By: Jonathan James

The Story Behind the Story: When Fiction Meets Reality in Roger L. Brooks’ New Novel

In the serene light of his Florida studio, acclaimed photorealist Anthony Brunelli studies a canvas with the same detail that has defined his internationally recognized career. His massive cityscapes, rendered with astonishing detail, have earned him representation by Louis K. Meisel—the influential gallery owner who coined the term “photorealism” in 1969. But while Brunelli has spent decades capturing reality on canvas, a remarkable coincidence has blurred the lines between his actual life and his fictional counterpart in Roger L. Brooks’ new thriller, “The Sacred Order and the Mystical Legend of Saint Francis of Assisi.”

“It’s uncanny,” Brunelli remarks, gesturing to Brooks’ novel resting on his workbench. “Roger created this character inspired by my persona who undergoes a profound spiritual transformation. Meanwhile, I was going through my own spiritual awakening that neither of us could have anticipated.”

When Fiction and Reality Converge

In Brooks’ carefully researched religious thriller, the fictional Anthony Brunelli receives a Vatican commission that leads to an audience with Pope Benedict XVI and the revelation of a centuries-old family connection to Saint Francis of Assisi. The character inherits a sacred duty to protect and ultimately reveal Francis’s deepest spiritual insights—a mission that transforms his understanding of art, faith, and his place in the world.

What makes this fiction particularly fascinating is how it somewhat parallels real events in Brunelli’s life.

“While Roger was writing the novel, I sustained a serious head injury playing recreational hockey,” Brunelli explains. “The recovery process became what you might call a ‘dark night of the soul’ that set me on an unexpected spiritual journey.”

This remarkable coincidence wasn’t immediately apparent to either man. Brooks had already developed his fictional narrative around Brunelli’s artistic persona, incorporating the real-life gallery relationship with Louis K. Meisel and Brunelli’s photorealistic technique. But as Brooks continued writing, the actual Brunelli was experiencing a transformation that bore some resemblance to his fictional counterpart’s journey.

The Real Spiritual Journey

Unlike the fictional account of Vatican commissions and centuries-old family secrets, Brunelli’s actual spiritual awakening came through the demanding process of healing.

“When you’re forced to slow down and face your mortality, everything shifts,” Brunelli reflects. “I began exploring meditation and spiritual practices I’d never considered before. I was searching for peace of mind, but found something much deeper through these practices and disciplined reading.”

This personal evolution happened without Brooks’ knowledge, even as the author was crafting scenes of his character’s spiritual enlightenment in Assisi. It wasn’t until the two friends reconnected during various stages of the novel’s development that they realized the extraordinary parallel.

“We were both shocked,” Brooks recalls. “I had created this fictional journey for Anthony’s character that involved a profound shift in consciousness, and meanwhile, the real Anthony was experiencing his own transformation through completely different circumstances.”

A Friendship That Inspired Fiction

Brooks and Brunelli have maintained a friendship for over four decades, with Brooks’ admiration for the artist’s work and personal integrity providing the initial inspiration for the novel’s protagonist.

“I’ve always been fascinated by Anthony’s ability to see and reproduce reality with such preciseness,” Brooks explains. “It seemed natural to imagine a character with that same perceptive ability discovering deeper truths about spirituality and connection.”

The real Brunelli acknowledges that while his personal transformation didn’t involve Vatican secrets or hidden Franciscan legacies, the novel’s themes resonate with his own journey.

“The fictional Anthony discovers that Francis had this profound understanding of our interconnectedness with all creation,” Brunelli says. “That’s actually quite similar to what I’ve come to appreciate through my own path—this sense that we’re all universally connected in ways that transcend our ordinary perception.”

Art That Transcends

For both the fictional and real Brunelli, these spiritual insights have influenced their approach to art. The novel describes its protagonist developing a new dimension to his photorealistic work—one that somehow captures the underlying unity of all things.

Interestingly, the actual Brunelli has experienced a similar evolution in his artistic vision. His recent works maintain his signature technical accuracy but convey a more contemplative quality.

“My perspective has definitely shifted,” he acknowledges. “I still paint urban landscapes, but I’m more conscious today than ever before. There’s a spiritual dimension to observation that I’m more attuned to now.”

The Sacred Order as Fiction and Metaphor

While Brooks’ novel weaves an intricate thriller around the fictional “Sacred Order”—a secret Franciscan teaching preserved for eight centuries—both author and artist recognize the power of this concept as metaphor.

“The novel imagines Francis developing this profound spiritual insight that was ahead of its time,” Brooks explains. “In reality, Francis’s actual teachings about seeing the divine in all creation, practicing radical simplicity, and recognizing our kinship with the natural world were revolutionary in his day and remain challenging in ours.”

Brunelli agrees. “What resonates for me personally is how Francis achieved this heightened awareness that transformed his relationship with everything around him. That’s not fiction—it’s documented in his life and writings. And it’s something I’ve come to appreciate through my own experiences, albeit in a very different context.”

Looking Forward

As Roger L. Brooks’ novel reaches readers, both author and artist reflect on the unusual synchronicity that connected fiction and reality.

“I believe great stories contain emotional and spiritual truths, even when the plot is entirely invented,” Brooks says. “The fact that Anthony was experiencing his own transformation while I was writing about his character’s journey suggests there’s something universal in this path toward greater awareness and connection. I feel there’s no coincidences in that.”

For Brunelli, seeing himself reimagined as the protagonist in a spiritual thriller has been both amusing and affirming. “It’s strange to read or listen to a novel where someone with your name and profession is uncovering Vatican secrets and carrying on a centuries-old mission,” he laughs. “But beneath the fictional adventure, there’s a truth about transformation that resonates with my own experience.”

The artist has made a full recovery from his injury, approaching his work with renewed purpose and perspective. “Like the character in Roger’s book, I’ve come to see my art as more than technical achievement. It’s a way of celebrating the connections between all things—the hidden harmonies that make life meaningful.”

As for whether Brunelli has any actual ancestral ties to Saint Francis of Assisi? The artist smiles. “Not that I know of—but in Roger’s vision of my story, anything is possible.”

About the Author

Roger L. Brooks spent over fourteen years crafting “The Sacred Order and the Mystical Legend of St. Francis of Assisi,” drawing inspiration from his first visit to Assisi in 2004. His deep research into Franciscan history, Renaissance art, and Vatican architecture is evident throughout the novel. Brooks successfully blends his interests in religious history, spiritual philosophy, and thriller storytelling in this debut work. More information about the author and his connection to Assisi can be found at thesacredorder.com.

Published by Joseph T.