Thank You

– Thank You – 

I hope you know how thankful I am for each and every one of you — truly thankful.

Even though I’m currently warehoused behind barbed wire, I feel beyond blessed to have the privilege of writing updates and letters from behind prison walls.

Each letter I write while confined reconnects me to the outside world. When I’m writing in my cell, I feel the world of prison melt away around me. Most mornings, I write with a small flashlight, a freshly sharpened pencil, and some paper I found lying around my cell. It is pure peacefulness.

This Monday morning, after a couple of hours of thinking and writing, I was overwhelmed with gratitude for every single person who takes the time to read one of my updates/letters. You will never fully understand what your love and support have meant to me and my family. Thank you for the opportunity to prove who I really am in these letters — I mean that. Being able to be myself again is something I once thought was gone from my life forever. Shame and pain create lies that try to convince us we’re no longer worthy of love or purpose.

Being sent to prison cuts a person off from the regular world. Life here feels like you’ve been zapped onto a different planet — one where the same day repeats itself over and over again.

But on the days when most of my hours are spent writing, my mind feels free — almost like part of my soul returns during those precious hours of pencil hitting paper.

Unless someone has spent time inside a federal prison, it’s impossible to grasp the full extent of this dark abyss.

Most men come into federal prison and slowly rot away. Their minds slip into numbing cycles of TV, tablet games, drugs, gambling, pornography, or violence.

Not me though. These letters have been my lifeline — a gift from God that has helped me endure, heal, and grow inside these walls. Writing has become more than just a way to pass the time; it’s become my ministry, my therapy, and my light in a very dark place. Through each word, I feel God rebuilding parts of me that prison tried to destroy. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my story and memorialize this journey of redemption.

When I’m sitting in my cell — thinking, reading, and writing — the hours fly by. My mind feels alive again, nourished by purpose. One of my greatest joys has been writing about my Prison Puppy Trainer journey with Mr. Conrad. There’s something sacred about putting into words all that I’ve learned while training service dogs behind these walls. For the first time in a long time, I feel proud of who I’m becoming — ready to bring something of value back into the world when I’m released.

Being a proud prisoner is a real privilege, and I don’t take it for granted. The feeling of being productive in prison is a priceless gift.

Thank you for giving me this gift. Without you, none of this would even be possible.

I promise to continue proving myself worthy of your love and support. Each day I spend in prison will be used productively so I can reconcile with society upon my release.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

You have helped lift up a broken man and brought meaning back into my life.

LOVE ALL OF YOU SO MUCH,
Brett
(A man overcome with gratitude & thankfulness)

– A Note From Noél –

I don’t even have the words to express the depth of my gratitude for every single person who has surrounded our family during this season. The love and support we’ve received have been nothing short of miraculous — a true reflection of God’s faithfulness through His people.

From friends and family nearby to strangers who have become prayer warriors from afar — you’ve each played a part in holding us together when life felt impossible. You’ve shown up in ways I never could have imagined — loving on our kids, encouraging Brett and me when the weight felt too heavy, sending messages, praying for us, helping us stay connected, and reminding us that we are not walking this road alone.

Every act of kindness — big or small — has carried us through the hardest days. Your generosity, whether through prayer, encouragement, or financial donations, has been God’s provision in our time of need. You’ve been the hands and feet of Jesus to our family, and because of you, our hope has remained alive even in the darkest moments.

Thank you for believing in redemption, for standing by us, and for continuing to see the good that God is writing in our story. Your love has been a lifeline to our family — a living reminder that even in brokenness, God brings beauty, purpose, and healing.

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it – John 1:5”

With all my love and gratitude,
Noél

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IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER
I, Noél Bartlett, am committed to following all applicable Federal Bureau of Prisons policies and procedures while sharing, documenting, and memorializing our family’s prison journey and the letters and manuscripts Brett sends to me.
For complete clarity, I alone am the owner, operator, publisher, and financial beneficiary of Proud Prison Wives and this website. I am also the sole publisher and beneficiary of any books or other works published through Proud Prison Wives, including SPEAK DOG, SHATTER YOUR SHAME, and any future manuscript of Brett’s that I independently choose to edit, develop, and publish.
Brett is currently incarcerated in federal prison. He does not own, operate, manage, or conduct business through Proud Prison Wives, nor does he receive any financial benefit from the publication, sale, or promotion of these books, letters, manuscripts, or website content.
I am incredibly proud to take my husband’s raw letters and manuscripts and transform them into beautiful, meaningful books that allow others to witness his journey and cheer him forward as he chooses to use his time in prison productively.
Brett and I also take the safety, security, and privacy of the institution extremely seriously. In the letters and manuscripts he sends me—and in the material I ultimately choose to publish—identifying details may be intentionally changed, combined, omitted, or rearranged. This may include characters, conversations, events, timelines, locations, and other details in order to protect the privacy of staff, fellow incarcerated individuals, and the institution itself.
The heart and spirit of Brett’s writing are based on his lived experiences, but these writings should not be interpreted as a literal, chronological, or identifying account of daily institutional life. Some details of Brett’s experience will simply have to wait until he has fully completed his obligations to the Department of Justice.
Again, I, Noél Bartlett, am fully committed to respecting and following applicable Bureau of Prisons policies and procedures. I consider it a privilege to preserve our family’s story, document this chapter of Brett’s life, and share the good that can still come from an incredibly difficult season.
Thank you for reading, supporting our family, and respecting the purpose and boundaries behind what we share.
— Noél Bartlett
Owner & Publisher, Proud Prison Wives

Shatter Your Shame- Sneak Peek

Shatter Your Shame, Chapter 1

Shatter Your Shame, Chapter 1

Shatter Your Shame, Chapter 2

Shatter Your Shame, Chapter 2

Shatter Your Shame, Chapter 3

Shatter Your Shame, Chapter 3

Shatter Your Shame is NOW AVAILABLE

Brett and I are so excited (and honestly still a little in awe) to officially announce

Shatter Your Shame is LIVE on the site.

This book was written inside a federal prison—on random pieces of scratch paper, with a dull pencil, behind razor-sharp barbed wire and an electrified fence. What started as handwritten prison letters has turned into a powerful testimony of redemption, responsibility, faith, and purpose.

Shatter Your Shame is for anyone who carries the weight of their past, the burden of regret, or the quiet pain of shame—and is ready to see how God redeems what the world calls broken.

Brett writes with raw honesty about the worst decisions of his life, the consequences that followed, and the miraculous way God met him in the pit of prison and transformed his shame into purpose. These are one-of-a-kind prison stories that will help you heal, rise, and walk forward unchained.

(Perfect for small groups, book clubs, churches, or gifting to someone who needs hope.)

Every order directly supports me and my 4 beautiful children during this season Brett is away.

This journey hasn’t been easy. Prison is heavy. Shame is heavy. But God is proving—once again—that He specializes in turning massive messes into healing miracles.

Thank you for believing in redemption.
Thank you for supporting our family.
Thank you for helping us share this message with the world.

With so much love,
Noél

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SPEAK DOG is NOW AVAILABLE

Speak Dog is not your average dog-training book. It is a testimony, a powerful blend of storytelling, breakthrough psychology, and the real-life prison puppy training program that God used to transform countless lives, including Brett’s, and our family’s.

This book carries redemption on every page. It shows what God can do with a broken man, a hurting dog, and a second chance. It’s hope, healing, laughter, purpose, and breakthrough all wrapped into one unforgettable journey.

I am SO beyond excited for everyone to get their hands on this book and experience the same heart-shifting, faith-building transformation that we did.

Shop Now