About

Charlie Stewart - Freelance Writer, Photographer

About me

Charlie Stewart - Freelance Writer, Photographer

Childhood Ambition: Fireman
Fondest Memory: Getting married in the woods
Soundtrack: “Tiny Dancer” by Fleetwood Mac
Retreat: The Ocean
Wildest Dream that came true: Making video CD-ROM postage stamps for Bhutan
Proudest Moments: Births of our children
Biggest Challenge accomplished: Climbing Kilimanjaro
Alarm Clock: My body
First Job: Messenger boy for an architectural firm
Indulgence: Playing Backgammon
Last Purchase: “501 Essential Backgammon Problems” by Bill Robertie
Favorite Movie: "The Big Lebowski”
Perfect Day: Coffee, sweat, backgammon win, dinner out, sleep
Inspiration: Marc Robertshaw’s Deep Brain Stimulation which helped ease my Parkinson’s Disease
My Life: Is the sum of its parts.
My Card: Medicare

Articles and Scripts

Published works

"Redeveloping East Liberty," SHADY AVE, Spring 2006
“Bridging Past and Future,” Squirrel Hill Magazine, Summer/Fall 2022
“How to Boil an Egg,” TABLE magazine, Fall 2011
"Face to Face with the Tsunami," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 5, 2005
"Have Fun, Will Travel," SHADY AVE, Fall 2004
“A Soaring Success,” SHADY AVE, Fall 2016
“Corridor to the East End,” SHADY AVE, Summer 2003, 1600 words
“On not talking The Talk,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, May 2003
“Real Men Don’t Cook,” Forum, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 2002
“Mr. Mom, immobilized,” First Person, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, April 14, 2001
“Tips from Mr. Mom,” First Person, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 17, 2000
“When Dad is a ‘mom’,” Forum, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 20, 1999
“Business School Blues,” poem, Executive Report, October 1986
Weekly coverage of the County Commissioners for Aspen, Colorado for The Aspen Journal, 1976-77
Weekly articles for the college newspaper, The Trinity Tripod, 1975-76

Chapters and Books​

Total of over 1,000,000 books sold of the following titles

“God’s Palette” series, Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, Purple, Orange, Standard Publishing, 2005
“Squash,” a chapter in “So Much To Remember, the Centennial History of The Pittsburgh Golf Club,” 1996
“Fishes And Other Sea Creatures In Their Environments,” The Nature Company, 1995
“Animals And Their Environments,” The Nature Company, 1995
“Disney’s Columbus Sets Sail to America,” Disney Press, 1992
“A City Grows Up-Chicago,” W. H. Smith, 1991
“A City Grows Up-Boston,” W. H. Smith, 1991
“A City Grows Up-Washington, D. C.,” W. H. Smith, 1991
“A City Grows Up-New York,” W. H. Smith, 1991
“Geography, The United States of America,” Harper & Row, 1990
“Fishes And Other Sea Creatures In Their Environments,” Harper & Row, 1988
“Moses, God’s Chosen Leader,” Broadman Press, 1988
“Dinosaurs,” Harper & Row, 1988
“Birds And their Environments,” Harper & Row, 1988
“When Jesus Was a Boy,” Broadman Press, 1987
“Animals And Their Environments,” Harper & Row, 1987
“Flight,” Harper & Row, 1987
“Noah and the Rainbow Promise,” Broadman Press, 1986
“The Birth of Jesus,” Broadman Press, 1985

Video productions​

“Living Stones,” for Calvary Episcopal Church, Pittsburgh, PA, 2003
“Hopes and Dreams,” for the Russell Byers Charter School, Philadelphia, PA, 2003
“Carnegie Science Center,” Pittsburgh, PA, 2003
“Made in Hong Kong,” Hong Kong, 2005

On Not Talking the Talk

What people are saying about Charlie Stewart

Charlie,
Very nice piece in today's P-G. I laughed out loud at the idea of blank DVD handed down from generation to generation. The description of the conversation in the car was wonderful. Keep up the good stuff. A joy to read.
Charlie
Hey Mr. Stewart,
I just wanted to tell you how much I liked your article in today's paper! It was really funny! I especially liked the parent-child dialogue. I was really impressed with how well you captured the moment... (I can see myself giving exactly the same responses; especially the one about jumping out of the car!) 🙂
See you at the pool! <3 Mary
Hey, Charlie.
I absolutely loved the piece. There was a nuance to it that was incredibly charming. Jill Porter, Philadelphia Daily News
Charlie:
I really liked the article. I have two boys, one going on 12. They are taught "family life" in school, and my older son's reaction after the first session was "Mom, please don't ever make me go through that again."
I'm sure my husband would buy the DVD.
Vickie
Dispatches

CP III,
Well whether you know it or not you are on your way to writing a very entertaining book. Keep the dispatches coming. They are great!
JLW
I love your dispatches, and am saving them in case I am to become your agent and sell these as your first book. Start reading the Dave Barry books when he was an expat in Tokyo.... very funny.
Charlie,
Peter just forwarded your 'something about Mary" story. I am convinced that you have found your calling in writing and will find your fortune when you publish your year-in-China diaries. Thanks so for making me smile.
You do know that you have a book in the making, don't you? Your dispatches will certainly provide the necessary content for the book --- you are a fantastic writer, and it is a joy to read your materials. Keep it coming!
This is my second dispatch and I am loving hearing from you.
I laugh out loud and my kids think I am crazy.
Oh Charlie...These are such wonderful anecdotes. I don't even want a morning paper, just another episode in your life in Hong Kong! I wish I had started to print them so I can have the whole collection to re-read. Someone must still like "hard copy!" Lots of love to you all. Jean
Dear Charlie,
I just wanted you to know that it is indeed delightful to read your daily dispatches. I sense a book in the making and a wonderful one it will be. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Love to you and your family,
Vivien
This one is a favorite! Starts my week off with laughter.
xxoo
(If only my schoolbooks could have been written like your dispatches, I would have learned a lot more and it might have STUCK!)
I hope you're going to publish all of these in a book.
Love,
Nini
Your Dispatches are well written, hilarious and greatly appreciated. You definitely have talent! I must admit I'm not too good at responding to all your dispatches but I am an avid reader.
Dear Charlie,
I hope that you know how thoroughly wonderful your Dispatches are. I count on them, look forward to them and am passing them along to choice friends, all who savor the pleasure of reading them, as well.
Wonderful stuff! Write on.
Wow! Your CNY vacation beats the Cheech & Chong Summer Vacation by a longshot. I hope you are going to compile all these dispatches into a book! You are a truly gifted writer.
charlie!
you are absolutely, totally, 100 % hilarious!! charlie...it seems as though you all have had at least three lifetimes worth of experiences already this year...how will you cope with coming back to good ol' usa? i am in awe of the amazing stories you tell...incredible!
Charlie... Andy Rooney should be calling it quits sometime soon... Have you given any thought to doing a weekly "60 Minutes" stint??
Charlie... Andy Rooney should be calling it quits sometime soon... Have you given any thought to doing a weekly "60 Minutes" stint??
Both Monica and I are really enjoying your writing and thinking. Why don’t you write for the Times or New Yorker?
Hong Kong article
I couldn't read the last part of your article because my eyes were filled with tears from missing Hong Kong and laughing so hard I cried. I love it.
Nanny
I think it's great, your going on to write -- hope you'll stay in your voice -- about your world -- it's what we'll all want to hear.
Best,
P.
Great read!
I always enjoy your writing - it tickles me in just the right spot!
CHARLIE!!! What fun to be able to read about your fantastic year in Hong Kong on Christmas Day and thank you for submitting it!!! YOU really are a most relaxed, candid and delightful writer and I appreciate your spirit over and over again !!!! Happy HAPPY New Year to you, Franny and your three adorable teens, Sibby
I zeroed in on it as soon as I opened the paper and pointed it out to Tom. I really miss your dispatches, but love having you home. I think you should still send them. You have a way of looking at things that is very enjoyable and you have a great writing style. We all want to hear more. Have you considered a novel?
LOVED the article, lots of fun, slightly different tone than all of your HK dispatches, but your writing definitely now has a style that is pure Charlie. Connie
Brilliant, charming, poignant, graced with style and just the right bit of whimsy. I enjoyed every morsel--or cow's eye--or word!

Contact

Feel free to reach out to me! Don't hesitate to get in touch.