Richard Michael Levine

Hey there! I'm Richard Michael Levine, and after decades of chasing stories as a magazine journalist, I finally decided to let my imagination run wild with fiction. (Though truth be told, some of the wildest stories I covered in my reporting days would give my fiction a run for its money.)

I spent years writing for magazines like Rolling Stone, Esquire, and The New York Times Magazine, tracking down tales that exposed the beautiful messiness of human nature. But there were always these other stories lurking in my mind – the ones that couldn't be contained by the strict boundaries of journalism. Stories about people at life's crossroads, especially those of us navigating the turbulent waters of midlife, when we think we've got it all figured out... until we absolutely don't.

My collection "The Man Who Gave Away His Organs: Tales of Love and Obsession at Midlife" emerged from that space between fact and fiction, where real human experiences collide with "what-if" scenarios that keep me up at night. These eight stories and the novella dig into the kinds of questions that start haunting you around your fortieth birthday: What would drive a successful businessman to donate his organs – while he's still alive? How do we reconcile our youthful ideals with middle-aged reality? And why do we keep searching for love even when it's burned us before?

I write about people who might look perfectly normal on the outside (you know, the kind who shop at Whole Foods and have responsible jobs), but who are wrestling with quiet desperation or extraordinary decisions on the inside. My characters tend to be smart people doing questionable things for complicated reasons. (Sort of like real life, minus the boring parts.)

My journalism background definitely influences my writing style – I'm big on sharp observations and telling details, but I promise I won't bog you down with unnecessary exposition. I believe in letting stories breathe while keeping the narrative moving. Think Raymond Carver meets John Updike, but with more dark humor and fewer golf games.

When I'm not writing, you might find me wandering around San Francisco (where I live), collecting other people's stories and eavesdropping on conversations in coffee shops. I'm that guy in the corner with a notebook, probably looking too interested in your animated discussion about your ex. Hey, it's all research!

I believe the best fiction shows us who we really are, even when – especially when – we're trying to hide from ourselves. My stories explore the gap between who we think we should be and who we actually are, usually with a healthy dose of irony and unexpected tenderness. (Because let's face it, we're all kind of a mess, and that's what makes us interesting.)

What can you expect from my work? Stories that will make you think, laugh uncomfortably, and maybe see yourself in characters you'd rather not relate to. I write for readers who appreciate the complexity of human nature and don't mind when stories color outside the lines of conventional narrative.

For those who love diving deep into character studies, who enjoy that moment of recognition when fiction reveals something true about real life, or who simply appreciate stories about people making fascinating choices – sometimes noble, sometimes questionable, always human – you might find something that speaks to you in my work.

Fair warning: I don't do neat endings or simple morality tales. Life is complicated, and my stories reflect that. But I promise to take you on journeys that feel both surprising and somehow inevitable, populated by characters who'll stick with you long after you've finished reading.

Want to connect? I love hearing from readers and fellow writers who understand that the best stories are the ones that make us question what we think we know about ourselves and others. You can find me... well, probably at that coffee shop, still eavesdropping. (I'm kidding. Mostly.)