University of Arkansas – Fort Smith alumna Brooke Devine, '17, recently published her second book, “Love Stays the Same.” The book is described as a heartwarming journey following a young boy as he adjusts to life with a new baby sister.

Originally from Charleston, Arkansas, Devine's love for writing began in childhood. She filled notebooks with stories and refined her craft throughout middle school, high school, and college. While Devine pursued a degree in animation technology, she continued to develop her skills and hone her voice through creative writing courses. Devine said creative writing was a passion that showed her the value of storytelling.

Outside of work, Devine continues to dedicate herself to writing. Her newest book, published in December 2024, is the latest milestone in a lifelong storytelling journey and showcases her background in animation with digital illustrations.

 Inspired by her son, Noah, the book explores his experience navigating life and the big feelings that come with a new baby sister.

“You're Macie’s mom now,” Devine recalled Noah telling her in the early days of becoming a big brother.

Having explained that she loved Noah just the same, Devine took her message to where Noah listens best: Storytime.

Like his mother, Noah does not lack imagination. No matter how fantastical, the books they read before bed carried significant weight in his world. After putting pen to paper, Devine introduced an early draft of “Love Stays the Same” to Noah during their nighttime ritual and saw the message become more tangible.

"Mom, it's me!” he exclaimed, seeing his name in the story.

Devine said the story allowed Noah to feel seen, affirmed his feelings, and assured him that his parents’ love was steadfast.

Devine realized that what she’d created was powerful.

“It's something that I know other moms, dads, and caregivers deal with,” Devine said as she described what drove her to publish the book. “Kids don't always listen to what mom, dad, and grandma have to say. But if they're reading about someone getting to make those connections themselves, it's relatable.”

Publishing a book is no simple feat. Devine extensively researched the pros and cons of self-publishing versus working with a publishing house and decided that self-publishing would offer her the flexibility she needed. Self-publishing her first book – “Beneath the Surface: Echoes of a Mother’s Heart,” a poetry collection – earned enough to allow her to publish and distribute physical copies of “Love Stays the Same.”

She credits her time at UAFS for helping her develop the discipline and confidence to pursue writing seriously. More specifically, she thanks Dr. Christian Gerard for intentionally exposing students to different authors from various backgrounds and for always making writing fun.

With two published books, Devine hopes to continue sharing stories that resonate with readers while balancing her career and creative pursuits. However, don’t get used to seeing Devine in any one genre—especially children’s books. She explained that “Love Stays the Same” was a unique passion project, and she plans to continue exploring other genres and accomplishing what feels authentic as an author.

“Love Stays the Same” and Devine’s poetry collection are available on Amazon under her name. Be on the lookout this summer for another Devine book, this one full of holiday cheer.