Overview

Chickie! The Woman Who Crashed the All-Male Bail Bond Industry In a time when the bail bond business was a gritty, dangerous, and firmly male-dominated world, Chickie Leventhal was an unlikely disruptor-a ""traditional"" housewife who refused to stay on the sidelines. When her husband's serious illness forced her to rethink her future, Chickie stepped into the unthinkable, launching her own bail bond company in her early fifties and carving out a place where no woman had stood before. What follows is a remarkable true story of resilience, reinvention, and fearless determination. With sharp humor and unflinching honesty, Chickie pulls back the curtain on an industry rarely seen from the inside, sharing unforgettable stories of risk, redemption, and survival. Her voice-bold, compassionate, and unapologetically real-reveals not only the high-stakes world of bail bonds, but also the heart of a woman who refused to be underestimated. Now in her nineties, Chickie reflects on a life lived on her own terms. Her journey is more than a memoir-it's a testament to the power of grit, ingenuity, and a little chutzpah. It's proof that courage has no age limit, that reinvention is always possible, and that breaking barriers sometimes means crashing straight through them. Perfect for readers who love inspiring true stories, strong female voices, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into hidden worlds, Chickie! is an unforgettable portrait of a woman who didn't just enter a man's world-she changed it forever.

Full Product Details

9781966323631

Table of Contents

Reviews

""Chickie Leventhal is a 5 foot 4 red-headed powerhouse, who tells the truth, and nothing but the truth. She's the Unsinkable Molly Brown of the Bail Bond Business, tough as steel, tender-hearted, and always fair-minded. She cuts everyone 'more than' an even break. In her memoir, Chickie delivers unmistakably funny, unabashedly honest, unvarnished tales of her life and work. Every woman should read it, and every man could learn a few things from Chickie. Chickie Leventhal is who I'd want by my side in a time of crisis.""-Tom Chiodo, author & executive producer of National Productions at Washington Educational Television Association / PBS ""Chickie's story is nothing short of inspirational. This is one of those true-life tales I believe will spread like wildfire. Chickie inspires all women to become a bolder version of ourselves-while still honoring the power and grace of our femininity. It's a message to men not to take the softer sex for granted. For women and men alike, this fiery trailblazer's life is a fascinating reminder that courage, heart, and determination can shatter even the most stubborn of glass ceilings.""-Dr. Kelly Sullivan Walden International Best-Selling Author of A Crisis is a Terrible Thing to Waste and Dreamifesting: Harnessing the Power of Your Dreams to Create the Life You Desire ""It was a time when women were demanding to be seen as being comparable to their male counterparts. Chickie Levanthal, a young lady struggling with the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of life, takes the reader on an entertaining yet instructive journey where the greatest teaching is of how determination, ingenuity, consistency, and a little bit of 'hutzspa' can yield significant benefits. I highly recommend this book to everyone, particularly to middle school, high school, and college students, and to people interested in reinventing their lives. Among other things, the reader will see how to incorporate their originality in all they do, so that they may meet success anchored in their own authenticity.""-Helen Easterling Williams, EdDDean Emeritus-Graduate School of Education and Psychology, Pepperdine University""I loved this book! I didn't want Chickie's stories to end. Chickie brings class, compassion, and grit to the bail bond world⸻she is an example all to herself.""-Stacy D. Phillips Nationally recognized and certified family law specialist, partner Blank Rome LLP

Author Information

Growing up in the melting pot of Boyle Heights in East Los Angeles during the 1930s and 40s, Chickie enjoyed school with many children who were different from herself: Mexicans, Blacks, and Asians. Learning early on that the differences she perceived were only on the outside prepared her for a career of helping people of all races and creeds. Working as a secretary for many industries introduced Chickie to the world of bail bonds which led to her establishing the first female-owned bail bond agency in Los Angeles. For 37 years, she worked with the most respected Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys, providing bail bonds for their clients, always with consideration and respect, thus endearing her to all with whom she worked. Chickie wrote her book with multiple purposes in mind: to entertain and enlighten the reader; to dispel negative impressions surrounding the bail bond industry; and to encourage women of all ages not to be afraid to follow their dreams. Fifty years old when she created Chickie's Bail Bonds in order to support her family when her husband became ill, Chickie reminds us, ""If I could do all of that and write a book about it with only a high school diploma, so can you!""www.

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