Img 8885 Scaled 1 — Allen Levi signs copies of his bestselling debut novel, “Theo of Golden,” at Auburn Oil Co. Booksellers in Auburn, Ala., on March 31, 2026. (Sami Grace Danley)

Did you know that the 70-year-old bestselling author of “Theo of Golden” was born in Bay Minette, Alabama? The book, Allen Levi’s debut novel, recently hit the 3.5 million mark of copies sold!

Levi’s novel follows the story of Theo, a curious old man who quietly moves into the southern city of Golden, which is based on Columbus, Georgia. It’s on the walls of a local coffee shop that Theo discovers 92 pencil-drawn portraits of Golden locals, and he is inspired to undertake a campaign of anonymous generosity: purchasing and returning each portrait to its “rightful owner.”

Check out how “Theo of Golden” has been taking the U.S. by storm:

#1 New York Times bestseller for more than nine months
The highest-selling print book in America for 2026, according to The Wrap
Warner Bros. Pictures is in talks to turn it in to a feature film, featuring Tom Hanks as the lead
A sequel is already in the works, to be titled “Ellen of Golden”

Levi was born in Bay Minette before being raised in Columbus, Georgia. Although he called Georgia home, he continues to visit independent Alabama bookstores, like Auburn Oil Co. Booksellers in downtown Auburn!