One of the finer moments of an author’s life is holding a book that previously was only a thought in the head or words typed on a computer, and I’m proud of this one for many reasons. The biggest one is that I think it’s going to help many people who are floundering in life.

The book is about Drew Brees, quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl winner, husband, father. I was asked by Tyndale House Publishers to help tell his story and felt uniquely called to do so. Let me explain.

Drew had a devastating shoulder injury on December 31, 2005. The comeback from that injury and his move from San Diego to New Orleans was an odyssey that seems orchestrated by more than the front office of the Saints. There were so many things at work that caused all of the negatives of his life to be turned to positives. It’s a gritty, real-life drama that encompasses excruciating physical and emotional pain, divorce, suicide, and the ups and downs of the NFL.

The book is titled Coming Back Stronger: Unleashing the Hidden Power of Adversity. When I first heard his story, I was struck with how Drew and his family handled all the difficulties they faced and how they threw themselves into the lives of hurting people. I was also struck with the odyssey my own family had been through and how much we feel the events of the past few years have not defeated us, but are making us ready for new challenges. Because of this, I felt uniquely qualified to help Drew tell his story.

I sat down with Drew in early March of 2010 to begin work on the book. On our last night in New Orleans, knowing I love seafood, he brought 4 dozen charbroiled oysters for dinner and yea verily, we did pig out. I am not kidding. I had two dozen oysters and could have eaten another dozen. They were that good.

Chris with Drew Brees

(See our picture from that night together. We are both full of oysters. In case you can’t tell, I’m the one without the birthmark.)

Drew was dedicated to telling the story well, the good and the bad, and helping readers where they are. He took an intense interest not just in giving interviews, but also in crafting the chapters so that the information was correct and made you feel like you were right there in the huddle with him. He wanted a person who has no interest in the NFL to enjoy the read, but he also wanted football fans to get a glimpse behind the curtain and feel like they were part of the action.

Coming Back Stronger is not just another sports book. It’s a life book. I don’t promise that you will become a Saints fan after reading it. Loyalties run deep in the NFL. But I think you will become a fan of Drew Brees and learn where he gets his strength.

What Readers Are Saying . . .

  • "[Fabry's] poignant story is driven by deeply drawn characters who evoke empathy and frustration, compassion and anger. But in the end, the painful labor of rebirth will bring tears of joy!"

    — Christine, CBD Fiction Editor, on Looking into You

  • "Ultimately a story of love and forgiveness, [Dogwood] should appeal to a wide audience."

    — CBA RETAILERS + RESOURCES

  • "Fabry has built a rewarding story; it's hard to imagine inspirational fiction done better than this."

    — WORLD MAGAZINE on Not in the Heart

  • "A powerful story of faith and the material things people hold dear. . . . This is Fabry's best yet."

    — PUBLISHERS WEEKLY on A Piece of the Moon

  • "Fabry has written a nail-biter with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers riveted."

    — LIBRARY JOURNAL on Not in the Heart

  • "A fresh voice in Christian fiction . . . [Fabry] brings his trademark rich character development to this story, which delves into weighty issues like judgment, contentment, giftedness, and society's outcasts."

    — EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION on Every Waking Moment

  • "A character-driven tale of dignity and compassion for those who seem to have lost importance to society . . . this thought-provoking read challenges the prevailing cultural calculations of the value of a person's life."

    — PUBLISHERS WEEKLY on Every Waking Moment

  • Under a Cloudless Sky is entertaining and a wonderful addition to the inspirational fiction genre . . . a multilayered, engaging story with rich details and interesting characters."

    — ROMANTIC TIMES, 4-Star Review

  • "Great Christian novels are more than a story, they leave the reader pondering the state of his or her own heart. Not in the Heart demonstrates God's power to transform the seemingly untransformable."

    — TITLETRAKK.COM

  • "A captivating story. . . ."

    — CHRISTIANBOOKPREVIEWS.COM on June Bug

  • "Fabry's [The Promise of Jesse Woods] could have been too heavy due to the subject matter and the tumultuousness of the time period, but his superior writing skills make it more of a nostalgic, sweet tale. . . . This is a fast-paced read with many endearing characters."

    — ROMANTIC TIMES, 4-Star Review