Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Katlin McFadden, Business Coach with the Women’s Business Center with NC CEED in downtown Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Alison Paul Klakowicz is an Eastern North Carolina native, children’s book author, blogger, podcaster and creative writer. She is a military spouse who resides in Fayetteville, NC with her husband, Adam, and son, Mak.
Alison Paul Klakowicz is an Eastern North Carolina native, children’s book author, blogger, podcaster and creative writer. She is a military spouse who resides in Fayetteville, NC with her husband, Adam, and son, Mak.
One year ago today, Mommy’s Big, Red Monster Truck hit the presses!
What was a little dream, became a huge accomplishment.
Over the past year, there have been many firsts… holding my published children’s book in my hands for the first time, attending my first bookstore author events, first library events, visiting elementary schools as an official author for the first time, reading my book to children across North Carolina, and the list goes on.
The opportunity to share my children’s travel and adventure picture book has been a priceless gift to me.
I’ve driven all types of new terrain with Mommy’s Big, Red Monster Truck, and feel like we’ve barely hit the surface.
I am ecstatic to see what adventures lie ahead in 2020.
I would like to thank each bookstore, library, school, media outlet, and other venues for welcoming me with open arms.
To my friends and family, thanks for the amazing encouragement and support.
To my little monster truck fans, thank you for reading my book!
To everyone else that helped me find my way as a new author, who gave me advice, connected me with resources, helped spread the word… thank you.
The greatest lesson I learned this year is this— when you have a dream, follow it.
Make it happen.
Put your truck in gear and…
DRIVE TOWARD YOUR DREAMS!
– Alison Paul Klakowicz
Host and Creator of Hodge Podge Podcast and Blog
Author of the Award-Winning Children’s Picture Book Mommy’s Big, Red Monster Truck
Alison Paul Klakowicz is an Eastern North Carolina native, children’s book author, blogger, podcaster and creative writer. She is a military spouse who resides in Fayetteville, NC with her husband, Adam, and son, Mak.
With the Curiosity of a Cathits the presses next week and is sure to be a middle-grades juvenile fiction fan favorite mirroring the success of the first book in the series, With the Courage of a Mouse.
Donna has been writing most of her life— following teaching herself to read at age five as she was the youngest of a large family, and read books and created her own tales to occupy her creative mind.
She attributes her inspiration and character development for the book series to her six grandchildren. She encourages aspiring authors to give themselves “permission” to go after their dreams of publication as she has successfully and gracefully accomplished.
She is the recipient of the prestigious Mom’s Choice Awards- Gold Award: Honoring Excellence, and was a top ten finalist in the Author Academy Awards.
I had the honor of speaking with Donna on my podcast recently to discuss the release of her new book, her wisdom on finding your inner superhero, and her insights into striving toward your writing goals.
Alison Paul Klakowicz is an Eastern North Carolina native, children’s book author, blogger, podcaster and creative writer. She is a military spouse who resides in Fayetteville, NC with her husband, Adam, and son, Mak.
North Carolina is filled with ghost stories stemming from the shores of the Graveyard of the Atlantic down to the southern coast in Wilmington, up the Cape Fear River to the Sandhills in Fayetteville, and westward to the Blue Ridge Mountains.
I’ve loved hearing these tales my whole life and have a collection of classic North Carolina ghost stories and legends books I cherish.
My love of ghost tales started as a child while listening to old folks, cousins and friends whittle yarns of things that go bump in the night.
I’m not much on horror films and gore, but I love a good old ghost story. So I decided today on Halloween 🎃, I would tell you all a few of my favorite ghost stories.
Alison Paul Klakowicz is an Eastern North Carolina native, children’s book author, blogger, podcaster and creative writer. She is a military spouse who resides in Fayetteville, NC with her husband, Adam, and son, Mak.
Jami McLaughlin is a visionary, active community partner and volunteer, mom on the go, and advocate for her beloved community of Spring Lake, North Carolina.
She serves as Spring Lake, North Carolina’s Town Historian and is a Member of the Cumberland County Joint Planning Board as well as Partnership for Children of Cumberland County Board of Directors.
Jami is a Sustainer with Junior League of Fayetteville and Fayetteville Holly Day Fair past chairwoman, and current active committee member.
To top it off she is an author and writer… among a ton of other accolades and professional experience in bettering communities located in Cumberland County, NC.
The busy mother of four’s current mission is to be elected as the Mayor of Spring Lake (a neighboring community and gateway to both Fort Bragg and Fayetteville) and Jami’s family’s native home where her deep roots are sowed. She vows to make the community shine through her leadership.
I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Jami at my home to discuss her vision for Spring Lake, NC and why it’s residents should consider electing her as their mayor. http://jamiformayor.com/get-updates/
Alison Paul Klakowicz is an Eastern North Carolina native, children’s book author, blogger, podcaster and creative writer. She is a military spouse who resides in Fayetteville, NC with her husband, Adam, and son, Mak.
Along Cool Springs Street— one of the most notable historic lanes in downtown Fayetteville, North Carolina— sits Cross Creek Cemetery, established in 1785.
The cemetery is one of the oldest and most iconic graveyards in Fayetteville, NC— a city famous for its significance in ratifying the United States Constitution and it’s colonial era namesake, Marquis De Lafayette.
Cross Creek Cemetery holds pieces of the past and is part of the Civil War Trail which connects with nearby Linear Park.
You can hear the rushing waters of Cross Creek steps away from the wrought iron fencing that encases the cemetery filled with so much history and possibly a ghost or two.
My mom (who is visiting from out-of-town), my son and I decided to go walk the grounds of Cross Creek Cemetery this week for some ghastly fun— to take in the sights of old graves and headstones as well as fall foliage scattered about the mature landscape of the resting place.
I admit… I have a thing for old graveyards.
I find them eerily beautiful and poignant. I love to read the headstone carvings about the people buried beneath the land.
Who are they?
What was their life like way back when?
Are we related somewhere way down the lineage trail?
Many notable North Carolina politicians, dignitaries, and artists are buried in Cross Creek Cemetery. Some of which are listed here on Wikipedia:
For as long as I can remember I’ve enjoyed walking in graveyards. There is a peace there… a sense of respect and wonder.
Call me morbid.
Call me weird.
I’m perfectly okay with those labels because I understand the significance of preserved history graveyards provide us.
Plus it’s kind of spooky and fun to walk about the grounds and ponder if an apparition lurks in the shadows.
Civil War Memorial
If interested in an organized tour to learn more about the history of Fayetteville and Cross Creek Cemetery— along with some fabulous ghost storytelling, check out Downtown Fayetteville’s plethora of guided tours!
Alison Paul Klakowicz is an Eastern North Carolina native, children’s book author, blogger, podcaster and creative writer. She is a military spouse who resides in Fayetteville, NC with her husband, Adam, and son, Mak.
Photo courtesy of Katlin McFadden
