Charles “Chaz” Holesworth, 48, has been a mail carrier for 20 years, the last 12 in Glenside, where he lives. He may be one of the area’s only mail carriers who is also a published author, having just released “Life and How to Live It: Near Wild Heaven,” the second installment to volume one of the passionate, intense memoir published two years ago, “Life and How to Live It: Begin the Begin.”

According to a review on Amazon, “Lyrical, honest and unflinchingly human, ‘Life and How to Live It: Near Wild Heaven’ is a coming-of-age memoir about breaking indoctrination, surviving first love and learning to choose life after years of enforced silence. Set against the pulse of mid-’90s music and youth culture, it is a story for anyone who has ever tried to outrun their past, or finally stopped running.”

Holesworth grew up in extreme poverty in Kensington with a heroin-addicted father.

He recalls that the family struggled to buy food, and most of his clothing was either from thrift stores or hand-me-downs. They did not have hot water for five years after their hot water heater broke.

“Our house was in extremely poor condition,” he told the Local last week. “The upstairs steps caved in, and the last three were just holes we had to ease our way over. My mother became a born-again Christian and raised me in that faith. It left me with a horrible education and tons of guilt and doubts about religion in general. The neighborhood was rough in the part of Kensington where we lived. I was mugged, chased and jumped many times. There were drug dealers just hanging out on our front steps and on every corner of the neighborhood.

“There was a time in my early twenties when I was such an anxious mess that I self-medicated with alcohol. I was drinking every day and even carried alcohol with me to work just in case I felt overwhelmed with anxiety. After a year and a half of this behavior, I knew I had to make a change before I ruined myself. I cut out alcohol and dealt with anxiety on my own. I still don’t know how I did it. But it worked and helped me on the road to becoming a healthier me … But the best decision I ever made in my life was marrying my wife, Sarah. It might be a cliché, but she is the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Life was so challenging growing up that the family never owned a car, instead taking a bus or walking wherever they had to go. Holesworth finally got a driver’s license in his mid-20s, which was life-changing because it led to his job as a mail carrier.

The memoir series is full of chapters and stories about how Holesworth discovered the music of the rock band R.E.M. and how influential their lead singer Michael Stipe was in his life.

“He was a role model for me when I didn’t really have any in my life,” he said. “My books are almost a long fan letter to the band. Their titles and subtitles are R.E.M. songs. The story of my life is intertwined with my love of music, and that’s especially so with R.E.M.”

Another interesting aspect of Holesworth’s life is that he has been a vegetarian since 1994 and a vegan since 2022.

“I don’t even really think about the lack of options for me to eat anymore,” he said. “When I turned vegan, that was a little tougher to adapt to. I was a big cheese eater and loved pizza. But I’ve adapted and don’t really miss cheese at all.

“The one good thing about being a vegan in 2026 is that almost all restaurants now have some options for vegan food. My wife is also a vegan, so we like to eat out together. One of our favorites is the Chestnut Hill Brewery. They have good beers and a decent vegan menu. And Belly Veg on Bethlehem Pike is also a good one for takeout vegan food.

“The veganism is because I try my best to avoid any sort of animal cruelty in things I buy, and I don’t wear leather. I donate regularly to some animal rights charities. Unfortunately, growing up in poverty in Kensington exposed me to several situations where animals were mistreated or not cared for the way they deserved to be treated. That has had a lasting impression on me.”

Holesworth will have book signing events on Saturday, April 18, 1 to 3 p.m., at the Doylestown Barnes and Noble, and on Saturday, May 2, at the Bucks County Book Fest; location and time are pending.

For more information, visit chazholesworthbooks.com. Holesworth’s instagram account is Chazholesworthauthor. Len Lear can be reached at lenlear@chestnuthilllocal.com.