Donald L. Reavis is a retired air traffic controller, father of three, grandfather of seven, and—most importantly—the husband of an amazing wife of forty-five years. Raised in a conservative Christian home among the cornfields of North Central Indiana, he grew up surrounded by faith, family, and confidence.
After retiring from air traffic control, Donald returned to Indiana, where he now enjoys weaving stories filled with adventure, action, suspense, and mystery. His goal is to use the gifts God has given him to share the gospel through storytelling while allowing his imagination to run free.
When he is not writing, Donald enjoys painting with acrylics, golfing—often on the simulator in his man cave—and spending time in the wilderness backpacking.
About Me
I never planned to become a writer.
Nearly twenty years ago, while training on a new air traffic control program, an instructor mentioned that the system seemed to have a mind of its own. That single comment stirred something in my imagination. Before long, I was explaining the plot of a novel to my wife. I told her I needed to find an author and give them the idea.
She looked at me and said, “Why don’t you write it yourself?”
A few years later, after retiring from air traffic control, I published my first novel, Human Interference. That early experience taught me a great deal about publishing. I learned that not every editor understands the subject matter they are editing, and not every marketing professional delivers what they promise. Some of those lessons were expensive, but they helped me understand that writing and publishing are two very different journeys.
After moving back to Indiana, my wife and I began attending a small cornfield church where we met award-winning author Colleen Coble. After reading Human Interference, she encouraged me to write Christian fiction. Her encouragement helped point me in a new direction and gave me the confidence to begin writing stories where faith was more than a side note.
The inspiration for the Charlotte Lake series came while my wife and I were hiking the southern half of the John Muir Trail. We stopped for a break high above Charlotte Lake, and I remember looking out over that wilderness and thinking it would be a perfect setting for a novel. The next summer, my son and I hiked the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada. Once again, I found myself looking down on Charlotte Lake. By then, the place had worked its way deep into my storytelling mind.
After completing the Pacific Crest Trail, I wrote Halfway Home, a nonfiction account of that journey. It is self-published and continues to sell today. Eventually, I began writing the Charlotte Lake series, blending the wilderness I love with adventure, suspense, mystery, faith, and redemption.
The road to publication was not always easy. I met with agents at ACFW conferences and pitched my book more than once. Twice, agents showed what I believed was genuine interest, only for a rejection email to arrive nearly a year later. I was disappointed, but not defeated. I kept writing, learning, and trusting that the right opportunity would come.
During my third year at the conference, I met Cynthia Hickey of Winged Publications. I pitched the book, and a week or so later it was accepted—with one condition. I needed to make it a series. Now three books are complete, with the final Charlotte Lake novel in progress.
I write adventure, action, suspense, and mystery because those are the stories that pull me in. I enjoy the danger, the unanswered questions, the tension, and the challenge of putting ordinary people in difficult situations. But I also want my stories to point readers toward hope. Life can be hard. People make mistakes. Hearts get broken. Yet God is still present, still working, and still able to bring redemption from the worst situations.
Mountain passes, rivers tumbling over rocks, long trails, and the beauty of God’s creation continue to inspire me. I write because I need adventure in my life, because I am drawn to action, and because I want to use the gifts God has given me to share the gospel through storytelling.
Ethan Dawson, a former Army Ranger turned investigative reporter, thought exposing a network of white-collar criminals would be the biggest story of his career. But when corruption within the legal system allows his wife and daughters’ killers to walk free, he faces an impossible choice. Should he seek justice or revenge? Fueled by grief and anger, Ethan becomes a vigilante. His actions expose an even darker web of criminal influence and force him into hiding.
While fleeing by train, Ethan befriends a young mother and her children and uses the family as cover. His journey leads him to a secluded Christian community in the High Sierra Mountains. There, he struggles to adjust to a peaceful way of life. He takes a job as a shepherd and forms an unexpected bond with a young woman. For the first time in years, he begins to find hope.
The peace does not last. Ethan’s enemies track him down and threaten the community that welcomed him. As a mob closes in, Ethan faces a battle far greater than his own redemption. Outnumbered and outgunned, he leads a desperate defense to protect his new friends. Although the community survives, Ethan knows his presence places everyone in danger. He must make one final sacrifice. Should he leave the people he has come to love, or stay and risk another attack?
A gripping story of justice, redemption, and sacrifice, Revenge at Charlotte Lake explores the resilience of a wounded heart and the cost of finding peace in a world scarred by betrayal.
Tucked deep in the High Sierra Mountains, the remote settlement of Charlotte Lake once served as a peaceful sanctuary. Its residents lived quietly, practiced their faith, and remained hidden from the world. Then a militant faction stormed the community and seized control. Fear swept through Charlotte Lake, and hope began to slip away.
Former Army Ranger Ethan Dawson thought he had left war behind. But painful memories and his fierce determination to protect others draw him back into the fight. This time, he isn’t fighting for his country. He is fighting for the community that gave him peace. Leading a covert team on a dangerous mission, Ethan infiltrates the mountain stronghold and confronts enemies both outside and within.
Krystal, a single mother, fights every day to keep her children safe. Each challenge demands courage, faith, and endurance. As the people of Charlotte Lake cling to one another and to their beliefs, old secrets come to light and loyalties begin to shift. With every passing day, freedom demands a greater sacrifice.
From high-altitude HALO jumps and underground resistance to quiet prayers and whispered betrayals, Resilience of Charlotte Lake delivers a gripping story of courage, sacrifice, and strength forged through adversity.
In this thrilling second installment of the Charlotte Lake Series, characters forge new bonds, lose their innocence, and find themselves at the center of a conflict far greater than they ever imagined.
The fight for Charlotte Lake continues, and no one will walk away unchanged.
Charlotte Lake exists to honor obedience. Its people have set it apart, surrendered it to God, and built their community on prayer instead of fear.
But evil does not surrender quietly.
When armed men attack in broad daylight and kidnap Krystal, the mountain community’s fragile peace shatters. A stolen Suburban. A missing mother. A drone image that shows only five people where there should be six. The evidence leaves no room for doubt. Charlotte Lake faces another test.
For Ethan Dawson, the crisis cuts deep. Vengeance once drove him, and war hardened him. Now he faces an even greater challenge. He must lead without anger, act without hatred, and trust God when taking control feels far easier than surrender. Every step toward rescuing Krystal tempts him to return to the man he used to be.
As Anna protects the children and the community confronts its fears, one question overshadows the danger. Will they react as they once did, or will they answer God’s call?
In this powerful third installment of the Charlotte Lake series, reconciliation means far more than mending relationships. It demands surrendered pride, refined faith, and costly obedience that paves the way for restoration.