The Munn Avenue Muse

The Story You’re Not Telling Might Be the Most Important

Charles Levin — Tue, 12 May 2026 09:01:20 GMT

In 1950, a young boy stood at the Hungarian border as his life changed in an instant. Within minutes, everything familiar was gone, and a completely new chapter began.

That boy was Tom Herskovits.

Years later, his path would lead him to leadership roles at Procter & Gamble, General Foods, and Kraft. In a recent episode of The Munn Avenue Muse, he sat down with Charlie Levin to talk about the moments that shaped him and why telling your story matters more than most people realize.

If you’ve ever thought your story was too ordinary to share, this conversation says otherwise.

1. The habits you build early stay with you

After leaving the orphanage, Tom was taken in by a Hungarian chess master named Bala. They played every single day for years.

Those games became something bigger than chess. They sharpened his focus, strengthened his patience, and trained him to think a few moves ahead. That mindset carried into every room he later walked into, from meetings to major leadership decisions.

Small, repeated habits have a way of shaping big outcomes.

2. A story can open doors you didn’t even know existed

Tom wrote Budapest to Boca to honor his son, David, and to support the foundation created in his name.

Then something remarkable happened.

After years of trying to connect with the chairman of a major corporation, Tom finally heard from him. The reason was simple: the chairman’s wife had read the book and felt a connection to it.

That’s the quiet power of sharing something real. A story moves, travels, and reaches people in ways no plan can fully predict.

3. Momentum often comes down to a simple decision

One of the defining voices in Tom’s life was his mother. She lived through war, imprisonment, and immense change, yet her outlook stayed focused on moving forward.

At a pivotal moment, her words were clear: “We’re going again.”

That mindset became a throughline in Tom’s life. It shows up in the risks he took, the roles he stepped into, and the way he approached each new chapter.

Years later, when he returned to Hungary with his son to find his father’s grave, a sudden downpour met them as they arrived. It became one of the most meaningful moments he chose to include in his book.

For anyone thinking about writing their own story

Start with an outline. Map the moments that shaped you. Let your personal and professional experiences sit together on the page.

That’s where your story comes alive.

Because what feels ordinary to you often carries immense meaning for someone else.

Read it Now

🎧 Listen to the full episode of The Munn Avenue Muse featuring Tom Herskovits on your favorite podcast platform.

📘 From Budapest to Boca is available now at:

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Bookshop.org

🌐 Connect with Tom through his official website

✍️ If you are working through your own story, whether it is personal, professional, or somewhere in between, Munn Avenue Press can help you shape it into something lasting. If you are ready to publish your book or audiobook, or are just beginning to explore the idea, visit MunnAvenuePress.com to learn more.

👉 Want more author insights, mindset strategies, and behind-the-scenes publishing wisdom? Subscribe below for weekly inspiration from The Munn Avenue Muse.

Subscribe now

🎙 Ask Siri or Alexa to “Play The Munn Avenue Muse podcast!”

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Happy Writing,
Charlie Levin
Publisher & Founder

"Everybody Has a Plan Until They Get Punched in the Face"

Charles Levin — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 09:02:05 GMT

Most careers are presented as straight lines. You study the right subject, get the right job, make the right moves, and eventually arrive where you were always meant to be. Don Kurz’s life is a useful reminder that almost no meaningful career actually works that way.

In the latest episode of The Munn Avenue Muse, Charlie Levin sat down with Don Kurz, entrepreneur, former CEO, and author of Do the Hustle, to talk about a life that moved from Division I championship lacrosse at Johns Hopkins, to teaching disco during the Studio 54 era, to leading public companies and navigating high-stakes boardrooms.

At first glance, those worlds seem unrelated. They are not. What connects them is something far more important than industry: the ability to recognize when one chapter has ended and the willingness to fully commit to the next one.

Listen to this episode and 45 more on the “Munn Avenue Muse” on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Watch on Substack or YouTube.

When the Original Plan Disappears

Kurz’s first identity was built around athletics. As a national champion lacrosse player, the expectation was clear: keep going, keep competing, keep building on that path. Then two knee injuries ended it. The literal “Punch-in-the-face.”

For many people, that kind of forced ending creates paralysis. We spend years trying to reopen doors that have already closed. Kurz did something harder. He accepted it.

Rather than staying emotionally attached to a future that no longer existed, he allowed himself to seize a completely different one. That decision eventually led him to one of the most unlikely chapters of his life: becoming a disco dance instructor during the height of the 1970s nightclub era.

It sounds absurd on paper, but that season taught him something many traditional career paths never do— how to connect with people, how to command energy in a room, and how confidence often matters as much as competence. The lesson was never really about disco. It was about adaptability.

Why Passion Cannot Be Faked

One of the strongest ideas in Don’s philosophy is that passion cannot just be performed. “You can’t fake an erection,” Kurz says. People can tell when you are simply showing up versus when you are fully invested.

You might be able to force enthusiasm temporarily. You can survive a few weeks or even a few months by going through the motions. But long-term success requires something deeper.

Whether you are leading a company, selling a product, or managing a team, people feel authenticity immediately. They know when you care, and they know when you do not.

This matters because leadership is rarely about instructions alone. It is about kinetic energy. People do not follow titles; they follow conviction. When passion is absent, performance eventually collapses with it.

Listen to this episode and 45 more on “Munn Avenue Muse” on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Watch on Substack or YouTube.

The “Toxic Star” Problem

Every leader eventually faces the same uncomfortable test. There is someone on the team who produces enormous results. They bring in the biggest account, close the biggest deals, and make themselves seem indispensable.

But they damage everything around them. They create resentment, weaken morale, and make the best people quietly start planning their exits. Many leaders keep them because the numbers look too good.

Kurz argues that this is one of the most expensive mistakes a company can make. The moment leadership protects toxic behavior because someone is profitable, trust disappears. Culture stops being real and becomes a slogan.

Your strongest people notice that immediately, and eventually, they leave. The short-term revenue never outweighs the long-term cost. A healthy room is always worth protecting.

Learning to Pivot Without Ego

Most people only see success in hindsight. They see the outcome and assume the path was obvious. What they do not see are the bad decisions, the financial losses, the failed bets, and the moments where pride makes people stay too long in the wrong place.

Kurz speaks openly about this. He talks not just about the millions made, but the millions lost. That honesty is what makes his lessons valuable.

The most important skill in business and life is often not intelligence or strategy. It is self-awareness. It is the ability to look honestly at what is no longer working and resist the urge to keep defending it simply because you have already invested too much.

Sometimes maturity looks like persistence. Sometimes it looks like walking away. Knowing the difference is everything.

Listen to this episode and 45 more on the “Munn Avenue Muse” on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Watch on Substack or YouTube.

Are You Still Holding Onto the Wrong Door?

Most people know, quietly, where they are forcing something that no longer fits. A job, a role, a version of success they inherited from someone else.

The hardest part is rarely recognizing it. The hardest part is letting go.

Reinvention does not begin with confidence. It begins with honesty. It begins when you stop trying to return to a chapter that has already ended and start building the next one with full commitment.

You do not need the entire map. You only need the willingness to move.

Read it Now

Read It Now

🎧 Listen to the full episode of The Munn Avenue Muse featuring Don Kurz on your favorite podcast platform.

📘 Do the Hustle is available now at:

🌐 Connect with Don through his official website

👉 Want more author insights, mindset strategies, and behind-the-scenes publishing wisdom? Subscribe below for weekly inspiration from The Munn Avenue Muse.

🎙 Ask Siri or Alexa to “Play The Munn Avenue Muse podcast!”

This post is public. Feel free to share.

Happy Writing,
Charlie Levin
Publisher & Founder

The Creative Secret Hiding in Your Sleep (Most Writers Ignore This)

Charles Levin — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 15:44:30 GMT

Charles Levin
Apr 6, 2026

We tend to think of sleep as a shutdown, a biological necessity, a reset button at the end of the day. But what if it’s something else entirely? What if, each night, you’re stepping into a different layer of consciousness—one that holds insight, emotion, and creative material you can’t access while fully awake?

In the latest episode of The Munn Avenue Muse, host Charlie Levin sits down with psychiatrist, professor, and novelist Carol W. Berman to explore that idea through her novel, Blisstopia: A Utopian Fantasy.

Her story ultimately isn’t just about sleep or dreams. It’s about what we create when reality becomes too painful to accept and how imagination can serve as a form of emotional survival.

Subscribe now

Writing What Reality Won’t Allow

Berman didn’t begin writing Blisstopia as an abstract creative project. She began because she was facing an unbearable reality: her husband’s decline from Lewy Body Dementia.

The disease presents a cruel paradox. The body remains relatively intact while the mind slowly disappears. Faced with that loss, Berman turned to fiction not to escape reality, but to reshape it.

In her novel, she creates a world where her husband is whole again and her (fictional) son is free from addiction. This act of writing becomes what she describes as a kind of “restoration,” a way of preserving the emotional truth of her loved ones even as their real-world circumstances change.

For many writers, this reframes the purpose of storytelling. Fiction is not always about invention; sometimes it is about reclaiming what feels like it’s slipping away.

When the Conditions Are All Wrong

There is a persistent myth in creative work that great writing requires ideal conditions, quiet spaces, inspiring environments, and uninterrupted time.

Berman’s experience dismantles that idea.

She traveled to Lisbon for what was supposed to be a writing residency, only to discover it was a sham rental. The apartment was freezing, noisy, and unworkable. Instead of abandoning the project, she adapted. She checked into a hotel, isolated herself, and completed the novel on an iPad.

The lesson is straightforward but often ignored: the work does not depend on perfect conditions. More often than not, it depends on the decision to continue despite imperfect ones.

The Voice That Tries to Stop You

One of the most practical insights from Berman’s work comes from her clinical background. She describes the “negative introject”—the internal voice that undermines confidence and stalls progress.

Rather than trying to suppress it, she suggests externalizing it.

In one example, a patient visualized this voice as a skunk, something intrusive that “stinks up the place.” By giving it a concrete form, it became easier to recognize and separate from one’s own identity.

For writers, this has immediate application. The voice that says “this isn’t good enough” often feels authoritative, but it is not necessarily accurate. Naming it can reduce its influence and make it easier to move forward.

Why the Best Ideas Come in the Morning

Berman also touches on a principle often associated with Walter Mosley: writing early in the morning because it is “closest to your dreams.”

There is a neurological and psychological basis for this. Immediately after waking, the boundary between conscious and subconscious thought is still relatively thin. Imagination is more accessible, and internal censorship is lower.

This makes the early morning a uniquely productive time for creative work, not because it is quiet, but because the mind itself is in a different state.

Some writers spend years trying to force creativity later in the day, when it may be naturally harder to access.

Why This Matters Now

We live in a culture that prioritizes output over reflection and speed over depth. As a result, many people move quickly past the very experiences that could inform meaningful creative work.

Berman’s story offers a counterpoint. It suggests that creativity is not just about producing content, but about processing reality especially when that reality is difficult.

The moments that shape meaningful work are often small and internal: the decision to sit down and write, the willingness to confront uncomfortable emotions, and the discipline to continue even when the outcome is uncertain.

Are You Ignoring Your Own Portal?

The idea of sleep as a “portal” may sound abstract, but its practical implication is simple: there are moments each day when your mind is more open, more imaginative, and more capable of insight.

The question is whether you use them.

That might mean writing down the idea that comes to you in the morning, developing the story you’ve been avoiding, or simply paying closer attention to the thoughts that surface when you are less guarded.

You don’t need to fully understand consciousness to benefit from it. You only need to recognize when it is most available and act on it.

Read it Now

Read It Now

🎧 Listen to the full episode of The Munn Avenue Muse featuring Carol W. Berman on your favorite podcast platform.

📘 Blisstopia: A Utopian Fantasy is available now at:

🌐 Connect with Carol at CarolWBerman.com

✍️ If you are working through your own story—whether it’s personal, professional, or somewhere in between—Munn Avenue Press can help you shape it into something lasting. If you’re ready to publish your book or audiobook, or are just beginning to explore the idea, visit MunnAvenuePress.com to learn more.

👉 Want more author insights, mindset strategies, and behind-the-scenes publishing wisdom? Subscribe below for weekly inspiration from The Munn Avenue Muse.

🗣 Ask Siri or Alexa to “Play The Munn Avenue Muse podcast!”

This post is public. Feel free to share.

Happy Writing,
Charlie Levin
Publisher & Founder

Why Your Next 3 Minutes Could Define Your Life: The 3:12 Rule with Sherry Levin

Charles Levin — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 09:01:19 GMT

Charles Levin

We tend to believe that success is decided in the spotlight. But what if it’s actually decided in the quiet moments just before it, when no one is watching, and nothing has happened yet?

In the latest episode of The Munn Avenue Muse, host Charlie Levin sits down with legendary basketball coach Sherry Levin to discuss her book Pregame: A Winning Mindset. While her stories come from the court, her lessons apply to authors facing blank pages, entrepreneurs staring down risky launches, and anyone standing on the edge of a life-changing moment.

This isn’t really about sports.

It’s about pressure and what you become when it arrives.

Are You a Diamond or a Pencil?

Under enough pressure, carbon can become either graphite or a diamond.

Same substance. Different outcome.

Sherry uses this metaphor to challenge her players and now her readers to rethink adversity. Pressure doesn’t destroy you; it reveals what you’re willing to become.

When deadlines stack up, when rejection emails land, when life suddenly feels heavier than expected, you face a quiet choice:

Will you wear down… or crystallize?

“The choice is yours,” she tells her team.

For writers, this might mean finishing the chapter you’re tempted to abandon. For leaders, it may mean making the decision you’d rather postpone. For anyone in pain, it could simply mean getting up tomorrow and trying again.

Pressure is not the enemy. It’s the forge.

The Power of “Next Play”

One of Sherry’s former players, Leticia Rolle, carried a single lesson from the court into her life as an entrepreneur and model:

Next play.

Missed opportunity? Next play.
Failed launch? Next play.
Bad day at work or at home? Next play.

In sports, hesitation costs possessions. In life, it costs years.

Writers often stall because they keep rereading what didn’t work. Professionals replay conversations long after everyone else has moved on. Creators abandon projects because the first version wasn’t perfect.

But progress belongs to those who refuse to freeze in the past.

A setback isn’t a stop sign. It’s a transition.

Momentum is built one forward motion at a time.

The 3:12 Miracle

Sherry recounts a championship game where her team trailed by nine points with only 3 minutes and 12 seconds left.

Most teams would mentally check out. The scoreboard looked final.

Instead, she gave them a simple, calm directive:

Three stops.
Three scores.
One play at a time.

No speeches. No panic. No desperation.

Just a plan small enough to execute under pressure.

They followed it possession by possession and completed the comeback to win the championship.

Years later, Sherry used the same mindset during her battle with breast cancer. She didn’t try to conquer the entire fight at once. She focused on the next appointment, the next treatment, the next day.

Overwhelm shrinks when the horizon shrinks.

Your life rarely turns on one massive heroic act. It turns on a series of composed responses when everything feels like it’s falling apart.

Everyone eventually faces a personal “3:12” moment.

Why This Matters Now

We live in a culture obsessed with outcomes and impatient with process. We celebrate the highlight reel while ignoring the preparation that made it possible.

But every breakthrough is preceded by invisible minutes of doubt, fear, recalibration, and resolve.

The email you almost didn’t send.
The draft you almost deleted.
The conversation you almost avoided.

Those moments shape trajectories more than any grand plan ever could.

And none of us does it alone.

Behind every composed performance is a network of belief, teammates, editors, mentors, readers, family, and friends. Success is rarely solitary; it is communal strength expressed through individual action.

Sherry’s guiding question cuts straight to the core:

“In the eyes of someone else, would they be proud of you?”

Not impressed. Proud.

It’s a measure of character, not achievement.

Is Your 3:12 Already Ticking?

Maybe your moment looks like:

Publishing the piece you’re afraid to share.
Starting the book you keep outlining but never writing.
Making the call you’ve been postponing.
Showing up again after a quiet disappointment.

You don’t need to solve everything today.

You only need to win the next play.

Because sometimes three minutes used well can echo across a lifetime.

Read it Now

Read It Now

🎧 Listen to the full episode of The Munn Avenue Muse featuring Sherry Levin on your favorite podcast platform.

📘 PREGAME: A Winning Mindset is available now at:

🌐 Connect with Sherry at SherryLevin.com

✍️ If you are preparing for your own “game day” whether that means writing a book, launching a project, or stepping into a new chapter, Munn Avenue Press is here to help you turn preparation into publication. If you would like to publish your book or audiobook (or are just beginning to imagine it), visit MunnAvenuePress.com and let the team help you bring your vision to life.

Happy Writing!
Charlie Levin, Publisher & Founder

👉 Want more author insights, mindset strategies, and behind-the-scenes publishing wisdom? Subscribe below for weekly inspiration from The Munn Avenue Muse.

🗣 Ask Siri or Alexa to “Play The Munn Avenue Muse podcast!”

This post is public. Feel free to share.

Information informs. Stories transform.

Charles Levin — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 09:00:45 GMT

Charlie Levin · Mar 17, 2026

In the latest episode of The Munn Avenue Muse, host Charlie Levin speaks with HR leader, consultant, and researcher Dr. Roz Cohen, author of The Engagement Dilemma. The conversation pulls back the curtain on one of the most uncomfortable truths in modern leadership:

Many workplace culture initiatives aren’t meant to solve problems. They’re meant to look like they are. Cohen calls this phenomenon engagement theater, and once you see it, you can’t unsee it.

The Most Dangerous Culture Problem Is Invisible

Engagement theater resembles real effort.

Town halls. Surveys. Retreats. Listening sessions. Carefully worded emails about values and belonging. On paper, everything appears positive.

Employees, however, are remarkably good at sensing authenticity. When initiatives fail to produce meaningful change, trust erodes quietly—not through rebellion, but through withdrawal.

People stop speaking up.
Stop volunteering ideas.
Stop believing honesty is safe.

Over time, they stop bringing their full selves to work. Not out of laziness, but out of self-protection.

Why Real Leaders Talk About Their Mistakes

What makes Cohen’s book unusual is that she doesn’t present herself as the flawless expert. Instead, she shares deeply uncomfortable moments from her own career.

Including one that still makes her cringe.

Early in her finance career, she casually referred to an employee as “my pet” and tapped them on the shoulder, a comment overheard by her boss and immediately recognized as inappropriate.

Many professionals would erase that memory.

Cohen chose to document it. Leaders who pretend they have never failed create cultures where everyone else feels pressure to pretend as well. Acknowledging mistakes does not diminish authority; it makes leadership more human.

And humans follow humans, not perfection.

Stories Change People More Than Data Ever Will

Cohen deliberately structured The Engagement Dilemma around narrative, not just research. Because information informs. Stories transform.

A statistic might make you think. A story makes you remember. A personal story makes you feel.

That emotional connection is what actually shifts behavior, whether in leadership, teaching, or writing. As Cohen notes, the fastest way to regain a drifting audience is simple: “Let me tell you a story.”

Everyone leans in. Because stories are how humans make meaning.

When Labels Replace Curiosity

Cohen also tackles one of the most charged topics in modern workplaces: diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Her argument is both bold and disarming. At their core, these concepts aren’t political. They’re human. People want to be seen. Understood. Valued for who they are.

The problem arises when labels become shortcuts for understanding. Instead of learning about the individual in front of us, we interact with assumptions.

Cohen compares it to wearing tinted glasses: everything you see is pre-filtered before you even begin. Clear vision requires removing the tint.

The Values Driving the Message

Cohen traces her motivation to two Jewish principles that shaped her worldview:

Tzedakah — the responsibility to give back
Tikkun Olam — the call to repair the world

Writing the book was, for her, an act of contribution. Knowledge that stays within elite circles helps no one.

But if one leader reads the book and changes one behavior, if one employee feels more seen, more heard, more valued, that ripple matters.

The Real Engagement Dilemma

The biggest threat to workplace culture is performative care.

Employees don’t need more programs that appear supportive. What matters is leadership behavior that demonstrates support in everyday moments.

A manager who listens without deflecting.
A system that makes participation possible for more than just the loudest voices.
A culture where mistakes can be discussed openly and learned from.

Engagement is not something leaders announce. It is something people experience.

When individuals feel genuinely seen, motivation follows naturally.

If you lead people, this conversation serves less as a set of tips and more as a wake-up call. The future of work will not be defined by perks, policies, or slogans, but by whether employees believe their leaders genuinely mean what they say.

For Writers: Stop Waiting for the Perfect Conditions

Cohen’s advice to aspiring nonfiction authors is refreshingly grounded:

Start small. Stay consistent. Lower the bar.

Write for 30 minutes. Write three sentences. Organize notes. Free-write without editing. Progress beats perfection. She compares writing a book to eating an elephant: one bite at a time.

Most unfinished manuscripts aren’t abandoned because of a lack of talent, they’re abandoned because the task feels too large to begin.

Read it Now

🎧 Listen to the full episode of The Munn Avenue Muse featuring Dr. Roz Cohen on your favorite podcast platform.

📘 The Engagement Dilemma is available now at:

🌐 Connect with Roz at DrRozCohen.com

✍️ If you are ready to share your own story, whether it is fiction, nonfiction, or a blend of both, Munn Avenue Press is here to help you bring it to life. If you would like to publish your book or your audiobook (or are just dreaming about it), let the MunnAvenuePress.com team help make your dream a reality.

Happy Writing! Charlie Levin, Publisher & Founder

👉 Want more unfiltered author journeys and publishing wisdom? Subscribe below for weekly insights from The Munn Avenue Muse.

Subscribe now

🗣 Ask Siri or Alexa to “Play The Munn Avenue Muse podcast!”
This post is public. Feel free to share.

Writing to Stay Alive: The Memoir as a Survival Strategy

Charles Levin — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 10:03:00 GMT

Charles Levin · Feb 4, 2026

We often think of storytelling as an act of reflection. But what if it’s something deeper—something evolutionary? A survival mechanism.

In the latest episode of The Munn Avenue Muse, host Charlie Levin sits down with Karen B. Gerson, author of the gripping memoir I Should Not Be Here. This isn’t just another trauma narrative. It’s a revelation.

Karen’s story weaves through childhood trauma, OCD, PTSD, and depression—but instead of being crushed by these experiences, she used them as raw material for transformation. For readers, writers, and healers alike, this conversation is a masterclass in how to turn your most painful truths into powerful storytelling.

When the Title Is the Story

“I should not be here.”

That was Karen’s internal refrain for years. Raised in a high-pressure school system where she felt she didn’t belong, she struggled academically and socially. Add to that undiagnosed mental health challenges, and the fact that she even made it through school, let alone wrote a bestselling book, is nothing short of remarkable.

The title of her memoir isn’t dramatic, it’s accurate. And that’s what makes it land with such weight.

“Memoirs aren’t about the extraordinary,” Charlie notes. “They’re about the impossibly personal.”

Rethinking OCD: Not a Disorder, a Defense

One of the most profound takeaways from the episode is Karen’s reframing of obsessive-compulsive disorder. For years, she viewed her compulsions as symptoms of something broken.

But in writing her story, something shifted.

She realized that her rituals lining up glass ducks just right, counting stairs before bed, were actually mechanisms of control in a world that felt terrifying. In that light, OCD became not a weakness, but a resource. A lifeline. A brilliant (if exhausting) tool for survival.

“It wasn’t pathology,” she says. “It was my strategy.”

Writing from the Wound, Not in the Wound

Karen had tried to write the book before. Twice. But each time, it dragged her back into the pain.

It wasn’t until she was far enough along in her healing that she could revisit the hardest moments without reliving them. She worked with ghostwriter Aaron to craft a safe container—one where she could pause, breathe, and return when ready.

Some days, she simply had to say: “I’m done for the day.”

And that was okay.

This process led her to a fundamental insight:

“If you’re writing from trauma, wait until you can touch it without bleeding.”

Breaking the Mold: A Memoir Told by a Village

Instead of a singular voice, Karen’s memoir features interviews with eleven people in her life, family, friends, even her children.

The result? A multidimensional portrait of pain and healing.

One of the most gut-wrenching moments came from her oldest son, who admitted that during Karen’s mental health crises, he had to seek out “other villages” for support.

That chapter alone changed how they talked as a family.

The truth didn’t just set Karen free—it opened new conversations.

From Publication to Purpose

I Should Not Be Here was released on November 18th, a day that left Karen in tears. The outpouring of support was immediate:

Childhood friends who never knew her struggle reached out.
Therapists thanked her for helping them understand their patients.
Readers said the book gave them permission to begin their own healing.

Now, Karen is using her platform to advocate for mental health awareness, partnering with Kansas City news outlets ahead of Mental Health Month in May.

This story isn’t just published, it’s in motion.

Is Your Story Waiting?

If you’re sitting on a story that feels “too messy,” “too painful,” or “too unfinished,” Karen’s message is simple:

Don’t wait for perfection. Wait for readiness. And when that arrives tell the story like your life depends on it. Because for someone else, it might.

Read It Now

🎧 Listen to the full episode of The Munn Avenue Muse featuring Karen B. Gerson on your favorite podcast platform.

📘 I Should Not Be Here is available now at:

🌐 Connect with Karen at KarenBGerson.com

Happy Writing! Charlie Levin, Publisher & Founder

👉 Want more unfiltered author journeys and publishing wisdom? Subscribe below for weekly insights from The Munn Avenue Muse.

Subscribe now

🗣 Ask Siri or Alexa to “Play The Munn Avenue Muse podcast!”
This post is public. Feel free to share.

Craig Garner 82 and the 55-Year Quest: Football, Aliens, and the Art of Discovery Writing

Charles Levin — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 10:00:54 GMT

Few debut authors can claim a creative process that spans over half a century, but that’s exactly the story behind Craig Garner and his novel I Came to Play Your Game.

If you’re a writer stuck in the “mushy middle” of your draft, or a reader who finds joy in tales that straddle humor and heart, this one is for you. Garner’s journey, equal parts unlikely and inspiring, reminds us that storytelling is less about timing and more about tenacity, curiosity, and imagination.

🚀 The Story: An Alien on the Gridiron

Set in the unassuming world of American high school football, I Came to Play Your Game begins with a rather unexpected twist: the arrival of Sublimious Z. Hormatz, an alien observer from the crumbling civilization.

To avoid suspicion, Sublimious adopts the name “Clancy” and infiltrates a high school football team in the heart of the American Midwest. His mission is both absurd and oddly poignant: study Earth’s most “indispensable” cultural tradition, football, and determine whether humans offer anything of value to a dying interstellar empire.

Clancy’s physical prowess is unmatched (he clocks a 3.9-second 40-yard dash) and his movements border on acrobatic performance art. Yet despite his talents, his greatest obstacle is not physical but emotional: can he learn the unspoken rules of fitting in without revealing the truth about who or what he really is?

A Cast of Human Teachers

Clancy’s crash course in humanity is helped along by two unlikely companions:

Sam “the Slam” Schneider, a tattooed outsider and loner who becomes Clancy’s translator, both linguistically and socially.
Learius, a talented teammate who offers insight into both the game of football and the subtler codes of human interaction.

Together, they form a trio that’s equal parts Friday Night Lights and E.T. Their journey explores not just the dynamics of team sports, but also the quiet, internal struggle of wanting to belong.

✍️ For Writers: What 55 Years of “Discovery Writing” Taught One Author

Craig Garner didn’t set out with a detailed outline. He didn’t even know how the book would end. Instead, he embraced a writing process often referred to as “discovery writing”, or “pantsing,”writing by the seat of your pants.

For writers, especially those paralyzed by the pressure to plan every scene, Garner’s method offers both comfort and challenge.

Key Takeaways from the Podcast:

Let the Characters Lead
Garner didn’t dictate his characters’ actions, they dictated his. Every turn in the story emerged organically from dialogue, interaction, and momentum.
Find Joy in the Unknown
Echoing novelist Ann Patchett, Garner discovered that the more uncertain the writer feels during the process, the more wonder and surprise the reader experiences on the page.
There’s No Expiration Date on Dreams
Perhaps the most moving part of the interview: Garner spent 55 years dreaming of being a published author. He made it happen at 82. That kind of persistence isn’t just admirable, it’s instructive. Great storytelling takes time, and time is never truly “lost” if you keep the dream alive.

🪞 Beyond Football: Using Fiction to Reflect and Critique

What makes I Came to Play Your Game stand out isn’t just the premise—it’s what the premise allows Garner to explore.

By filtering American culture through the lens of an alien observer, Garner dissects everything from our social rituals to our obsession with competition and celebrity. He doesn’t stop at high school football. The book digs into broader questions about:

The commercialization of college sports
Pay-to-play recruitment systems
The social hierarchy within youth athletics
The pressure to conform, especially among young men

And yet, the book never feels preachy. It entertains first. Then it asks the deeper questions, questions about identity, values, and how we define belonging.

As Garner says in the episode, “Fiction lets you entertain the reader first. Then, if you’re lucky, it helps them see things they didn’t realize they needed to think about.”

Read it Now

📚 Where to Read and Listen

Whether you’re a sports fan or someone who’s ever felt like an outsider trying to figure out the rules, I Came to Play Your Game is an unforgettable read. And for authors, an inspiration.

📖 Read the Book:

If you are ready to share your own story, whether it is fiction, nonfiction, or a blend of both, Munn Avenue Press is here to help you bring it to life. If you would like to publish your book or your audiobook (or are just dreaming about it), let the MunnAvenuePress.com team help make your dream a reality.

Happy Writing! Charlie Levin, Publisher & Founder

🎧 Listen to Craig’s full episode on The Munn Avenue Muse.

👉 Want more unfiltered author journeys and publishing wisdom? Subscribe for free below for weekly insights from the Munn Avenue Muse.

Subscribe now

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Until next time: keep writing, keep reading, and keep asking the big questions. Some of the best stories come from way, way out of bounds.

Burning the Rule Book and Building Your Empire with Nevsah Karamehmet

Charles Levin — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 10:02:12 GMT

We live in a world constructed by systems designed for doing — output, achievement, and measurable results. From the global economy and legal frameworks to the very foundations of the coaching industry, success has historically been defined by male‑oriented paradigms: manifestation, goal setting, and an outward drive to “hunt” for results.

But what happens when women fully adopt these systems? Too often, it leads to burnout, disconnection from the body, chronic stress, and a sense of powerlessness, even in the midst of success.

In the latest episode of the Munn Avenue Muse, host Charlie Leven sits down with Nevsah, best‑selling author, globally recognized expert in breathwork and consciousness to explore a radical reframing of success for women. Her new book, Next Level Woman: Burn the Rule Book, Build the Empire, isn’t just another self‑help title — it’s a manifesto for reclaiming feminine creative and spiritual power.

Why the “Man‑Made World” Isn’t Built for Women

Nevsah draws a powerful distinction: men are hunters, women are creators.

“Men are brilliant at building systems to reach goals. Women possess a different, more spiritual law, a law of being, not doing.”

According to Nevsah, male energy is outward‑facing, driven toward conquest and execution. Female energy, by contrast, is inherently internal, aligned with intuition, flow, and generative life force. When women ignore this and adopt “hunter” behaviors, they lose touch with their essence leading to dissatisfaction, exhaustion, and a deep sense that something is missing.

True fulfillment, Nevsah argues, does not come from working harder or longer. It comes from surrender, flow, and alignment with your innate creative power.

The Crash That Changed Everything

Nevsah wasn’t always a voice for this message.

At 17, she was the quintessential high achiever excelling as a professional swimmer, volleyball player, pianist, and straight‑A student. Her identity was wrapped up in performance.

Then, everything stopped.

A traumatic motorcycle accident left her broken and immobilized. For two and a half months, she lay still, unable to “do,” forced instead to be. In that stillness, she says, she heard the deeper call of her life:

“Every crash… is telling us to stop.”

That forced pause cracked open a new reality, one where spiritual connection, inner awareness, and presence mattered far more than achievements on paper.

Dropping the Surnames, Reclaiming the Self

One of the most striking choices Nevsah has made is removing her last name from her work and public identity. No father’s name. No husband’s name. Just Nevsah.

This isn’t branding — it’s sovereignty.

She explains that reclaiming one’s name is a metaphor for reclaiming selfhood beyond patriarchal expectations. Every woman’s name holds a unique energetic truth, and owning it is a first step toward living from the “I am presence” instead of permission or performance.

The Formula for an “Unstoppable” Life

Nevsah doesn’t just teach these principles; she lives them.

At 51, her estimated biological age is between 35 and 40, and she claims 25 years without a health issue. She thrives as an investor, teacher, and entrepreneur, grounded not in hustle but in breath, presence, and alignment.

Her message is simple:

If you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or trapped in the hustle — pause. Stop. Go within.

By accessing the “I am presence,” that part of you beyond body, time, and ego, you tap into the same source of inspiration that moved figures like Einstein, Mozart, and Cleopatra.

“When we connect with ourselves… we become unstoppable.”

Ready to Reclaim Your Power?

Next Level Woman is available now at:

Happy Writing! Charlie Levin, Publisher & Founder

🎧 Listen to Nevsah’s full episode on The Munn Avenue Muse.

👉 Want more unfiltered author journeys and publishing wisdom? Subscribe below for weekly insights from the Munn Avenue Muse.

Subscribe now

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From Hurt to Healing to Amazon #1 Bestseller: Christina Marie Calderwood on Writing, Healing, and Radical Co-Parenting

Charles Levin — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 10:00:59 GMT

What does it take to turn a decade of emotional upheaval into a book that helps others navigate one of life’s most difficult transitions?

In a recent episode of The Munn Avenue Muse, Charlie Levin sat down with Christina Marie Calderwood, a licensed counselor, wellness coach, and former finance executive, to discuss her new book, Protecting Children Through Divorce: 12 Self-Guided Reflections. Christina’s journey is not just one of healing, but of perseverance, and her story offers writers and readers alike a front-row seat into the messy, powerful process of turning vulnerability into value.

A Radical Model of Co-Parenting

The book opens with a scene that usually stuns readers: Christina, her current husband, her ex-husband, and his wife travel and dine together regularly, functioning as a “true family.”

But she’s quick to clarify that this wasn’t always the case. Early on, her divorce was shaped by “animosity and hurt,” particularly at emotionally charged events like youth sports games, where sitting on the same side of the stadium felt impossible. Her book doesn’t idealize her present; it chronicles how she got here, and how others can choose light over darkness, especially when children are involved.

Writing Through Pain, Writing Toward Purpose

The process of writing Protecting Children Through Divorce took over 15 years. It wasn’t a straight line. Christina admits to opening and closing her laptop countless times, discarding draft after draft before finally finding the voice that felt true.

Her biggest creative barrier? Vulnerability.

She relived the hardest parts. “There was a lot of crying,” she says. Revisiting the emotional wreckage of her past was non-negotiable but also exhausting.
She didn’t hide the scars. Christina chose to write the “raw” story because she didn’t want readers to mistake her current joy for a shortcut.
She avoided the drama. Instead of detailing what caused her marriage to end, she focused on forward movement: how to emotionally care for your children even if you’re still figuring things out yourself.

High-Mileage Questions and a Hybrid Format

The structure of Christina’s book also sets it apart: part memoir, part self-help, part journal. As a clinician, she developed “high mileage questions”—deeper, reflective prompts meant to help parents process heavy emotions before they unintentionally pass them on to their children.

One of the key takeaways from her conversation was the distinction between self-care and self-avoidance. Bubble baths and jogs are helpful, but are you also sitting with your pain long enough to understand it? Christina encourages readers to ask, “Am I in a space where I can think and feel safely?”

The Long Game of Publishing

In the spirit of creative resilience, Christina shared a quote that stuck with her: “Finish the book.” That advice, originally from author Dennis Lehane, became her north star. There were many moments she almost quit, when the process felt too raw, too uncertain. But her WHY kept her going.

“If this book helps even one parent, then it was worth every last second,” she says.

Read it Now

📘 Protecting Children Through Divorce is available now at:

Happy Writing! Charlie Levin, Publisher & Founder

🎧 Listen to Christina’s full episode on The Munn Avenue Muse.

👉 Want more unfiltered author journeys and publishing wisdom? Subscribe below for weekly insights from the Munn Avenue Muse.

Subscribe now

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From the Serengeti to the Bestseller List: Todd Gustafson on Story, Persistence, and Legacy

Charles Levin — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 10:01:07 GMT

What turns a lifetime of adventure into a story that lasts?

In a recent episode of The Munn Avenue Muse, Charlie Levin sat down with Todd Gustafson, a wildlife photographer, PBS documentarian, and composer whose memoir, Tales from the Ends of the Earth: My Adventures in East Africa and Beyond, has already reached #1 on Amazon’s bestseller list. Todd’s story isn’t just about breathtaking encounters with wildlife. It’s about how a life fully lived becomes a legacy worth passing on.

A Childhood Shaped by the Wild

Todd’s creative foundation was laid far from classrooms or studios. He grew up in the Usambara Mountains of Tanzania, nearly 7,000 feet above sea level, surrounded by rainforest, chameleons, and Colobus monkeys. His father, an architect, biologist, and missionary, moved the family there in the 1960s to build a secondary school.

That early immersion didn’t just influence Todd’s career. It shaped his worldview. Nature wasn’t something to visit. It was home. And for decades, he’s returned the favor by documenting it with patience, respect, and remarkable skill.

Beyond “Pretty Pictures”: Learning to Tell a Story

One of the most revealing moments Todd shared was when he first considered making a book. His son Anders, a filmmaker, offered blunt feedback: a collection of beautiful images without a narrative would be “boring.”

That critique changed everything.

Instead of assembling a photo album, Todd approached his book like a silent film. Images introduce characters. Sequences establish rhythm. The structure mirrors the human condition: courtship, family, competition, survival. In doing so, Todd found the connective tissue between human life and the natural world.

The result is a book that doesn’t just show animals. It helps readers recognize themselves.

Stick‑tuitivity and the Long Game

Todd credits much of his success to what his mother called “stick‑tuitivity,” the ability to stay with something long after it gets hard.

That persistence paid off when he pursued legendary primatologist Jane Goodall to narrate his PBS documentary series. After years of navigating gatekeepers, Todd finally met her in Seattle for a recording session he describes as unforgettable. Goodall later contributed a deeply personal three‑page foreword to his book.

The reach of Todd’s work has been equally striking. During a visit to Tanzania, Pope Francis encountered Todd’s books and remarked that they have the “chance to change hearts and minds and make this a better world.”

When the Wild Is Very Real

The memoir is filled with moments that are visceral, unscripted, and decidedly not enhanced by technology:

The Cheetah Encounter: A young cheetah leapt onto the roof of Todd’s vehicle in the Serengeti, sitting just a foot from his face while its mother scanned for prey.
The Leopard Farewell: Two leopard siblings Todd had known since infancy performed a final tumbling ritual before separating forever to claim their own territories.
The Hailstorm: A rare and dangerous hailstorm trapped Todd near a herd of nearly one hundred elephants—an encounter as humbling as it was terrifying.

These moments aren’t shared for spectacle. They are reminders of how small we are—and how connected. Listen or watch while Todd shares some of his most amazing encounters.

Why Stories Matter

Todd likens himself to the ancient mariners of Victorian England—those who returned from distant voyages with shells, artifacts, and tales of far‑off worlds. His photographs and stories are modern equivalents: gems gathered from the edge of the earth, carried back for those who may never go there themselves.

Ultimately, Tales from the Ends of the Earth is about legacy. Todd believes a memoir is one of the greatest gifts we can leave future generations, a way of saying, this is who we were, and this is what we learned. As Jane Goodall writes in the book, everything we do makes a difference. The choice is what kind of difference we decide to make.

Read it Now

Final Thoughts

What makes Tales from the Ends of the Earth endure isn’t just where Todd Gustafson has been, it’s how intentionally he chose to tell it.

This book works because it treats a life story the same way Todd treats the natural world: with patience, structure, and deep respect. For anyone considering a memoir, especially one rooted in experience, expertise, or decades of lived work, Todd’s journey is a reminder that impact doesn’t happen by accident (although happy and unhappy accidents do happen). It comes from persistence, clarity, and a willingness to move beyond “what happened” into why it mattered.

A story lasts when it does more than preserve memories. It invites others in. It teaches. It connects. And in the best cases, like Todd’s, it leaves the world a little more awake than it found it.

At Munn Avenue Press, this is the kind of work we believe in, stories built with intention, care, and a long view toward legacy.

📘 Where to Find the Book

Available now at:

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Bookshop.org (supports independent bookstores)

Happy Writing! Charlie Levin, Publisher & Founder

🎧 Listen to the episode now on Munn Avenue Muse.
👉 Want more unfiltered author journeys and publishing wisdom? Subscribe below for weekly insights from the Munn Avenue Muse.

Subscribe now

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From Bullet Points to Bestseller: How Two Experts Turned Ideas into Impact

Charles Levin — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 10:00:59 GMT

Turning an idea into a book isn’t just about having something to say. It’s about how you say it, how you shape it, and who helps you along the way.

Charlie Levin recently caught up with Sarah Escobar and Corinne Murray, co-authors of Work Then Place: Navigating Modern Work and Where It Happens. Their approach to writing and publishing offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to bring a dense, idea-rich book to life and to write with a partner. If you’re writing nonfiction or building a thought-leadership project of your own, their experience offers more than just advice. It’s a working model.

From Bullet Points to Blueprint

The first version of Work Then Place wasn’t a book at all. It was 30 pages of bullet points, created by Sarah during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, she was working at Netflix and witnessing massive shifts in workplace strategy. She knew her insights had long-term value, so she wrote them down. But the result, by her own admission, wasn’t “real readable.”

This is something many nonfiction writers face. Deep expertise doesn’t automatically translate into accessible content. Sarah had the material, but not yet the format. It wasn’t until she partnered with Corinne that the raw ideas began to evolve into something that could meet readers where they are.

Finding the Right Co-Pilot

Corinne came into the project with her own experience in global workplace transformation and an eye for story and clarity. Sarah had the substance. Corinne brought the shape. Together, they turned technical insights into a compelling narrative.

They treated co-authorship as a strategic move. Corinne didn’t just contribute to the book. She helped transform its rhythm, tone, and accessibility. This kind of partnership, built on complementary strengths, shifted the project from “informational” to “impactful.”

Design Comes Before Drafts

Instead of jumping into more writing, Sarah and Corinne stepped back to figure out what the book actually needed to be. They took a focused retreat to Joshua Tree: just the two of them, a house, and all their raw content, cut into strips of paper. They laid everything out, reshuffled the pieces, and physically mapped out the flow of the book.

That work resulted in the framework behind Work Then Place, including its core acronym and structure. Only after this design session did they return to the writing process with clarity and direction.

Taking the time to design early on helped them avoid getting lost later.

Knowing What You Don’t Know

Sarah and Corinne were workplace strategy experts, but publishing was new territory. They quickly realized how much they didn’t know. Formatting for Amazon, using IngramSpark, understanding the editing process, making the content readable to non-experts—none of it was obvious.

Read It Now

That’s when they brought in Holly Hudson, an experienced book coach. Holly helped them clarify their voice, simplify the structure, and keep the book grounded in a reader-first perspective. She also introduced them to their publisher, Munn Avenue Press. Corinne admitted the editing process was far more intense than expected, but also essential to the quality of the final product.

Professional support was not an optional add-on. It was part of the foundation.

Publishing Is the Middle, Not the End

After the book was released, Sarah and Corinne kept going. Because they had trimmed so much content to keep the book tight and readable, they’re now developing a companion workbook. It includes tools, exercises, and frameworks that help readers take action on what they’ve learned.

This follow-up isn’t just bonus content. It’s a pathway to deepen impact, sustain momentum, and reach more people over time.

Final Thoughts

What Sarah and Corinne built with Work Then Place wasn’t just a book. It was a strategic, structured process. And for any author, especially those writing about complex or technical subjects, that process matters just as much as the product.

Clear planning, thoughtful collaboration, early support, and a roadmap for what comes next. These elements are what make a book work not just in terms of publishing, but in terms of real impact.

At Munn Avenue Press, we support authors who think big and build wisely.

📘 Where to Find the Book

Available now at:

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Bookshop.org (supports independent bookstores)

Happy Writing! Charlie Levin, Publisher & Founder

🎧 Listen to the episode now on Munn Avenue Muse.
👉 Want more unfiltered author journeys and publishing wisdom? Subscribe below for weekly insights from the Munn Avenue Muse.

Subscribe now

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Legacy Writing: Capturing Your Past, Creating Your Future

Charles Levin — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 09:02:42 GMT

Welcome back to Munn Avenue Muse, the corner where storytelling meets memory, and where writing becomes a tool for truth, legacy, and connection.

In our latest podcast episode, Charlie Levin spoke with Robert Merrick Fuller, author of the quietly powerful memoir A Horsedrawn Sicklebar Cutter. What started as a conversation about his book unfolded into something much larger, a moving reflection on how personal storytelling preserves the past, strengthens our legacy, and honors the rhythms of life that still echo through us.

Whether you’re writing a memoir, capturing family history, or simply exploring what it means to write honestly, this episode is a deep well of inspiration. Below are the key takeaways for every writer interested in memoir writing, sensory storytelling, and legacy preservation.

1. Start With the Senses: Why Memory Needs Sound

If you’re looking for powerful memoir writing tips, start here: ground your story in a sensory anchor. For Robert, it was the sound of a classic sicklebar cutter pulled by draft horses, a rhythmic, oscillating pulse unlike the modern, steady hum of a tractor.

This sound, woven into his earliest memories in Lowell, Massachusetts, became the heartbeat of his book. It’s not just nostalgia; it’s resonance. As shared during the conversation, that kind of oscillation, like breath, like a heartbeat, stays with us because it lives in the body.

Memoir tip: Find that one resonant detail that evokes time and place viscerally. Whether it’s a smell, a texture, or a sound, let it lead your reader into the world you’re remembering.

2. Memoir as Personal Truth and Historical Record

Robert’s story is deeply personal, but it also spans history from Mayflower ancestry to the post-war changes in American farming. He grew up in a 150-year-old farmhouse as the sixth generation of Fullers. And yet, he admitted: “I wish I had asked my grandfather more.”

This tension between what we know and what we’ll never know is part of why writing a memoir matters. Memoir isn’t just personal reflection; it’s a record for those who come after us.

But let’s be clear: it’s not history alone that gives memoir power. It’s honesty. Robert spent three years deciding what to include, what to hold back, and how to tell the truth about his life, including his father’s struggles and his own adult experiences.

He leaned on Barbara Kingsolver’s advice:

“Close the door and write as if no one were looking over your shoulder... Figure out what you want to say. That’s the one and only thing you have to offer.”

And that’s where legacy writing begins, not in telling everything, but in telling what is true to you.

3. Read to Write: Finding Your Own Road to Felicity

Robert offered one of the simplest but most powerful pieces of advice for memoirists: read widely.
He was particularly moved by How to Say Babylon by Sophia Sinclair, a story vastly different from his own, yet equally rooted in determination and voice. Inspired by Sinclair’s poetic honesty, Robert included five original poems in his memoir.

The takeaway? You don’t need to read stories like your own, just stories that ring true. As Robert says, every life has its own road to felicity (his word for bliss, purpose, contentment). Writing helps us trace that road, even if we’re still walking it.

4. Writing With Time in Mind: Memoir as a Legacy Act

Toward the end of our conversation, Robert shared something that many writers hold silently: he’s living with Stage 4 cancer. And yet, his outlook is anything but grim.

He sees his memoir as part of a larger legacy, an act of documentation, intention, and care. He’s planning his own obituary, building his own coffin, choosing green burial over gravestone, and even leaving behind memorial benches. Why? “So I don’t leave it all to somebody else.”

He and his wife are also paying forward, supporting students in Ghana through the Wells Mountain Initiative. Writing, legacy, service, for Robert, they’re all part of the same story.

And he’s not done yet. He’s already envisioning three more books: one about his 40 years in the culinary world, one on his motorcycle life, and one chronicling his decades of travel with his wife.

Read It Now

Final Thoughts: Write the Story Only You Can Tell

Robert Merrick Fuller’s A Horsedrawn Sicklebar Cutter is more than a memoir; it’s a reminder that our memories matter, our voices carry, and our legacies are still being written.

If you’re an author working on your own memoir, or a reader seeking stories rooted in honesty and heart, I encourage you to listen to the full episode. You’ll find insights not just into how to write but why we write at all.

📘 Where to Find the Book

Available now at:

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Bookshop.org (supports independent bookstores)

Happy Writing! Charlie Levin, Publisher & Founder

🎧 Listen to the episode now on Munn Avenue Muse.
👉 Want more unfiltered author journeys and publishing wisdom? Subscribe below for weekly insights from the Munn Avenue Muse.

Subscribe now

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What a T-Rex, a Robot, and a Novelist Reveal About the Future

Charles Levin — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 09:00:58 GMT

When you think of scientists or tech experts, you might picture complicated data or dire predictions. But Peter Solomon, scientist, entrepreneur, and Amazon best-selling author of 100 Years to Exctinction, brings a refreshingly human approach to the future of technology.

With experience in both science and storytelling, Solomon helps readers make sense of overwhelming topics like AI ethics, climate change, and genetic engineering. His motivation is deeply personal:

“I have 12 grandkids,” Solomon says. “And I worry about their future.”

Whether you are an author, an entrepreneur, or simply a curious reader, his insights show how stories can help us understand and shape the future.

1. Every Breakthrough Comes With a Shadow

After decades developing new technologies, Solomon now asks a different question: what is the cost?

“Every great advancement,” he says, “comes with a terrible downside.”

He shares five examples that show how progress often brings risk:

Fossil Fuels sparked the Industrial Revolution, but now drive climate change
Nuclear Power provided clean energy, but also produced atomic bombs
The Internet connected the world, but enabled widespread misinformation
Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers massive potential but creates serious ethical concerns
Genetic Engineering may revolutionize medicine, but carries unpredictable consequences

Solomon is not anti-technology. He simply believes in asking hard questions early.

2. You Are Made of Stardust (and Maybe a T-Rex)

One of Solomon’s greatest talents is making science feel magical. In his educational project, The Stardust Mystery, he tells kids:

“You are made of stardust that was once in a T-Rex and Albert Einstein.”

It sounds like science fiction, but it is real. The atoms in your body were created in ancient stars and have traveled through time via plants, animals, and ecosystems.

It serves as a beautiful reminder of our profound connection to the universe and to one another.

3. Digital Immortality Is Already Happening

In Solomon’s upcoming novel, a tech billionaire gives his own eulogy after digitally uploading his consciousness into a robot body.

This may sound like a futuristic fantasy, but the groundwork already exists. Some companies are building “afterlife avatars,” and AI tools can simulate a person’s voice and personality after just a few hours of interaction.

As the line between human and machine blurs, Solomon poses a profound question: what happens when technology captures us more effectively than we capture ourselves?

4. Want to Make an Impact? Start With a Story

If you want to change the world, Solomon has one clear message: do it through fiction.

“We need to motivate everyone. And I think the best way to do that is with a novel.”

While facts appeal to logic, stories reach the heart. A well-told narrative can spark empathy, curiosity, and real change.

Whether you are writing about climate change, AI, or any global issue, Solomon believes that storytelling is your strongest tool.

Read It Now

The Future Begins With the Stories We Tell

Peter Solomon shows that understanding the future does not require advanced degrees. What it really takes is curiosity, courage, and a powerful story.

By grounding science in narrative, he helps readers move from feeling overwhelmed to feeling empowered.

So ask yourself: What kind of future are you writing?

Happy Writing! Charlie Levin, Publisher & Founder

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Hopefully, the Only Stalker You Know

Charles Levin — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 09:01:11 GMT

When you picture a Marine with seven combat tours, the image that comes to mind is probably rigid command and barked orders. Yet, retired Marine Scott Stalker, author of Left of Leadership, has built his entire philosophy around something different: preparation, humility, and care for people.

His story is filled with lessons that reach far beyond the military. Whether you’re leading a team, raising a family, writing a book, or just navigating everyday challenges, his approach is practical, human, and surprisingly relatable.

1. Growth Often Starts at Rock Bottom

Stalker’s career didn’t begin with glory. In fact, at Marine Corps intelligence school, he finished “dead last.” One superior told him bluntly that he wouldn’t last more than four years. That failure could have ended his career, but instead it became the turning point.

“If I wanted to do more, I had to become more. And that meant preparation.”

It’s a reminder that our most painful setbacks often provide the soil where real growth begins. Failure doesn’t have to define you. It can shape you into someone stronger, more disciplined, and more ready for what comes next.

2. Success Is Determined Before the Big Moment

In the military, most people think of the “boom”—the moment of battle, the high-stakes decision. But Stalker argues that outcomes are decided long before then. That’s why he called his book Left of Leadership.

“The best time to prepare for Monday is Sunday night.”

Success, he explains, happens in the unglamorous prep: double-checking gear, running through scenarios, asking hard questions in advance. The same is true in daily life. What looks like quick, decisive action in the moment is really the result of preparation that no one else sees.

3. Stress Is a Gift

Most of us treat stress as the enemy. Stalker flips that view on its head. As a former powerlifter, he compares stress to weight on a barbell. You only grow stronger by adding more.

“Stress is a gift. Without it, there’s no growth. No adaptation, no improvement.”

He even described writing his book as a form of chosen stress. It was hard, uncomfortable, and demanding, but that pressure forged new strength. Instead of running from stress, Stalker suggests leaning into it in measured ways, using it as training for the unexpected challenges to come.

4. Trust and Love Outperform Authority

Rank may keep order in the military, but Stalker insists real leadership has nothing to do with titles. It’s about trust—and, perhaps surprisingly, about love.

“People aren’t going to follow you just because you bark orders. They’ll follow you because you inspire them… because you genuinely love them.”

True influence comes from building relationships, showing care, and investing in people. Teams, families, and communities thrive when they feel seen, supported, and valued. Authority might demand compliance, but trust creates loyalty.

5. Be the Original You

In a world full of comparisons, Stalker offers one of his simplest but most powerful pieces of advice: authenticity beats imitation.

“Don’t try to be the next David Goggins, the next Jocko Willink… Don’t try to be the next Scott Stalker. Be the original you.”

He never set out to write the next bestselling military memoir. He wrote his book because he had a message he believed in. That same mindset applies anywhere… at work, in creative projects, or in daily life. Your experience, your voice, and your perspective are your greatest assets.

Read It Now

Prequel to Success

Scott Stalker’s lessons remind us that leadership isn’t about the dramatic moment or the title you hold. It’s about what happens beforehand… the preparation, the resilience, the willingness to embrace stress, and the authenticity to lead with care.

These are not just military lessons. They’re lessons for anyone who wants to grow, to influence others, or to succeed in the work that matters most.

So the real question becomes: What preparation are you doing today that will serve as the prequel to your next success story?

📚 Left of Leadership is available now wherever books are sold.
🎧 Hear the full conversation with Scott Stalker on The Munn Avenue Muse podcast.

If you would like to publish your book or your audiobook (or are just dreaming about it), let the MunnAvenuePress.com team help make your dream a reality.

Happy Writing! Charlie Levin, Publisher & Founder

Want more unfiltered author journeys and publishing wisdom? Subscribe below for weekly insights from the Munn Avenue Muse.

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Master Your Book Launch: PR Secrets from a Global Expert

Charles Levin — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 09:02:14 GMT

Welcome to a special episode of Munn Avenue Muse, featuring Charlie Levin’s conversation with the incredible Kiki Keating, founder of The Kiki Network, a global PR firm, and former Director of Public Relations at Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business. Kiki brings over 15 years of experience building reputations and helping authors achieve their publishing dreams, from her time at Tuck School of Business (1998-2013) to her current work with The Kiki Network.

For independent authors navigating the complex world of publishing, this episode is a treasure trove of actionable insights. Kiki reveals how to take your book from an initial idea to a market-ready success, offering guidance on finding ghostwriters, securing professional editors, and choosing between traditional, agented, or hybrid publishing routes.

Learn More or Contact Kiki

Crucially, Kiki emphasizes the power of strategic publicity and media relations. Learn why you need to start building buzz 3 to 4 months before your book launch, lining up interviews and speaking events to ensure maximum impact during release week and beyond. She'll share how to cultivate your social media presence and grow your audience long before your book hits the shelves, a non-negotiable step as modern publishers increasingly look for authors with built-in platforms. As many traditional "big five" publishers no longer invest heavily in marketing unless you're a high-profile author, developing your own platform is more vital than ever.

Discover the inspiring story behind 'Better Angels,' a project Kiki helped bring to life for Congressman Michael McCall and Sadie Keller, demonstrating how books can truly make a difference, reaching beyond bestseller lists into the hands of those who need them most by distributing copies to children's hospitals. The conversation also delves into practical strategies for authors to connect with readers – from engaging email campaigns like "Who wants to be murdered in my next book?" to direct correspondence – and the often-overlooked joy of research that can enrich your writing process.

Whether you're struggling to find time to write, as Kiki herself managed a demanding schedule with young children, looking to decode Amazon's algorithms for better sales, or simply want to elevate your book's visibility, Kiki's wisdom is invaluable. Tune in to arm yourself with the essential PR and marketing strategies every independent author needs for a successful and impactful publishing journey.

If you would like to publish your book or your audiobook (or are just dreaming about it), let the MunnAvenuePress.com team help make your dream a reality.

Happy Writing! Charlie Levin, Publisher & Founder

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How a Journal Can Save Your Life

Charles Levin — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 09:00:48 GMT

Welcome back to the Munn Avenue Muse, the place where books and the people behind them come alive. We’re closing in on 30 podcast episodes (wild, right?), and this one is a must-listen for anyone who’s ever thought about turning real-life chaos into something meaningful on the page.

Charlie Levin welcomes Amy Lamb, a certified health and wellness coach, and her mom, Shirley Lamb. Together, they turned a medical nightmare into a book that’s already changing lives: My Health Journal.

This isn’t just another guided journal. It’s the book they wish they’d had years ago, a lifeline born out of nearly four years of the wrong treatment.

Read It Now

When “Trust the Doctors” Went Wrong

About six years ago, Shirley started noticing muscle weakness. After countless tests, she was diagnosed with a serious condition and endured monthly treatments for almost four years.

But here’s the plot twist: she never had the illness.

When Shirley and her husband moved to North Carolina, a new doctor pushed for second opinions. The truth came out: the diagnosis was wrong, the treatments were unnecessary, and the toll on Shirley’s health was devastating. We’re talking strokes, seizures, and heart problems, events that suspiciously lined up with the treatments themselves.

The most chilling part? If she hadn’t moved, she’d still be hooked up to the wrong IV, paying the price for someone else’s error.

That realization lit a fire under Amy and Shirley. If the medical system wasn’t going to connect the dots, they needed a way to do it themselves. And that spark became My Health Journal.

Turning Pain into Purpose

When Amy read aloud from the book’s intro during our podcast, it stopped us in our tracks:

“We lost nearly four years to the wrong treatment, but that misdiagnosis gave us freedom. It gave our family clarity. And it let us finally focus on what truly mattered, helping Mom feel better and regain control of her health.”

That’s the heart of My Health Journal. It’s not a fluffy gratitude diary. It’s a serious tool for anyone trying to piece together their health story when doctors, specialists, and apps aren’t talking to each other.

Think of it as your personal evidence log. A place to track symptoms, diet, stress, meds, social connections, and even gratitude (because mindset matters). With two pages per day plus monthly reflections, it doubles the depth of most wellness journals. And yes, it sneaks in tips and quotes to keep you inspired on the days when health feels like a battle.

Author Takeaways: Turning Notes Into Narratives

Amy and Shirley’s advice?

Write everything down. Don’t trust your memory.
Ask questions (even the ones that make doctors uncomfortable).
Get second and third opinions.
Look for patterns. Food, stress, sleep, and social life are all connected.
And Amy’s favorite practice is gratitude: each journal page begins with “I am grateful for…”

Here’s the meta piece for authors: this book started as notes. Just raw, messy, frustrating notes scribbled during a medical crisis. And when the dust settled, those notes became the blueprint for a book that can help thousands of families. Proof that your journal might be your next manuscript.

Behind the Scenes of Publishing

Amy admits she never thought she’d write a book. But once the idea clicked, the process moved fast. With Munn Avenue Press guiding the way (editing, cover design, distribution), what started as scattered pages turned into a polished, professional book.

Her family even voted on cover designs, making it a creative and surprisingly fun process. Lesson for authors: involve your people. It makes the book journey richer.

What’s Next for My Health Journal

Amy’s mission now is getting the journal into the hands of people who need it most especially those battling chronic illness. She’s also exploring a digital edition with app features, blending old-school note-taking with modern tech.

And here’s how dedicated she is: she literally carries copies in her backpack, ready to hand one to a doctor at any appointment. Here’s an author who believes in her work.

🎧 Listen, Learn, and Maybe… Write

You can catch the full interview with Amy and Shirley on the Munn Avenue Muse Podcast. It’s equal parts heartbreaking, eye-opening, and inspiring.

👉 Grab your copy of My Health Journal (fulfilled by Ingram, so it’ll hit your mailbox in about a week).

And if you’re an author? Pay attention to how Amy and Shirley took pain and turned it into purpose. Sometimes the hardest stories make the most powerful books.

If you would like to publish your book or your audiobook (or are just dreaming about it), let the MunnAvenuePress.com team help make your dream a reality.

Happy Writing! Charlie Levin, Publisher & Founder

Want more unfiltered author journeys and publishing wisdom? Subscribe below for weekly insights from the Munn Avenue Muse.

Subscribe now

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Podcast Marketing for Authors Made Simple

Charles Levin — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 09:00:22 GMT

Podcasts have taken the world by storm, offering authors an incredible opportunity to connect with potential readers in a meaningful way. If you’re looking to promote your book, selecting the right podcast platform is crucial. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll help you identify the best options for reaching your target audience—and show you how Munn Avenue Press authors can showcase their work like never before.

Why Podcasts Matter for Authors

Podcasts are more than just a trend; they’re a powerful medium that allows you to engage with listeners on a deeper level. By sharing insights about your book and personal stories, you build a relationship with your audience that can transform casual listeners into devoted readers. Here’s why authors should tap into the podcasting wave:

Direct Engagement: Connect with your audience in real-time.
Authentic Storytelling: Share your journey and insights in a relatable format.
Expand Your Reach: Introduce your book to new audiences who might not find you through traditional channels.
Subscribe now

Step 1: Identify Your Audience

The first step in promoting your book through podcasts is understanding your ideal reader. Consider the following:

Demographics: Who is your target audience? Think about age, interests, and lifestyle.
Topics of Interest: What themes does your book explore? Identify related subjects that resonate with potential readers.
Listening Habits: Where does your audience typically consume content? This will help you focus on platforms that cater to them.

For example, if you’ve written a historical fiction novel, seek out podcasts that delve into history, literature, or the writing process.

Step 2: Research Podcast Platforms

Once you have a clear picture of your audience, explore suitable podcast platforms. Here are some top choices:

Apple Podcasts
- Pros: Massive user base and diverse genres for broad audience reach.
- Cons: Highly competitive; standing out requires effort.
Spotify
- Pros: Rapidly growing, with innovative features for listener engagement.
- Cons: May need creative marketing to attract attention.
Stitcher
- Pros: Ideal for niche audiences, especially genre-specific content.
- Cons: Smaller reach compared to major platforms.
Podbean
- Pros: Combines hosting and discovery tools for connecting with new audiences.
- Cons: Less recognition than larger platforms.
YouTube
- Pros: Visual storytelling can enhance engagement and attract a different audience.
- Cons: Requires more production effort compared to audio-only platforms.
Substack
- Pros: As a multi-functional platform, Substack allows you to host podcasts, send newsletters, and automatically distribute your content to platforms like Spotify and YouTube. This makes it a powerful choice for authors looking for a simple yet effective way to manage their podcast strategy.
- Cons: Requires a consistent content schedule and quality engagement to maintain your audience’s attention.

Step 3: Evaluate Relevance

When you identify potential platforms, assess them based on:

Audience Fit: Does the podcast’s audience match your target demographic?
Engagement: Look at listener reviews and engagement metrics to gauge interest.
Guest History: Research previous guests. If they’re authors in your genre, that’s a good sign.

Step 4: Craft Your Pitch

With a list of relevant podcasts, it’s time to create a compelling pitch:

Personal Touch: Address the host by name and reference specific episodes you enjoyed.
Show Your Value: Highlight your background and the themes of your book.
Focus on Benefit: Explain what listeners will gain from your insights or story.

Step 5: Prepare for the Interview

Once you secure a spot, preparation is essential:

Know Your Material: Be ready to discuss your book in an engaging way.
Highlight Key Themes: Share memorable stories that showcase your book's essence.
Engage Naturally: Foster a conversational tone to build rapport with the host.

Step 6: Promote Your Episode

Once your episode goes live, maximize its reach:

Social Media Sharing: Use quotes, clips, and visuals to promote your appearance.
Newsletter Announcement: Notify your email list and encourage them to listen.
Engage with Feedback: Encourage listeners to ask questions or share thoughts via social media.

Pro Tip: Use your Substack page as the central hub for all your podcast appearances. After each episode, send a follow-up post that expands on the themes discussed, includes show notes, and invites readers to connect on other platforms.

The Benefits of Being a Podcast Guest

Appearing on a podcast can significantly boost your chances of landing future opportunities. Here’s how:

Credibility: Being a guest on a reputable podcast enhances your profile, making you more appealing to other hosts.
Networking: Hosts often connect with other creators. A strong appearance can lead to referrals.
Experience: Each appearance builds your confidence and hones your storytelling skills.
Exposure: Sharing your insights increases your visibility and attracts more listeners to your work.
Cross-Promotion: Some hosts promote each other's episodes, creating further exposure opportunities.

Why Munn Avenue Press Authors Have the Perfect Platform

As a Munn Avenue Press author, you gain a unique advantage. You have the opportunity to be a featured guest on the Munn Avenue Press podcast, allowing you to showcase your book and gain valuable experience in a supportive environment. While we don’t assist authors in securing spots on other podcasts, being featured on our platform helps build your confidence and credibility. This experience enhances your visibility and positions you for future opportunities in the podcasting world.

Conclusion

Choosing the right podcast platform to market your book is a pivotal step in your promotional strategy. By understanding your audience, researching relevant platforms, crafting a compelling pitch, and preparing thoroughly, you can leverage the power of podcasts to gain visibility and connect with readers. With the unique opportunities available as a Munn Avenue Press author, your book can truly shine in the crowded literary landscape. Get ready to share your story, engage with your audience, and make meaningful connections that will elevate your writing career!

If you would like to publish your book or your audiobook (or are just dreaming about it), let the MunnAvenuePress.com team help make your dream a reality.

Happy Writing! Charlie Levin, Publisher & Founder

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Turning Your Passion into a Bestselling Novel...

Charles Levin — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 09:01:59 GMT

What if the history you thought you knew was only part of the story?
For Tom Mauser, that question wasn’t just curiosity. It was a mission. His bestselling Civil War novel This Leavened Land: A Novel of the Civil War in East Tennessee started as one story, became another, and took ten years to bring to life.

Charlie sat down with Tom on The Munn Avenue Muse podcast to talk about the spark, the detours, and the lessons every writer can take from a journey like his.

A Childhood Fascination That Never Let Go

Tom’s love of the Civil War began at age ten with a single book: Heroes in Blue and Gray. That early spark quietly shaped his reading, his studies, and eventually, his writing life.

Years later, while researching a completely different novel, he uncovered a real-life tragedy in Eastern Tennessee: the 1864 murder of Union soldiers by civilians. The event, hidden in the footnotes of history, became the beating heart of his book.

Letting the Story Surprise You

Tom didn’t map every plot point in advance. Instead, he let the narrative evolve and allowed unexpected characters to walk onto the page.

One of the biggest? Jedediah Whitson. A free African-American cooper, Jedediah emerges as the loyal, grounded friend of protagonist James Meacham. He wasn’t part of the original plan. In fact, Tom says Jedediah “just appeared one day” while writing a scene, his voice and personality already fully formed. Rather than push him aside to stick to the plan, Tom listened. Jedediah stayed, and he became a key emotional anchor in the story.

For writers, it’s a reminder that sometimes the best moments on the page happen when you stop forcing the story into a box. When a character or subplot shows up uninvited but feels authentic, it can be a signal you’ve tapped into something true.

Read It Now

Writing That Sounds Like the 1860s

For Tom, historical accuracy went way beyond getting the clothes, weapons, or dates right. He ensured the voices of his characters sounded like they could have been heard in 1860s Eastern Tennessee. To achieve that, he dove deep into digitized letters, journals, and memoirs from the period. He read until the cadence of the sentences, the choice of words, and even the humor matched the era.

This meant learning how someone from the mountains might speak differently than someone from the lowlands, how formal writing and everyday conversation contrasted, and how the concerns of the time shaped the way people expressed themselves.

The result? Characters that felt so alive to him that, as Tom puts it, “the characters just kept on talking.” That immersion allowed their authentic voices to guide the dialogue and help drive the scenes forward.

Ten Years, Countless Drafts, One Finished Book

This Leavened Land wasn’t written in a hurry. The process stretched over more than a decade, marked by “fits and starts,” rewrites, and life’s unexpected detours. Along the way, Tom faced a battle with cancer and navigated the global challenges of COVID, both of which put his work on hold more than once.

But through every pause and restart, he kept coming back to the story. And when he finally held the finished copy in his hands, Tom described the moment as “almost surreal.” It was the kind of quiet triumph that reminds us perseverance might be the most valuable writing tool of all because it’s what gets you to the last page.

Why This Story Resonates Now

The San Francisco Book Review praised This Leavened Land for offering “a fresh look at the Civil War.” But Tom’s work is as much about the present as the past. It wrestles with loyalty, division, and freedom.

For readers, it’s a compelling way to learn history. For writers, it’s a blueprint for research-driven storytelling that still feels alive. And for anyone curious about how the past shapes us, it’s a reminder that history’s heartbeat is never far from our own.

📚 This Leavened Land is available now wherever books are sold.
🎧 Hear the full conversation with Tom Mauser on The Munn Avenue Muse podcast.

If you would like to publish your book or your audiobook (or are just dreaming about it), let the MunnAvenuePress.com team help make your dream a reality.

Happy Writing! Charlie Levin, Publisher & Founder

Want more unfiltered author journeys and publishing wisdom? Subscribe below for weekly insights from the Munn Avenue Muse.

Subscribe now

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Why Book Clubs Still Matter and Might Just Make Your Book a Bestseller

Charles Levin — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 09:15:31 GMT

By Charlie Levin

In an era dominated by streaming, podcasts, and algorithm-driven content, it’s easy to assume that traditional reading communities like book clubs are fading into quaint irrelevance. That assumption couldn’t be further from the truth.

Book clubs, yes, actual groups of people sitting down to discuss the same book, are not just alive and well. They’re subtly and consistently reshaping the literary landscape.

From Oprah’s Book Club to neighborhood gatherings, these clubs don’t just spark discussion. They create bestsellers, set trends, champion new voices, and breathe life into books long after their launch. As both an author and a grateful guest of multiple clubs, I’ve seen this influence firsthand.

1. Book Clubs Turn Books into Bestsellers

A single book club pick can change a book’s fate overnight.

Oprah’s seal of approval? Practically a golden ticket. Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine pick? Instant visibility. But even the more intimate clubs the ones held in someone’s living room with wine and a dog curled up on the couch have weight. When everyone in that room buys a book, tells a friend, posts about it? Momentum builds.

I was lucky enough to be invited twice to the Cedar’s Book Club: first for my debut thriller, NOT SO DEAD, and again for the sequel, NOT SO DONE. These weren’t just events. They were thoughtful, lively conversations that sparked real interest beyond the group. One member invited me to speak at her library. Another shared my book with her entire office. That kind of engagement? You can’t buy it.

2. Word-of-Mouth Is Still King

In a world of sponsored ads and influencer fatigue, genuine recommendations still stand out. And book clubs run on those.

When someone says, “You have to read this,” and hands you a copy with a coffee ring on the cover and the corners dog-eared? It means something.

More than half of readers still choose their next book based on a friend’s suggestion. Now multiply that across a dozen readers, all excited about the same story and you’ve got a ripple effect that’s more powerful (and more lasting) than any ad campaign.

3. Book Clubs Set the Trends

It’s tempting to minimize book clubs to simply chasing what’s popular. But often, they’re ahead of the curve.

Colson Whitehead’s The Underground Railroad. Delia Owens’ Where the Crawdads Sing. These books not only became viral, but they also became the moment, thanks in large part to book club buzz. These were experiences that shaped public conversation.

4. They Amplify the Voices That Need to Be Heard

Today’s book clubs are doing something essential: lifting up stories we might otherwise miss.

From The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett to An American Marriage by Tayari Jones, clubs are helping powerful, diverse voices reach the mainstream. These aren’t just “important” books—they’re compelling ones. And they’re reaching more readers because book clubs are choosing them, sharing them, and talking about them deeply.

5. They Give Books a Second (and Third) Life

Publishing can feel like a sprint. But book clubs don’t care about your launch week.

They’ll pick up a book six months later. Two years later. And when they do, it’s like a second debut. Some of the most rewarding messages I’ve received came long after NOT SO DEAD launched, notes from new readers discovering it because their club just picked it up. That kind of longevity? It’s rare, but book clubs make it possible.

6. Digital Book Clubs Are Changing the Game

Book clubs have gone digital, thriving on TikTok, Instagram, Discord, and Goodreads as much as around coffee tables.

Hashtags like #BookTok and #Bookstagram are driving discovery in ways that traditional publishing never could. Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library exploded after taking off on TikTok, fueled by club buzz and sincere reader enthusiasm.

Rather than taking away from in-person groups, online book clubs amplify them, making the experience more inclusive, far-reaching, and dynamic.

So How Do You Get In?

This is the part no one tells you: it’s not about pitching. It’s about connecting.

I’ll never forget how I first connected with Nora, the a Book Club organizer. She emailed me out of the blue after reading NOT SO DEAD, saying it “felt like it was written for book club discussion.” We ended up talking for over an hour about pacing, plot twists, and why a character made that one baffling decision. We didn’t even talk about sales, and a few weeks later, I was their guest.

Book clubs invite authors they believe in. So write the story only you can tell. Make it easy for people to find you. And when a reader reaches out, treat it like a conversation, not a lead.

Why Book Clubs Still Matter

Book clubs are the hidden engine behind many literary successes. They may not always make headlines, but they make books matter to readers, to communities, and to culture.

If you’re a writer, don’t underestimate their power.
If you’re a reader: thank you. You’re keeping the soul of literature alive.

If you would like to publish your book or your audiobook (or are just dreaming about it), let the MunnAvenuePress.com team help make your dream a reality.

Happy Writing! Charlie Levin, Publisher & Founder

Want more unfiltered author journeys and publishing wisdom? Subscribe below for weekly insights from the Munn Avenue Muse.

Subscribe now

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Why Write a Memoir?

Charles Levin — Tue, 29 Jul 2025 09:01:26 GMT

Why do people write memoirs?

It’s a question we’ve explored with many authors and the answers are never quite the same. For some, it’s about legacy, passing down stories to future generations. For others, it’s about unpacking trauma, making sense of life’s hardest moments. Some write for pure entertainment, others to settle unfinished business with themselves.

Recently, we sat down with Rob Tonkin, author of the boldly titled Asshole: A Memoir, and his answer struck a deeper chord. For Rob, writing wasn’t just about telling a story; it was about reclaiming his story and rewriting the narrative he’d been living.

Read It Now

From Unfiltered Reflection to Radical Honesty

Rob doesn’t shy away from the title. In fact, he embraces it. Why Asshole? Because, as Rob says, it wasn’t just about how others saw him… it was about how he had come to see himself.

His story unfolds from early childhood neglect and career encounters with difficult personalities including moments of abuse to an unflinching realization that he himself had become part of that cycle. As he puts it, “I was definitely that guy for people who worked for me.”

But Rob’s book is more than an airing of grievances or a highlight reel of bad behavior. It’s a raw, often funny, ultimately redemptive account of self-awareness and growth. A story of realizing your own flaws, facing them head-on, and deciding to write a better next chapter.

The Reluctant Memoirist

Like many of our favorite authors, Rob didn’t plan to write a memoir. It started in bits and pieces notes to himself, reflections in therapy, emails to friends. His early writing days came from crafting catchy one-liners as a radio DJ and condensed talking points in corporate presentations.

But as friends read his raw reflections, one thing kept coming back: “You need to write this book.”

And so he did. Slowly. Painfully. Draft after draft. Three and a half years of wrestling with the question every author faces: Is this done?

His breakthrough moment came with advice from his sister, a professional artist: “Nothing is ever totally finished. You just decide when to stop.” And with that, Rob hit send.

Storytelling That Doesn’t Stop at the Last Page

Rob’s writing journey didn’t end with the book. Like many modern authors, he took to Substack, launching his weekly newsletter Opinions Matter, where he shares everything from media reviews to random curiosities and reflections on life after Asshole.

It’s a reminder that writing doesn’t end with the finished book. It’s an ongoing conversation about showing up, being honest, stirring things up when needed, and making people laugh or think in ways they didn’t expect.

Why You Should Care

Rob’s story is personal, but it’s also universal. We’ve all had chapters we’d rather not re-read. We’ve all been affected by the actions of others, and at times, by our own less-than-best moments. What Rob reminds us is that owning your story can be the first step in changing it.

For readers, his memoir offers entertainment, brutal honesty, and more than a few laugh-out-loud lines. For aspiring writers, it’s a blueprint on writing without filters and daring to tell the truth even when it’s uncomfortable.

For anyone feeling stuck in a life story they didn’t sign up for? It’s a nudge that it’s never too late to rewrite your own narrative.

You can find Asshole: A Memoir on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
And catch Rob’s weekly Opinions Matter newsletter on Substack at RobTonkin.com.

If you would like to publish your book or your audiobook (or are just dreaming about it), let the MunnAvenuePress.com team help make your dream a reality.

Happy Writing! Charlie Levin, Publisher & Founder

Want more unfiltered author journeys and publishing wisdom? Subscribe below for weekly insights from the Munn Avenue Muse.

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