Christian Gonzales – Author of The Sword and the Pen

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Christian Gonzales. Check out our conversation below.

Christian, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Writing. When I’m buried in a poem, a short story, or a screenplay, the clock disappears. The character’s, sometimes, almost becomes like a broken mirror; I can see myself in them, even if it’s through cracks. I’ve learned a lot about my values by writing into them, most recently while drafting a historical-fiction piece about Marcus Aurelius. Following his inner debates forced me to hold my own to the light.

The other place I forget time is under the night sky. In our adult years, my brother and I would haul out a SkyQuest Dobsonian and stare the Moon and our planets from our backyard. It made everything feel smaller and more beautiful at the same time, a humbling reset I still carry with me in life.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Christian Gonzales, a Los Angeles–based author. My newest book, The Sword and the Pen, is a collection of poetry and short fiction about healing, perseverance, and building a life with discipline and heart. It asks a simple question: how do you make your suffering useful?—for yourself and for others.

What’s unique about this project is the mix of craft and candor. Some pieces are intimate portraits; others, like a Marcus Aurelius cycle, lean on Stoic practice and self-governance. Together they trace a path from survival to agency. My aim isn’t to tidy up pain; it’s to turn it into something that serves a purpose.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
When I first started writing, I gravitated to superheroes, one my favorites was even a superdog. I was a kid who felt powerless with too much weight on his shoulders, so inventing characters who could carry the load gave me a sense of possibility. Even though it was imagined, it was still real power: the power to choose what happens next. That was like therapy for me.

Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
Most people don’t know my family kept a makeshift little farm for a while; goats, chickens, ducks, turkeys, and a llama named Andy. We were “assigned” goats like they were pets; my sister and I had Pete and Repeat—Repeat followed Pete everywhere and repeat Pete’s every action, hence the names. We’d ride them (to their dismay) and act as though they were horses. Those animals felt like family. It’s a small, odd chapter that shaped how I think about responsibility and care.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
1. Discipline without denial. Feel everything; act on what’s in your control.

2. Make what you needed. Create the book you wish you’d had on your hardest day.

3. Joy is built, not found. Show up daily; meaning is a by-product of practice.

4. Forgiveness has boundaries. You can bless someone and still protect your peace.

5. Legacy is repetition. One honest page, again tomorrow.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Yes. Finishing the work, and doing it with integrity, is the win. I don’t write expecting applause or sales. I write what I believe is true and useful, and I release it. If it meets someone at the right moment, I’m grateful. If it doesn’t, the process still made me better. That’s enough to keep going.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://chrjgonzales.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christiangonzal.es/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrjgonzales/