The Pen Legacy Brand
Long before Pen Legacy existed, before the awards, the stages, and the scripts, there was simply Charron Michelle, a North Philadelphia girl who didn’t always feel heard, but who learned to speak loudly on the lines of her composition notebook. She wrote her feelings in stanzas because the world around her didn’t always make room for them, and the words became the one place where she could exhale without interruption.
It was her teacher, Dr. Ida D. Dark, who first opened the door to poetry. With Dr. Dark, Charron discovered that poetry wasn’t chapter in a textbook; it was oxygen. Each line steadied her. Each rhyme stitched something back together. In those quiet moments, knees pulled to her chest and pen pressed to paper she found a voice she didn’t yet know she would grow into. The notebook became her sanctuary, the place where she learned that even a whisper on the page could carry the weight of a shout. After discovering her notebook and quietly reading the pieces she had poured onto the page, her parents saw something she hadn’t yet dared to claim. They encouraged her to recite her first poem, ALONE, at the NAACP Scholarship Banquet. That night, she walked up trembling and heart pounding, but the words she had written in solitude carried her. Her voice wavered at first, then steadied, stretching across the room like it finally knew it belonged there.
And when she finished, the audience stood in a standing ovation. In that moment, Charron realized her words didn’t just speak for her, they reached people. And for the first time, she understood that the little girl writing in the margins of a composition notebook wasn’t just expressing herself…
She was a storyteller and her journey had just begun!
In 1992, she won a prestigious poetry contest hosted by The National Library of Poetry, leading to the publication of her work in Tears of Fire. Three years later, she was featured in Best Poems of 1995, a recognition that affirmed what her notebook had known all along: she was a writer with something to say. After graduating from West Chester University, Charron embarked on her professional journey as a Staff Writer for The Philadelphia Forum, under the Philadelphia Association of Paralegals and contributing Columnist for VA Gazette and CNN iReport.
What began as a personal outlet for release, expression, and storytelling eventually transformed, in 2008. Here is a peak into how one woman became a vessel, powerful enough to build books, birth theater productions, and create stages and bookshelves for others to stand on.
Pen Legacy History
In 2008, amid the challenges of the Great Recession and navigating a divorce, Charron Michelle found herself at a turning point. Faced with financial uncertainty and emotional upheaval, she turned to the power of storytelling, something she had long expressed through poetry and writing. Encouraged by her son Christopher to channel her experiences into words, Charron began transforming her poetry into song lyrics. Finding an industry to break into, she spent several months pitching her songs to producers and stories to book publishers. Her perseverance paid off when Cymande Corburn of 912 James Street Productions, based in Atlanta, Georgia, took notice and contacted her via Facebook. After reviewing a few of her emotional tracks, including Better Days and Lonely Days, Cymande was impressed. On December 5, 2009, in Atlanta, Charron officially signed with 912 James Street as a songwriter.
Understanding the importance of owning her creative voice, Charron joined Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), a performing rights organization and launched her own songwriting publishing company named it Pen Legacy, a symbol of her commitment to protecting and nurturing her intellectual property while building a legacy for her two children. As her musical catalog flourished, Charron earned membership in the Recording Academy’s esteemed Songwriting Division. This honor granted her exclusive access to high-profile Grammy events through the Philadelphia Chapter and secured her invitations and participation in the 52nd, 53rd, 54th, and 55th Annual Grammy Awards, further solidifying her presence in the industry. With this access, Charron penned more songs such as Dismissed, I Apologize, Nobody, Commitment, and Don’t Leave, which was showcased on WJSP 91.2 and Open Gym Mix Tapes.
Her collaboration with Mississippi R&B artist ML The Truth marked a significant milestone. Two of her tracks, I Apologize and Commitment, were featured on ML’s commercial album The Truth, originally released in 2010 and re-released in 2024. The music video for Commitment was filmed in Jackson, Mississippi, and premiered on November 29, 2011. This song was also considered for a Grammy Award nomination in the category of Best R&B Song at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards. Their successful partnership continued with Charron writing additional songs for ML’s third commercial album, Real R&B Music, released in 2015, including the standout tracks U Already Know and It’s About That Time.
As her musical success grew, challenges arose, even from those closest to her, which left her feeling disheartened and uncertain about her path as a songwriter. This period of reflection ultimately guided her back to her composition book and her new-found love of theater. Thus, causing her to create Pen Legacy Productions in 2011, a multifaceted division dedicated to empowering creatives in theater and storytelling.
Pen Legacy Productions ( 2011- )
While rebuilding her life from scratch, Charron found herself in a place where survival required reinvention. Her son, Chris, encouraged her to write about what she was going through. Instead, Charron reached back to the beginning. She pulled out the old composition books she had kept since childhood and began sharing her poems, sending query letters to publishers, and hoping her words could help her climb out of the storm she was in. Her writing was personal, but her need was urgent. She needed a way forward. After countless letters of rejection, a friend told her he knew a publisher who might be the right fit. Charron made the call, sent her query letter, and for the first time, it was a yes.
In 2009, she signed her first book deal with Purposeful Publishing, founded by Yulonda Brown (Londa B.) of St. Louis, Missouri. Yulonda took her under her wing and taught her the ropes of the publishing world. But as the book neared completion, Yulonda told her that “Charron Michelle” didn’t sound like the name of the author she was becoming. So, she renamed her Charron Monaye.
And on November 4, 2010, Charron not only released her debut solo book, My Side of the Story, the moment her pain turned into purpose, she was reintroduced to the world under her new name and her journey as an author officially began. Eager to build her “new” brand and connect with audiences, Charron began performing spoken word poetry at various events, using her voice and presence to introduce people to her book. At one event, Charron met Tiffany Nicole of Pink Star Entertainment and pitched her story, and immediately something shifted. Tiffany didn’t just listen; she leaned in. Tiffany agreed to co‑produce the stage adaptation with her, marking the moment when Charron’s pain, poetry, and perseverance stepped out of the notebook and onto a stage.
To take on the role of producer more formally, Charron founded Pen Legacy Productions, a division dedicated to developing and producing performing arts events.
Theatrical Productions
Her first stage production, Living Your Life, premiered in Philadelphia on September 26, 2012, at the Adrienne Theater and ran for five days under the direction of Walter DeShields. The creation of this play was inspired by watching Tyler Perry’s stage play, I Can Do Bad All By Myself, which made her realize that she, too, could craft compelling stories for the stage. It gained wider recognition when it was featured at the DC Theater Festival on June 30, 2013, directed by Zuhairah McGill and starring D’atra Hicks, known for her roles in Tyler Perry’s productions. Now fully inspired by the theater world, Charron went on to write and produce more plays, either by adapting books into scripts or being commissioned to bring powerful stories to life. Her second production was an adaptation of her son’s book I Believe in Me. Why Can’t We Be Friends, which premiered in Philadelphia and was later featured at the DC Theater Festival on June 21, 2014, directed by Darnell Richardson and again starring D’atra Hicks. This impactful production received recognition from President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and a Citation from the Pennsylvania House of Representative, now Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker. This production earned the title of Best Real-Life Drama of the Year at the DPI Playwright Awards in Queens, New York.
As Charron’s reputation as a playwright grew, she recognized the importance of deepening her expertise in script writing. She enrolled in Writing for Television, a course led by acclaimed showrunner and executive producer Shonda Rhimes, where she not only refined her storytelling skills but also gained a deeper understanding of the key elements that makes a script ready for production. Continuing her work in theater, Charron went on to develop additional plays, including Til Death Do Us Part (adapted from the book by Nicole Milner), Testify (based on the true story of Deborah Rose), Olivia: Lost & Turned Out (based on the true story of Stacy Miner), and her original work Get Out of Your Own Way, written in 2018. Directed by Parenthesis Gardner, the play premiered in Hollywood, California, on October 5, 2018, to critical acclaim and sold-out audiences. Following its success, it returned for an encore performance on January 19, 2019, and concluded with a final run at Theatre Row Off-Broadway in New York City on May 11, 2019.
Film Industry
Always committed to expanding her creative reach, Charron stepped into the wonderful world of film in 2014. Following successful theatrical runs of her acclaimed stage play Why Can’t We Be Friends, she felt compelled to further its impact by developing the short film A Childhood Lost. The play had already earned significant educational and political recognition including acknowledgment from Former President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and Former House Representative Cherelle Parker, making its evolution into a screenplay both timely and necessary. A Childhood Lost, starring Christopher Hopson, Diane Redd, Kaila Barnes, went on to serve as a powerful teaching tool, distributed to schools and learning institutions across the country and spotlighted during National Bullying Awareness Month, further cementing Charron’s commitment to storytelling with social impact.
Pen Legacy Publishing ( 2015- )
After becoming a bestselling author in 2010 with her debut book My Side of the Story, published under Purposeful Publishing, and later adapted into a stage play Living Your Life that premiered in Philadelphia in 2012 and at the DC Theater Festival in 2013. Her momentum continued with the release of her second book, Living, Loving, and Laughing My Way Through. Charron was honored by the Academy of American Poets during National Poetry Month (April 2011) and recognized for her Outstanding Contribution to Poetry by the Great Poets Across America Awards and World Poetry Movement in 2012, further solidifying her voice and reach as a poet/author.
After publishing just two books, Yulonda Brown informed Charron Monaye that she would be closing her business, leaving Charron without a publishing home. Undeterred, Charron redirected her energy back towards book collaborating and playwriting, while continuing to promote her existing books through her theater productions. During this time, Charron partnered with Fiordaliza Charles to create The Poetic Lounge, a national book anthology highlighting poets from across the United States. Together, they produced two volumes featuring the work of 53 talented poets.
Her efforts did not go unnoticed, in 2013, she was honored in Cleveland, OH, by the organization Girls on Fire, receiving both the Presidential Award and the Best Independent Author Award. With her growing success in both books and theater, Charron Monaye found her next calling through a pivotal conversation with her Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. sorority sister. During their conversation, Summer Willow Fitch approached Charron to help her publish her book. Without a publisher or clear opportunity in sight, Summer urged Charron to look beyond her own work and help aspiring authors share their stories—starting with Summer’s own. Initially, Charron hesitated, unsure and reluctant to take on this responsibility. However, after several heartfelt conversations with Summer, and reflecting on her own experiences of being repeatedly denied or obstructed despite her deserving efforts, Charron felt a shift within herself. She made the decision to publish her third book first, with the understanding that if it proved successful, she would consider expanding her efforts to assist not only Summer but also other aspiring authors.
To make good on her promise, Charron assembled a trusted team: Summer came on board as editor, Junnita Jackson joined as cover designer and typesetter, and Khristina Yates took on the role of company accountant. On May 10, 2015, Charron tested the waters with the release of her third book, Love the Real You. Its success marked the beginning of a new chapter, the official birth of Pen Legacy Publishing. Shortly after, Summer Fitch released her own book, Let Me Tell You Like I Told Myself, under the Pen Legacy imprint—formally launching a company built by authors, for authors. As the company quickly grew, so did the team. In 2017, Charron expanded the staff by bringing on Carla Dean as an editor and Christian Cuan as a website and graphic designer. As demand continued to increase, Tamika Hall joined as an additional designer and Candice Johnson as another editor. To protect and elevate the brand, Kimra Major-Morris, Esq. began overseeing trademarking, while Toni Moore, Esq. came on as the company’s legal counsel. Although Charron was building, she quickly embraced the role of a student, eager to learn the roles of everyone on her team. She sought training from NAACP Award-Winning Author and NY Times Best-Selling Author Victoria Christopher Murray, enrolling in her course Editing for Compelling Stories. This experience not only taught Charron the skills of a great editor but also helped her refine her craft as a writer. With a solid team and a clear mission, Pen Legacy Publishing evolved into a thriving literary company, empowering new voices and reshaping the independent publishing world.
Since 2015, Pen Legacy Publishing has evolved into more than just a publishing house, it’s a transformative company offering personalized publishing blueprints tailored to each author’s unique goals. Beyond publishing, the company provides mentorship in marketing, sales, and branding, ensuring that authors not only release their work but also thrive in promoting it.
Some Pen Legacy Publishing Accomplishments:
- Pen Legacy Publishing headquarters opened in 2017, and was located at 505 Old York Road, Suite 302 Jenkintown, PA 19046.
- Pen Legacy has worked with over 175 diverse writers worldwide; including Bermuda, Trinidad, London, and Africa.
- Pen Legacy Publishing has launched authors into national recognition—securing Amazon bestseller status, media features, Fortune 500 opportunities, and high-paying speaking engagements.
- With an 85% author retention rate, we’re a trusted long-term partner committed to excellence and empowerment.
- We’ve published powerful works across 15+ genres, amplifying voices from thought leaders to first-time writers.
- Since 2017, our bold marketing promotions, included digital billboards in Times Square, Las Vegas and Atlanta.
- Pen Legacy has had the honor of publishing and/or serving as a literary agent to prominent figures in entrepreneurship, business, and entertainment, including Debbie Douglas (HR/Talent Acquisition at Paramount TV Network), Tamara Gordon, Esq. (Past International Vice President of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.), Valerie Capers Workman, Esq. (former Vice President at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts and Tesla Inc.), Pastor Leroy G.W. Bean (Bermuda’s Gang Violence Reduction Coordinator), Evelyn Braxton (Braxton Family Values, Host of Cooking Sessions w/ Tamar & Ms. E), Toni Moore, Esq. (celebrity attorney and global speaker), Jaguar Wright (Neo-Sout Singer/Songwriter, Okayplayer collective), Precious Williams (founder of Perfect Pitch Group), Ty Johnston-Chavis (TV/film producer and founder of the Atlanta Pitch Summit), Cas Sigers (professional author, film director, and producer), and Kinyatta E. Gray (CEO of FlightsInStilettos and Director of The Heart of Miss Bee), among others.
- Pen Legacy’s journey has been spotlighted by major media outlets including Hype Hair Magazine, NY Weekly, Women Journey, UAE Times, Voyage Tampa, Upscale Magazine, Sheen Magazine, The Philadelphia Tribune, Pretty WomenHustle Magazine, Geaux Queen Magazine, In The City and more.
In 2020, Charron Monaye expanded Pen Legacy’s services to include ghostwriting, in response to a growing demand from individuals who aspired to become authors but lacked the time or writing skills. Not only did Charron Monaye ghostwrite these projects, but the books were also published through Pen Legacy, effectively creating a one-stop shop for aspiring authors. Charron Monaye’s commitment to service and empowerment is reflected in every facet of the company’s approach. Under Charron’s exceptional leadership, Pen Legacy has evolved into a premier platform that empowers writers to share their stories while providing them with the essential tools for financial success and personal fulfillment.
Her visionary guidance has garnered high- profile collaborations, significantly expanding the company’s influence across theater, film, and the prestigious NAACP Image Awards, where Charron proudly served on the nomination committee for the 54th, 55th, 56th and 57th ceremonies. With a profound passion for storytelling and an unwavering commitment to nurturing the next generation of creatives, Charron continues to elevate the industry through mentorship, training, and the transmission of her invaluable expertise and experience.
Pen Legacy Recognition Awards.
Charron Monaye’s success across writing, publishing, and theater has earned her widespread recognition and numerous prestigious honors.
Charron was honored by the Academy of American Poets during National Poetry Month (April 211) and recognized for her Outstanding Contribution to Poetry by the Great Poets Across America Awards and World Poetry Movement in 2012, further solidifying her voice and reach as a poet/author.
She was named a “Woman Who Is Doing It Big” at Tiana Von Johnson’s Women Doing It Big Conference in New York City, affirming her influence as a powerhouse in the creative and entrepreneurial world. Her literary achievements were further acknowledged with an endorsement from Word of Life Christian Fellowship, where she was appointed as a “Fellow of the Most Excellent Order of International Experts (FOIE)” in the field of Entrepreneurship. In recognition of her intellectual and creative contributions, Charron received an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Philosophy from CICA International University & Seminary.
Her impact has also been celebrated at the civic level, with accolades including a Certificate of Recognition from Jersey City Mayor Steven M. Fulop, a Senate Citation from the Senate of New Jersey, a New Jersey General Assembly Resolution, and a Citation from the Office of the Hudson County Executive. She was inducted into the Who’s Who of America Biological Listee, Class of 2023/2024, and was awarded “Top Professional Woman” by Marquis Who’s Who. In the global business arena, she was named a Global 100 Business Professional by Jerome Hutchinson, Jr., Chief Servant Officer of the ICABA World Network, and was also inducted into the Inner Circle of Continental Who’s Who as a Pinnacle Professional Member of the Inner Circle of Excellence. Further cementing her legacy, Charron’s children’s book series, The Adventures of Michelle, was adopted by the U.S. Department of Education, in 2024 and formally acknowledged in a letter recognizing its success.