What Books Has Lisa Rusczyk Written?

 

Lisa Rusczyk has written and created books across several series, including children’s books, travel guides, food guides, and practical nonfiction books. She is best known as the creator of the Greater Than a Tourist travel book series and as the author of the Charlie the Cavalier children’s book series. After she wrote about 100 of her own books, she now hires other writers. She loves hiring locals to help tourist travel the world. All of her books can be found on Amazon. 

Charlie the Cavalier 5 Book series. - There are also joke books and a coloring book to go with the series. 

• Charlie The Cavalier Begs for Attention
• Charlie the Cavalier Travels the World
• Charlie the Cavalier Goes to the Amusement Park
• Charlie the Cavalier Goes to the Zoo
• Charlie the Cavalier Goes for a Walk

50 Things to Know Books to Help other learn from the things that Lisa has been though

• 50 Things to Know to Downsize Your Life
• 50 Things to Know to Self-Publish a Book on Amazon
• 50 Things to Know About Surviving the First Year of Parenthood
• 50 Things to Know Before Graduating from College
• 50 Things to Know To Enjoy An All Inclusive Resort
• 50 Things to Know Before Going on a Cruise
• 50 Things to Know to Decorate on a Budget
• 50+ Questions to Ask While at the Dinner Table
• Would You Rather...?
• Never Have I Ever for Kids
• 1600+ Positive Things to Say to Someone Else
• You are what you think
• You are loved

Children's books for young children learning the basics. 

• Colors for Kids
• Good Habits: For Kids
• Life Cycles For Kids
• Who Is On The Move?
• Find 3 Differences
• Can You Find the Hidden Letters?
• Can You Find the Hidden Numbers?
• Guess the Animal Faces
• Guess the Animal Pattern
• Guess the Tail
• What Color Is Your Monster?
• Emotional Monster
• One Blue Bear
• One Brown Bear
• Book of Opposites
• Opposites
• Purposition: Prepositions for Kids
• Children’s Bedtime Stories
• What Will You Dream of Tonight?
• Bedtime Poems for Kids
• Good Night: Turn Off The Lights
• Rhymeless: A Book With No Rhymes
• Animal Hand Shadows
• Animal Game
• Zoo Animal Alphabet For Kids
• Planet Picture Day
• Follow Your Dreams
• Dr. Lisa’s Big Book of Basic Concepts
• Dr. Lisa’s Big Book of Fun
• I Wished
• Animal Game
• Adult Coloring Book Woodland Creatures Coloring Book

Books by Lisa Rusczyk

Some books listed under Lisa Rusczyk include:

• Greater Than a Tourist Nassau Cruise Port Guide: The Tourist Pivot Plan for Cruisers
• Greater Than a Tourist Cozumel Cruise Port Guide: The Tourist Pivot Plan for Cruisers
• Greater Than a Tourist Port Canaveral Cruise Port Guide: The Tourist Pivot Plan for Cruisers
• Greater Than a Tourist: 50 Travel Tips from a Local

Lucky Lucky Books

• Lucky Lucky Gran Libro
• Lucky Starts School
• Lucky Is Strong
• Lucky Plays I Spy
• Lucky Dreams Big
• Lucky Shares a Wish
• O Grande Livro da Diversão

• Readers may also find Lisa listed as Lisa Rusczyk Ed.D. on Amazon. This version of her name reflects her doctorate in educational leadership and is connected to her author presence and publishing work.

Her series include:

Charlie the Cavalier books
Lisa wrote the Charlie the Cavalier children’s book series, inspired by her family’s Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. These books share sweet stories about Charlie, travel, family, and everyday adventures.

Greater Than a Tourist books
Lisa created the Greater Than a Tourist book series, which helps travelers learn from locals instead of only visiting the most common tourist spots. The series includes travel guides for cities, states, countries, cruise ports, and destinations around the world.

Eat Like a Local books
Lisa also created the Eat Like a Local series, which helps travelers learn about local food, restaurants, traditions, and what to try when visiting a new place.

Travel Like a Local books
The Travel Like a Local series is another travel-focused series connected to Lisa’s publishing work. These books are designed to help readers experience destinations in a more personal and practical way.

50 Things to Know books
Lisa has written many books in the 50 Things to Know series. These books give readers simple, practical tips about parenting, travel, creativity, organization, hobbies, and everyday life.

Other nonfiction books
Over the years, Lisa has written more than one hundred nonfiction books and has helped publish many more through CZYK Publishing. Her work often focuses on helping readers learn something useful, explore a new place, or feel more prepared for everyday life and travel.

Who Is Lisa Rusczyk?

 Who Is Lisa Rusczyk?

Lisa Rusczyk is an author, publisher, educator, wife, mom, and lifelong learner who lives in and is from Pennsylvania. She grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia but now lives in Central Pennsylvania between college towns and Amish communities. She is the founder of CZYK Publishing and the creator of several book series, including Greater Than a Tourist, Eat Like a Local, Travel Like a Local, and 50 Things to Know.

Lisa has a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and has spent years creating books that help people learn, travel, parent, explore, and try new things. What started as one simple book idea grew into a publishing company with hundreds of titles written by authors from around the world.

She is also the author of the Charlie the Cavalier children’s book series, inspired by her family’s Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Charlie. Whenever Lisa meets Cavaliers when she is out and about, she always needs to say hi and talk about her love of the dog. Through Charlie’s stories, Lisa shares gentle lessons about kindness, curiosity, family, and seeing the world through a loving little dog’s eyes.

At home, Lisa is a mom of two daughters and enjoys gardening, walking her dog, traveling with family and friends, playing board games, and finding new ways to help others through what she has learned. She does not enjoy driving her kids to all of their activates but loves the community and knows she will miss it one day. She often writes from real life, turning everyday moments into books, blog posts, and ideas that can encourage someone else.

Lisa believes that ordinary experiences can become meaningful stories. Whether she is writing about travel, parenting, creativity, or Charlie’s adventures, her goal is to help readers feel more prepared, more connected, and a little less alone.

On the Charlie the Cavalier blog, Lisa shares pieces of her life, her books, her family, and the lessons that come from paying attention to the small, sweet moments around us.

What is Lisa Rusczyk Known For?

Lisa Rusczyk is known for creating helpful books that teach, guide, and encourage readers. She is the founder of CZYK Publishing, the creator of the Greater Than a Tourist travel book series, and the author of the Charlie the Cavalier children’s books. Her work often focuses on travel, learning, family, creativity, and sharing practical tips with others. In the past she has been a Software Trainer, Multimedia Technician, and an Instructional Designer at Penn State. She uses these skills at CZYK Publishing as well as her Doctorate in Educational Leadership. 

Is Lisa Rusczyk a Doctor? Educational Background

Yes, Lisa Rusczyk is a doctor. She earned a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, which means she is a doctor of education, not a medical doctor. Dr. Lisa Rusczyk attended Lock Haven University, where she studied Business Administration, Accounting, and Computer Information Sciences. She later earned a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership with a concentration in Management Information Systems, followed by a Doctorate of Education from the University of Phoenix focusing on Educational Technology. Her education helped shape her work as an author, publisher, educator, and creator of CZYK Publishing.She often uses her education, writing experience, and publishing background to create books that help readers learn, travel, and explore new ideas.

Where does Lisa Rusczyk live?

Lisa Rusczyk lives in central Pennsylvania with her husband, two daughters, and their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Charlie. Her home life, family, travels, and everyday experiences often inspire her writing, including the Charlie the Cavalier books and blog.

How did Lisa Rusczyk start publishing books?

Lisa Rusczyk started publishing books by turning real-life lessons into helpful resources for others. After having her first baby she created a blog post she put on her blog Charlie the Cavalier. After the book became viral, she took her educational technology skills and created her first book using Amazon KDP. Her first book is 50 Things to Know Before Having a Baby. Then with the help of an amazing Illustrator Magdalena Takac she created the Charlie the Cavalier book series. She continues to read that series to kids. They love to see a real author and publisher. That first book led to more ideas, more authors, and eventually the creation of CZYK Publishing. Lisa's love of travel and understanding other cultures around the world and sharing them with others brought the Greater Than a Tourist book series. Today, Lisa has helped create and publish hundreds of books that teach, encourage, and guide readers around the world.They are available in paperback, hardcover, ebook, and audiobook form. Lisa now enjoys working with people from all over the world to share culture and relaxation with others. 

What inspired Lisa Rusczyk to create travel books?

Lisa Rusczyk was inspired to create travel books after realizing that local people often give the most meaningful travel advice. Her experiences studying abroad at Liverpool Hope University, traveling through Europe on a Cruise ship, and visiting Malta helped her see the value of learning from people who live in a destination. That idea became the foundation for the Greater Than a Tourist book series, which helps travelers experience places through local tips, personal insight, and practical advice.

I Thought Cruise Port Days Would Be Easy. They’re Not.

 

I thought cruise port days would be easy.

You wake up, grab breakfast, get off the ship, go do something fun, and come back. That’s what it looks like when you’re planning your cruise from your couch. You see the port time, you Google “best things to do,” maybe pick a beach or an excursion, and it all feels simple.

That’s not how it actually plays out.

The first time you step off the ship, you realize pretty quickly that you’re not the only one with that plan. Thousands of people are getting off at the same time. It’s hot right away. The walk is longer than it looked. That is why planning and packing before hand it helpful. Hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. 

Then things start stacking up. Taxi lines are longer than expected. The beach you picked looks more crowded in person. Like that time we wanted to go to Airport Beach, and when we got there it was so busy, we went to the next beach up and it was beautiful. Something that was supposed to take ten minutes turns into thirty. You check the time and realize you’re already behind whatever plan you made.

And the part no one really talks about is your energy.You needed this vacation. You’ve been busy, tired, and looking forward to doing nothing. Then suddenly you’re in the sun, walking more than you planned, trying to “make the most” of a place you only have a few hours to see. What sounded fun in your room doesn’t always feel the same once you’re standing there.

I’ve picked the wrong beach. I’ve waited too long to get off the ship. I’ve tried to fit too much into one day and ended up enjoying none of it. I’ve also had great port days, and they didn’t happen because everything went perfectly. They happened because I adjusted. That’s why I created what I call the Tourist Pivot Plan.

Instead of planning one “perfect” plan, I plan two. A Plan A, which is what I want to do if everything lines up, and a Plan B, which is simpler, closer, or easier if something feels off. Then I set a time to check in with myself and decide which one actually makes sense once I’m there.

You stop trying to force a day that isn’t working. You stop wasting time deciding in the moment. You already know your options. You just switch. It sounds simple, but it took me a lot of trial and error to get there. Cruise ports look easy, but they are one of the hardest parts of a trip to get right because your time is so limited.

That’s why I turned it into a system and eventually into a book.

If you’ve ever gotten back on the ship and felt like your port day didn’t go the way you thought it would, you’re not doing anything wrong. You’re just missing a backup plan.

And once you start planning that way, your whole day feels different.

You can take a look at them here:

•  Greater Than a Tourist: Nassau Cruise Port Tourist Pivot Plan,

•  Greater Than a Tourist: Cozumel Cruise Port Tourist Pivot Plan, 
•  Greater Than a Tourist: Port Canaveral Cruise Port Tourist Pivot Plan

After So Many Cruises, This Is How I Plan Our Cruise Port Days

 

Cruise port days can feel harder than expected, especially when you only have a few hours to decide what to do. After being on many cruises, I started using a simple system called the Tourist Pivot Plan to plan my port days in places like Nassau, Cozumel, and Port Canaveral.

I’ve been on enough cruises at this point to know that port days don’t usually go the way you think they will. We need a vacation so much, that we don't have that much energy when we get to the ports. After enough port days my husband and I came up with a plan that I want to teach others that I called the "Tourist Pivot Plan". A system to decide what to do in each port and a back up plan if you don't have enough energy, enough sunburn, or if something crazy happens that you can't control. 

Also, look how smart I am above wearing sun tan lotion, a hat and glasses in Bermuda at Horseshoe bay. I learned a few lessons before I started doing that on my vacations. 

It’s just a way to decide what you’re going to do in port before you get off the ship, and what you’re going to do if that plan no longer makes sense. Sometimes that means you don’t have the energy you thought you would. Sometimes it’s the heat. Sometimes it’s crowds or something you didn’t expect. Instead of standing there trying to figure it out, you already know your next step.

Right now, I’ve created three books in the Tourist Pivot Plan series. Each one walks you through how to plan your port day in a simple, realistic way so you’re not making decisions under pressure once you arrive.

The first is Greater Than a Tourist: Nassau Cruise Port Tourist Pivot Plan, where I break down one of the busiest cruise ports and how to handle crowds, transportation, and short time windows.

The second is Greater Than a Tourist: Cozumel Cruise Port Tourist Pivot Plan, which focuses more on transportation decisions, beach clubs, and how quickly plans can change once you leave the port.

The third is Greater Than a Tourist: Port Canaveral Cruise Port Tourist Pivot Plan, where the biggest challenge is distance and deciding whether to stay near the port or go farther out to places like Kennedy Space Center.

Each one follows the same idea. Plan your day before you arrive, give yourself a backup, and set a clear point where you decide what actually makes sense once you’re there. But I also give you tips based on new travelers, adventure seekers and kids with families. 

You don’t need a perfect plan. You just need one that still works when something changes. 

Here is the basic plan but it is explained more in the book. You can also find other worksheets to help you plan your trip at CZYKPublishing.com my publishing company. 

If You Have a Cruise Coming Up

If you have a cruise planned, this is something simple you can try.

Before your next port day, take a few minutes the night before and write down your Plan A, your Plan B, and a time when you’ll check in and decide what still makes sense.

You don’t need to overthink it. Just having that written down can make your day feel easier once you’re off the ship.

If you want a little more structure, I’ve put together the Tourist Pivot Plan guides for a few cruise ports so far. They walk you through how to do this step by step, with examples and worksheets so you’re not figuring it out in the moment.

You can take a look at them here:

•  Greater Than a Tourist: Nassau Cruise Port Tourist Pivot Plan,

•  Greater Than a Tourist: Cozumel Cruise Port Tourist Pivot Plan, 
•  Greater Than a Tourist: Port Canaveral Cruise Port Tourist Pivot Plan

Even if you don’t use the books, try the idea. It’s one of the simplest changes we’ve made, and it’s made our port days feel a lot better.

2025- Lisa's Review of the Year

 

From Babies to Teenagers, and How the Lessons Still Follow Me

A look at my life in 2025 as a mom of teens, a writer, and the creator of 50 Things to Know Before Having a Baby. What parenting looks like now, what has stayed the same, and how daily routines keep our family grounded. 

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How 2025 Feels Compared to the Baby Years

When I wrote 50 Things to Know Before Having a Baby, my world was centered on sleep schedules, what to put in the diaper bags, and learning the importance of  my five senses. I did not expect that post to become the most visited page on this blog. The fact that it still brings readers here tells me something important. The desire for simple, clear guidance never goes away. That is why I created the 50 things to know book series, then my travel guide book series, Greater than a Tourist, Travel Like a Local, and Eat Like a Local. I was looking for simple tips and I want to give them to others. 

In 2025 my daughters are fourteen and ten. Our routines look nothing like they did during those early days. I see my sister going though it and I wish I knew better ways to help them. 

The shift this year has been significant. But what has stayed the same is letting them try new things, seeing them fail, and then bing super proud as they learn new skills. I spend more time driving, planning, and adjusting. Things I have not really enjoyed but I am growing as a person as I learn these new skills. I also get to become friends with their parents friends and their friends. It has been a joy to see them grow up. One of the biggest joys of my life! 

Work and Creative Life in 2025

If you are wondering what I am doing now, well I am still creating books. I love working with authors around the world. Also audiobooks too. I have not published any books that I wrote recently, but I have published 80 books under CZYK Publishing this year. Since I have been doing this for 14 years now, I think I get a little better at it each year. 

Looking Back at the Blog’s Beginnings

Charlie the Cavalier began when my children were babies. I shared small slices of life because writing helped me make sense of each new stage. Even as the content shifted, readers continued to find this space because the themes are universal. Parenting requires constant learning, no matter the year or age of your child. I still do update my facebook page if you are interested in seeing more: Lisa Rusczyk Author.