Allen Levi’s Theo of Golden is a bestseller. One of those titles that has famously made the leap from self-publishing to traditional publishing. It sold more than 175,000 copies. Today, after being published by a majnstream publisher its sales are estimated to have crossed 4 million copies in the USA and it has been translated into 43 languages. This debut fiction has been a phenomenal success for the author who has been an attorney, judge, and a singer/songwriter.

The book blurb reads:

One morning, a stranger arrives in the town of Golden. No one knows who he is or where he came from…

His name is Theo and he’s arrived there by chance – or has he? He visits the local coffeehouse, where ninety-two pencil portraits hang on the walls, portraits by a local artist of the people of Golden. He begins purchasing them, one at a time, and putting them back in the hands of their ‘rightful owners’. With each exchange, a story is told, a friendship born, and a life altered.

A story of seeing and being seen, Theo of Golden is a beautifully crafted novel about the power of creative generosity, the importance of wonder to a purposeful life, and the invisible threads of kindness that bind us to one another. There is also strong sense of the writer’s faith that imbues the storytelling. It exists. Some believers may get. Others may not. But that is fine too. It is the humanity of Theo’s being that enables even those who thought they knew each other in the small town of Golden to discover much more about their community and its individuals.

It has a feel good factor to it. Given the amount of doom and gloom that exists all around us. Whether on the news, on our social media newsfeeds and even with the increasing number of conflicts worldwide that are impacting daily existence globally, Theo of Golden is pleasant. Everyone seems to be comfortable and happy. Although the stories that come tumbling out when each guest speaks to Theo in quiet and shares with him their story, then there is a range of experiences that come tumbling out. It is episodic. It is also understandable why Tom Hanks has optioned it for film and will be starring in it. Like the author himself, the protagonist is getting on in years and has the time to listen, to share, to manage their time as they deem fit. There is no hurrying to live the day, provide for their families, manage living expenses or figure out career trajectories. Just be kind, humane, and generous. Excellent qualities that are exhibited by Theo and perhaps many of the readers would like to have the time to also indulge themselves in.

But the writing….

It is being sold as literary fiction. But it is far from it. It lacks the complexity and multi-layered kind of writing that is to be found in literary fiction. It is flat. It is not hard to discern why plenty of readers liked it but at the same time, many did not. Apart from the niceties that are at play, it is the sameness, the predictability, that seems to have been carried over from online movie and music streaming platforms. Short of having algorithms determine what the consumer should see/hear next, Theo in Golden, moves in much a similar fashion.

Anyway, Allen Levi did well. He hit upon a winning formula by writing a sweet story focussing on ninety-two portraits hanging in the coffee shop, The Chalice. In fact, it is modeled after Fountain City Coffee in Allen Levi’s hometown of Columbus, Georgia, which displays charcoal and pencil portraits created by his long-time friend and artist Garry Pound. Theo, the main character, is based upon Allen’s brother, Gary, who passed away due to brain cancer. Allen was inspired by his brother’s people-loving gentle nature.

The film adaptation would be worth seeing if Tom Hanks plays the lead. He will interpret the character of Theo in his inimitable style.

Also, it is a sobering thought that the gatekeepers at publishing firms are not willing to take a bet easily on a new style of writing or an unknown writer. So, if an individual self-publishes and proves their book sells, then the firms swoop in to offer a publishing deal. As happened famously with E. L. James’s Fifty Shades of Grey. Gone are the days it seems when publishers opted to rely on the 80:20 formula where 20% was always reserved for experimentation and testing new ideas. Now, even if the mss is well written, it is rejected because the author is unknown or refuses to get celebrity endorsements. Runaway successes like Allen Levi’s are to be celebrated by readers and for publishers to reflect upon their (dis)connect with the reading public.

All the very best to Allen Levi.

7 Nov 2026