WINSTON WEEKLY^[1]

June 14, 2026

Vol. 4, No. 24

THE HEART OF IT[2]

When I began developing Winston Weekly and the foundation for my “author world” in 2000, four words kept coming to mind, “Learn, live, love, read.” It is thus perhaps not surprising that Allen Levi’s debut novel, Theo of Golden, resonated with me, particularly this excerpt:

“It may not make a lot of sense, but for anything to be good, truly good, there must be love in it. I’m not even sure I know fully what that means, but the older I get, the more I believe it. There must be a love for the gift itself, for the subject being depicted or the story being told, and love for the audience. Whether the art is sculpture, farming, teaching, lawmaking, medicine, music, or raising a child, if love is not in it – at the very heart of it – it may be skillful, marketable,

or popular but I doubt it is truly good. Nothing is what it’s supposed to be if love is not at the core.”

Author Levi, a resident of a small town in middle Georgia, captures the essence of kindness, art, love, and friendship in his novel. Theo’s interactions after he arrives in Golden are unique, and a wonderful reminder of the many ways to connect with the heart of a community. From a coffee shop to a fountain and many places in between, Theo’s time in Golden is a memorable, heartwarming, heartbreaking, and impactful read.

WEEKLY ACTIVITY

Develop a short story or poem with love at the heart of it, inspired by your community, your travels, your family, or a friend (furry or human 😊).

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[1] A weekly blog/newsletter by Alysen Bayles to be shared with the appropriate attribute.

[2]Resources: Allen Levi, Theo of Golden, Atria, 2023. (Excerpt from p. 119). A special thanks to my aunt/ godmother for gifting me the book for my 60^th birthday.