Welcome to TheGabTalks by the Independent Press Award. I’m your hostess, Gabby Olczak.
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This podcast we will be chatting with children’s author Allen Northcutt about his debut book and holiday classic, The Legend of Chris Moose: A Christmas Story. A Louisville Kentucky native Allen joined the Marine Corps after college. He flew fighter jets in Vietnam and completed 191 combat missions in 10 months. Allen earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, for heroism during an aerial flight in support of military operations, 11 Air Medals and the National Defense Award. Thank you for your service Allen!
In addition to being a decorated fighter pilot, Allen is also retired investment banker. He is passionate about the outdoors, adventure recreation, competitive sports, and spending quality time with family and old friends. Allen joins us today from Louisville, Kentucky.
Allen wrote the first draft of The Legend of Chris Moose on Christmas Eve in 1982 while dealing with the many issues of raising a learning-disabled child. The manuscript sat in a drawer for twenty-nine years. Motivation to resurrect Chris Moose came from friends' encouragement and the belief that Chris Moose could become the first new perennial Christmas character in the past fifty years.
Congratulations Allen and welcome to the GABTALKS