How To Tie a Tie and Other Things My Mother Taught Me

How to Tie a Tie and Other Things My Mother Taught Me is a heartfelt memoir about love, loss, creativity, resilience, and the quiet lessons that shape a life.

In this deeply personal collection of stories, Christopher Alan reflects on the moments that made him who he is: learning how to tie a tie from his mother, watching the lights of a small framing shop glow at night, starting Brutus Monroe with only $267.57, naming the company after his beloved rescued dog, and building a creative life from courage, scraps, faith, and determination.

At its heart, this is a book about the people who teach us how to keep going. With warmth, honesty, and gentle humor, Christopher writes about his mother’s lasting influence, the rise of his creative brand, the importance of community, and the profound grief of losing Rob, whose love and memory remain woven through the story.

More than a business memoir, How to Tie a Tie and Other Things My Mother Taught Me is a tribute to the lessons we carry, the people we love, and the beauty of beginning again. It is for anyone who has ever had to build something from almost nothing, find meaning in loss, or learn that the smallest lessons often become the ones that hold us together.

PRE ORDER: Books will begin shipping on 6/8/2026