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 -- July 2026
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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, following the Spanish-American War, the United States assumed control of the Philippines, which remained under American administration until after World War II. What I'm Working OnAnd Grace Will Lead Me Home: A NovelI recently submitted the first ten pages of my novel-in-progress to Jerry Jenkins's Your Novel Blueprint course. Diann Mills, a Christian Fiction author whose novels span suspence and romance, was selected by Jerry to read and critique my opening pages. She wrote: David, this is very intriguing. Good job. As much as I’d like to despise Jonah, you’ve created a young man with potential and lots to learn about life.
In YNB, you will learn more about fiction and how to create unforgettable stories. I will remember this one.
My novel follows Jonah, whose life is emotionally distorted after the drowning of a mentally challenged girl and the lie he and a friend tell that sends an innocent man to prison for it. Years later, just before their high school graduation, the truth catches up with them. Their futures depend on whether they confess. Jonah discovers that telling a lie is easy, but living with it isn't. A Home For Rodney: A Short StoryA few days ago, I completed the manuscript for A Home For Rodney. It's the story of a young boy's journey through foster care, where he faces: learning to trust again without feeling as though he's leaving his mother behind. Here's the book cover. The manuscript has been critiqued by members of the American Christian Fiction Writers' critique group. Now I'm waiting for my editor's comments and suggestions. Here's a brief description: Eight-year-old Rodney has been through enough to know that adults come and go—and that hoping too hard only makes the hurt worse. When he's about to be placed in yet another foster home, Rodney wants love more than anything, but his past won't let him reach for it. Torn between the family he desperately needs and the mother he refuses to forget, Rodney must find the courage to open a door he's terrified to walk through. Magazine Article: Stay In Your LaneTo reach your destination, you have to follow the rules—or risk getting stopped. Stay In Your Lane is based on Colossians 2:6 and encourages readers to remain rooted and built up in Jesus Christ, rather than take an off ramp that leads them away from God. What I’m ReadingA while back, I read one of DiAnn Mills's novels (she's the author who critiqued the first ten-pages of my novel), so I decided to pick up her latest release, Canyon of Deceit. Here is the Amazon description: When wilderness survival expert Therese Palmer receives a frantic phone call from former colleague Professor Rurik Ivanov, she is shocked by the news that his young daughter, Alina, is missing—and that Rurik wants Therese's help finding her. She's sure Rurik hasn't given her the whole story . . . especially since he refuses to report the kidnapping to the police. Yet with a child's life hanging in the balance, Therese can't turn down this mission. She knows the clock is ticking and she can't do this alone.
Therese reaches out to Texas Ranger Blane Gardner, whom she met seven months ago during one of her training courses in wilderness survival skills. Blane's specialized training and background with the Crisis Negotiation Unit make him uniquely prepared for this search-and-rescue mission. He agrees to help Therese and to accept Rurik's terms to keep Alina's disappearance quiet, and as the two begin working together, Therese is determined the spark growing between them won't distract from their mission to save Alina.
Traversing deep into the desert of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Alina's last known location, Therese and Blane struggle to separate truth from lies within the mix of intel they're receiving. As they close in on answers that suggest the involvement of Russian organized crime and a high-profile international assassination attempt, they must fight to rescue Alina before she becomes an innocent casualty of a much bigger plot—no matter the risk to their own lives.
A thrilling Christian contemporary novel with themes of courage and resilience from award–winning author DiAnn Mills. Perfect for fans of clean, action-packed romantic suspense, and Includes discussion questions for book clubs.
DiAnn's promise to her readers: Expect an Adventure. Latest Release: Behold, All Things Are Become New—A Short StoryWhen his abusive father appears uninvited on his wedding day, a groom must choose between forgiveness and the bitterness that could poison his marriage. The story explores themes of generational wounding, forgiveness, and inner healing. If you haven’t already, you can download the story here. Discussion questions are now included. 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 PostsJesus Our Example: Forgiveness in the Midst of Pain—By forgiving others, Christians not only obey a command, but act in a way that reflects Jesus. God 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...
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Ezra: Depending on the Gracious Hand of God I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.” —Ezra 8:22 When my wife and I were building our house (with dedicated space for a children's ministry), we expected the construction to happen in two phases. We didn’t have enough money, without touching our...