christian romance author April Kidwell's tagline is Christian Romance for the Waiting Heart. She weaves her own life experiences into stories filled with hope and love for those who have felt forgotten. Her holiday novella, A Love for All Seasons, is available on Amazon in Kindle and Kindle Unlimited.

A Love for All Seasons back cover copy:

Claire Forsythe hates weddings, but when her dad's adventure excursion business needs a boost, she haltingly agrees to take the plunge. Not into marriage, but into the frills and lace of leading weddings in the wilds of Central Oregon. She'll do just about anything to keep experiencing the natural beauty of the outdoors. Tucker Grady loves photography and romance. When he is offered a part-time gig as a wedding photographer for High Country Excursions, he is tempted. And the icing on the cake? Convincing the quiet, cynical Claire Forsythe that life provides many opportunities to smile. Claire struggles with a chronic condition that threatens her love for the outdoors. Tucker combats disappointment by capturing images that showcase God's creation. Together they seek a path that will lead them closer to their One true love.

Dianna Lanser is a Christian fiction author who says every story begins with a journey, and for her, sharing that journey is twice the joy. Her tagline is Transformational Christian Fiction, which means you won't be left untouched by the stories God puts on her heart.

Her debut novel, Even This, is available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback. She is also a Guideposts author included in the anthology Strengthened by His Touch. This is also available on Amazon in Kindle, paperback, hardcover, and Kindle Unlimited.

Connect with Dianna on her website, where you can sign up for her newsletter (and receive a gift), learn more about her books, and follow her writing journey.

Here is the back cover copy of Even in This:

Sixteen going on seventeen, Miah Brennan stands on the riverbank of her future, awaiting permission to jump in. With a recording contract pending and a young Native American man winking at her; it seems as if God is parting the waters and waving her through. Her parents, however, prefer to keep her tucked away as if they were still living on their secluded, drought-dry cattle station in the Australian Outback. Weeks before the September 11 attacks, just when her dreams are on a sure track to coming true, evil stalks Miah with a vicious plan of its own, destroying her hope and her future. While scripture tells her to forgive, her heart wants to forget. But how in the cruel, aching world can she move forward when her life has collapsed into a heap of rubble? How could God possibly work this out for good? And will she and her boyfriend remain steadfast in their faith and love as they face the shocking challenges ahead? Based on James 1:2, "Consider it all joy," Even In This is a chilling yet poignant love story that encourages the reader to lean into the ugliness and pain of life, whisper thanks to God, and trust He will transform it into something beautiful.

Kerri Tracht writes stories that reveal the hand of God in everyday circumstances. Her professional writing journey is just beginning with her self-published debut novel, The Road Home. She says that the characters who have lived in her head for years are thrilled to escape as they find their way into readers' lives.

You can connect with Kerri on her website at KerriTracht.com, where you can sign up for her newsletter and see what's next in her writing journey. Her novel is available on Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and Kindle Unlimited.

The Long Road Home BCC:

After decades of silence, DeAnna Taylor receives a call that changes everything. Her estranged father, Alex—a Vietnam veteran battling early Alzheimer's—has one final request: to recreate the cross-country family road trip they took in 1991, before their family fractured. Struggling with her failing marriage, a fledgling bakery business, and still grieving her mother's recent death, the last thing DeAnna needs is to confront the ghosts of her past. But something compels her to say yes. Alongside her ambitious older brother and kind-hearted younger sister, DeAnna embarks on a journey from North Carolina to Washington State in the cramped quarters of an SUV. Each mile marker uncovers buried memories—some filled with laughter and wonder, others scarred by abandonment and misunderstanding. As interstate highways unfold before them, so too does the complicated truth of their family's brokenness. With her father's memory fading faster than the landscapes outside their window, DeAnna finds herself not only seeking reconciliation with her family, but also with the faith she abandoned years ago. Under the vast American sky, three siblings and their ailing father navigate more than just highways; they traverse the territories of hurt, hope, and spiritual renewal. As unexpected encounters and quiet moments on the road begin to soften DeAnna's hardened heart, she rediscovers the God she thought had forgotten her. Sometimes finding your way forward means first traveling back—back to where wounds began, where love was lost, and where the long road home reveals itself to be a path of redemption and restored faith that was there all along.

The Long Road Home is a poignant and deeply moving novel about the complexities of family, the courage it takes to forgive, and the powerful truth that the road to redemption is often the one that leads you back to where you started. Perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah, Nicholas Sparks, and Catherine Ryan Hyde.

Mishael Austin Witty is a wife, mother, and a lover of Jesus and coffee. Not only is she an author, but she is also an editor, ghostwriter, and discipleship coach with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association's Search for Jesus program.

Her works of fiction present "real" people with real problems. Through these novels, she seeks to demonstrate how the power of God and His word is sufficient to help us deal with every hardship we face. There is always hope in Jesus.

You can connect with Mishael on her website, mawittty.com where you can explore her other writing ventures. At this time, she is offering a free copy of A Valentine to Remember Anthology 2026. Just click here to grab yours.

Her latest novel, Fireman's Lesson in Love, is available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle, as well as Kindle Unlimited. Here is the back cover copy to give you a taste:

Audrey Morland hoped her move to Chokeberry Falls and her new job as high school English teacher would bury the past and birth a fresh start. But a chance encounter with firefighter Max Winters, who is instantly smitten, turns her world upside down. When her father's fireworks shop burns down under suspicious circumstances, further tensions arise. Max's investigation points to Audrey's favorite student. With an arsonist on the loose and danger escalating, can Audrey and Max uncover the truth and save their relationship before it all goes up in flames?

Emma Faye, the Clean Reads Queen, is an award-winning audiobook narrator passionate about bringing stories to life. With over 100 audiobooks recorded in her professional home studio and 20 years of acting experience, she excels at diving deep into characters and bringing each to life. Specializing in Clean Reads, her favorite genres are YA fantasy, middle-grade fiction, clean/sweet romances, and wholesome nonfiction.

Emma pours her heart into every project, fully immersing her listeners in the world she creates.

Though she calls California home, Emma currently resides in Utah. You'll often find her on stage in local theatre productions or snuggling with her six beloved cats when she's not behind the mic. Emma is a proud fantasy/sci-fi nerd who loves cosplaying at comic conventions and Renaissance Faires. She also loves marketing, social media management, and SEO, and teaches narrators how to rock their digital marketing. Check out her website to connect with her and learn more about what she offers.

Marbeth Skwarczynski is the author of a contemporary Christian fiction series called The Rose Collection. These independently published novels are timely in that they focus on the healing process after spiritual abuse.

Plague of Lies is the first book in this revised series and is now available with its new cover and updated writing on Amazon. See below for the back cover copy.

Marbeth has also recently released the biblical fiction book Princess of Moab through Elk Lake Publishing—a work that was inspired decades ago.

You can connect with Marbeth on her website and/or follow her on Amazon.

Plague of Lies back cover copy:

The man who taught him how to live was living a lie. Scott Andrews was content to be a rule-follower, happily attending church and youth group while planning his future with his beautiful girlfriend, Cindy. He and his friends would change the world and be blessed by doing it. But when his mentor is exposed as a fraud, Scott's life turns upside down. He's forced to grow up, but unlike the man who betrayed him, Scott is determined to live honestly. Lauren is a mistake. She's heard it her whole life. But, on her eighteenth birthday, she gets a letter from the father she's never met. It seems out of character. From everything she's heard about her deadbeat dad, he never wanted anything to do with her. Lauren suddenly has a purpose. She will sit down with the man who left her when she was a baby and demand that he tell her why. It's time for the truth to come out.

Award-winning author Jewel Sample is a Child and Parenting Specialist who offers messages of hope and love in her children's picture books. Her latest, Love Floats, explores the bond between a mother and her child (in both English and Spanish) and is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other book retailers.

Her previous picture book, Flying Hugs and Kisses, is a wonderful resource for parents to help their children understand the experience of losing a sibling.

You can connect with Jewel on Facebook.