Director Steven Leake

Steven Leake: Director and Owner of Monarch Literary

Steven Leake is a visionary poet, author, singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, and libertarian strategist and activist who serves as the director and owner of Monarch Literary Ltd. Born in 1986 in Charlotte, North Carolina, to public school teachers, Leake grew up on a family farm in York, South Carolina, where he developed a profound connection to Southern roots, self-reliance, and the principles of individual freedom.  His early life instilled in him a resilient spirit, blending Appalachian heritage with a countercultural defiance that would shape his multifaceted career.

A high school honors graduate and accomplished athlete—named all-region pitcher and defensive MVP in 2004—Leake was appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point as part of the first post-9/11 class but withdrew due to illness. He later pursued creative writing at Winthrop University in 2007, earning recognition as a semi-finalist for the PEN Emerging Voices Fellowship. These formative experiences, including time in Charleston, South Carolina, working in the food and beverage industry, inspired his debut novel, Gethsemane. 

In the mid-2010s, Leake met Wren Calloway in Charleston, forming a deep romantic, creative, and business partnership that has been central to his work. Calloway, a filmmaker, essayist, and decentralist documentarian, serves as Creative Director of Monarch Literary, collaborating with Leake on projects that emphasize liberty, self-expression, and unfiltered narratives. The couple’s shared vision was profoundly influenced by the 2015 Emanuel AME Church shooting near their Charleston home, which deepened Leake’s insights into race, violence, and societal divides—themes that permeate his writing.  

As an author and poet with over two decades of experience, Leake has published novels including Naked Shadowboxing and Unplugged, both under Monarch Literary.  His poetry, exploring liberty, spirituality, and societal critique, has appeared in outlets such as the North Carolina Bards Anthology (Truth in 2022 and Soft Days in 2023), Beatnik Cowboy, and The Black Book Press. In 2025, he released the poetry collection Truth Is Power, with upcoming works including a paperback edition and the manifesto The Operators Manual and the Liberation Protocols, blending philosophy, spirituality, and tactical wisdom. Recognized by the Southern Poverty Law Center in 2017 for advocating tolerance, Leake’s literary pursuits are driven by a commitment to raw, libertarian-leaning narratives that challenge the status quo. 

Leake’s talents extend to music as a DIY folk and folk-rock singer-songwriter, rooted in Southern spirituality and libertarian philosophy.  His debut double album, Truth Is Power, a live-to-tape acoustic demo available on Spotify, features tracks like “Spring,” “Molly (Demo),” “In Memory of Amanda,” and “Stand Your Ground (Do Not Comply),” addressing themes of truth, redemption, resilience, and non-compliance. Upcoming releases include the double vinyl Truth Is Power/Love Kills for Christmas 2025, and singles such as “RX Queen” and “One Fine Day.” He shares performances via porch jams on YouTube and TikTok, maintaining an unpolished, authentic aesthetic. 

As an entrepreneur, Leake oversees multiple ventures under Monarch Holdings International Inc., including Monarch Literary for publishing, Monarch UrbanWear Ltd. for freedom-oriented fashion (featuring designs like “Love Kills” and “Do Not Comply” t-shirts), and Sovereign Sound Studio for music production.  He developed MySecureShare, an encrypted messaging app for privacy advocates, and leads American Justice Enterprises Ltd., pursuing class-action lawsuits for veterans’ rights against illegal foreclosures on VA home loans. In 2025, he founded Maverick Industries Inc., producing analog, durable goods like pickup trucks and appliances, and launched the Monarch Sovereign Systems Media Hub App for digital sovereignty. 

A dedicated libertarian activist, Leake heads Americans for Economic Independence, a political action committee supporting freedom-minded candidates, and the LibertySkills Alliance for community skill-sharing. His activism focuses on digital sovereignty, privacy rights, and veterans’ issues, often discussed on his podcast, Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man, available on Spotify. Leake engages audiences across social platforms, including X (@stevenleake99), TikTok (@stevenleake2), Instagram (@steven.leake), and Facebook (steven.leake.94), promoting concepts like the Non-Aggression Principle and resistance to modern alienation. 

Described as a “Southern storm”—tender yet fierce, introverted yet collaborative—Leake’s punk-libertarian ethos drives his mission to empower individuals through art, technology, and justice.  Living on his York farm with Calloway, he continues to build self-sustaining empires that celebrate creativity, rebellion, and personal sovereignty. Through Monarch Literary, Leake ensures that stories of freedom and resilience reach audiences uncompromised.