Find hope in a broken world and discover captivating characters and unforgettable journeys through character-fueled fiction, book reviews, and inspirational posts.
David's Fiction and Inspirational Newsletter -- February 2026
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Hello, reading friends! Lessons LearnedShort stories and novels are different creatures—and the number of pages isn’t the only reason. Short stories typically begin as close as possible to the spark that sets the story in motion. They often confine themselves to a single moment and place. Their endings also differ from novels', ending more abruptly once the lesson is learned or the moment of change occurs. Novels, by contrast, tend to tie up loose ends and show the main character adjusting to a new reality. Writing advice often says to “murder your darlings.” In this case, that meant cutting favorite turns of phrases and cherished scenes that pulled readers out of the moment and slowed the story’s forward momentum. That’s what I’ve been working on over the past month. So, will Tyler forgive his abusive father? And how much change and healing can realistically take place in the half hour before a wedding? Stay tuned. I can’t set a date just yet. If you haven’t already, you can get a sneak peek of the modified opening paragraphs to the story here. InspirationalLife for Tina and I is beginning to settle down into a routine, so I hope to resume work on the Forgiveness series of blog posts. What I’m ReadingThis is late, but I highly recommend a Christmas story, The Belt, The Balloon, The Flowers, written by Chad R. Allen. Chad is a former book editor and now writing coach and head, at BookCamp (BTW, BookCamp seems to be more focused on non-fiction, than fiction). He is super friendly and helpful in mentoring writers. Believe me, even though it's a Christmas story, the message is for any time of year. Here's a description at Amazon: A Winter Tale of Quiet Kindness
When Jim Maloney snaps the buckle on his old leather belt one snowy morning, the moment brings him back to his younger self—wandering the streets of Florence, falling in love, and facing an old heartbreak.
Stopping by a neighborhood leather repair shop seems like a simple errand, but the quiet man behind the counter carries a heaviness Jim can’t quite name. A few small, awkward gestures begin to weave an unexpected thread between them.
The Belt, the Balloon, the Flowers is a gentle Christmas tale about noticing people, following a nudge, and discovering how small gestures can matter more than we realize.
I left the following review at Amazon: All of us have experienced loss of one kind or another. But instead of focusing on our own pain, we can extend a little kindness to someone else. Chad R. Allen's story, The Belt, The Balloon, The Flowers is a delightful Christmas story where a one man's crazy idea—easy to dismiss—could melt a hardened heart. The words flow effortlessly that you forget you're reading a story. And the message settles into your heart without sounding preachy. I look forward to reading more stories from him. For PrayerIf you pray, please join me in the following:
Contact Me I'd love to hear from you. You can email me at: broks.d.h@gmail.com (just one "o" instead of two). David Harlen Brooks Previous PostsGod Forgives Us—And That Changes Everything—God's forgiveness is complete and transforming, moving us to forgive others. The Light of God—How God’s light, first spoken into a dark world, still brings clarity, hope, and transformation today through Christ. Out of the Mire—Psalm 40:1-3 reflects David’s trust in God deliverance and inspires others to recognize His glory. Mary Vs. The Taylor Swifts—You don't have to be famous to make an impact. God chooses faithful and available people. Goals: Hits and Misses in 2024—Two stories finished, one that didn't cross the finish line. AI Takes on My Writing and My Top 3 Movies Trust Your Heavenly Father—What I Learned About Trust in PE Class. Clay Pots—Common with Uncommon Results—God's surprising advertising strategy. |
Hi! I'm David Harlen Brooks
Find hope in a broken world and discover captivating characters and unforgettable journeys through character-fueled fiction, book reviews, and inspirational posts.
Home/Belongingness Hello, reading friends! What I'm Meditating On: Belonging 4 Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the Lord.5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.6 God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. —Psalm 68:4-6 King David may have written Psalm 68 early in his reign—after defeating his enemies...
Pulling Up the Roots of Bitterness NOTE: This is the concluding post to the series on forgiveness (see previous posts below). See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. — Hebrews 12:15 My wife is the gardener in the family, though I sometimes help. We clear a space, dig a hole, enrich the soil, plant the seeds, and water them. The reward for our labor comes when a tiny shoot pushes through the earth—as long as it's...
Hello, reading friends! For my American friends, I hope you had a fantastic Fourth of July. Here in the Philippines, July 4 is celebrated as Philippine-American Friendship Day. It was once observed as Philippine Independence Day, commemorating the signing of the Treaty of Manila, which granted the Philippines its independence from the United States in 1946. Today, Philippine Independence Day is celebrated on June 12, marking the country's independence from Spain in 1898. Later that same year,...