Carol Carlson | Author | Aspen Ridge Publishing
Carol Carlson writes from the heart—raw, honest, and deeply emotional—capturing pain, humor, sadness, and joy, often all at once. Whether she is crafting fiction or nonfiction, for children or adults, Carol’s work reflects the truth of her lived experience. To learn more about Carol and the journey that shaped her writing, visit her About Me page
Thirty-nine years in the making, David Died Last Night is finally a reality. Why so long to publish a book? Because this book was first written just weeks after Carol’s 4-year-old son, David, died from a devastating form of leukemia. Here, Carol shares the experience of telling David’s friends and classmates about his death. But so soon after losing her son, it was not a story she was ready to share, so it was put in a drawer. Looking back, many years later, she knew it was time. The story needed to be told. Carol realized it was the children’s innocent search for the truth that had given her the strength to get through those hard days. In turn, Carol, along with their teacher, Robin, had provided David’s classmates the answers they sought to better understand the process of death and what follows. Together, they all had found much needed comfort in these difficult conversations. (Read More)
Twenty-three years after Carol’s youngest son died, her oldest made the transition from active military duty to police officer in one of the country’s most violent cities. It seemed easy at first, to contain the worries of possible harm coming to him on the streets she grew up on. But those streets had changed over the decades. It was her 4th police funeral in as many years when it hit home. Police officers today face dangers at every turn, from auto accidents and shootings to psychological trauma and suicide, leaving their mothers wondering what to do with their worries and fears. Carol knew she had to reach out to find other moms who would understand her feelings. In Life as a Police Mom, Carol now shares what she has learned, offering information, insight, comfort, and compassion to guide a family through police life and remind other moms that they are stronger together. (Read More)