Alonzo Fugate, Author

1.  How do you come up with all those ideas?

    A good question!  They just seem to pop into my head.  Honestly, I think that my head would probably explode if I didn't get these words down on paper. 

    Most of my ideas come from memories of my childhood, people that I see each day, and words that just seem to snag in my head and bounce around.  Sometimes when I am out for a walk, the rhythm of my steps will just turn itself into a poem. 

2.  What are your hobbies?

    Well, obviously, I love to read and write.  However, I also love to play video games, watch old horror movies, ride my bike, and go walking.  My wife and I also love to go camping and travel.  Some of our favorite places to visit have been Key West, Florida; Cancun, Mexico; and Aruba.  In the future, I would love to visit England, Ireland, and Italy.

3.  What tips can you give to someone who wants to write?

    I always taught my students that you learn by doing.  Hands-on learning is the best way!  Get yourself a notebook that you use just for your writing and then write, write, write!  Try to schedule some time everyday when you just sit down and write about whatever comes into your head.  It doesn't have to make sense.  Perhaps it will make sense later or be the start of a story or poem that you want to finish.

    Don't let anyone tell you that what you are doing is a waste of time or is stupid.  You are the only person who can decide what is right for you.  If you enjoy writing, then do it.  If you don't enjoy writing, then obviously you aren't going to do it for very long.  It isn't something that you can fake.

4.  One of your poems in the book Nose Pickin' (and 50 Other Ways to Tickle Your Brain!) is about a hound.  Do you have a hound?

    Yes!  Her name is Sadie Belle.  She is a beagle and like the dog in the poem, she doesn't like the snow.  I sometimes wondered if she wanted to wear boots while she was outside in the winter time.

    My wife and I love animals.  We have two dogs.  The other dog is named Pepper, and she is a cocker-spaniel mix.  We also have two goldfish.  I also love cats, but we can't have any because they make Pepper go CRAZY! 

5.  What is a Kentucky Colonel?  How did you become one?

    According to the Kentucky Colonel website, from the beginning, the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels has had the advancement of Kentucky and Kentuckians as its guiding principal. "The beginning" was late one Saturday afternoon in May of 1931. A group of Colonels wishing to organize into a formal unit met with Governor Flem Sampson. Minutes of that meeting show the Governor directed the attendees to "formulate a society to more closely band together this group into a great non-political brotherhood for the advancement of Kentucky and Kentuckians."

Today, some 70 years later, the Honorable Order continues to exemplify the ideals spelled out in that organizational meeting May 4, 1931. The Order is a non-profit corporation with IRS section 501 (c) (3) status. Utilizing contributions from those who hold the title "Kentucky Colonel", the Order annual distributes grants to needy organizations and educational institutions.

    I became a Kentucky Colonel because I was recommended by another Kentucky Colonel.  I was commissioned under the office of Kentucky Governor Paul E. Patton in 2002.

6.  What is a National Board Certified Teacher?

    A National Board Certified Teacher is a teacher who has completed the process of submitting a portfolio of work as a teacher and also a written exam.  It is based on high and meticulous standards in teaching.  It is one of the highest achievements that a teacher can obtain.

7.  Hey, I have a question that wasn't answered on this page.  Can I send you my question?

    Yes!  I will try my very best to answer your questions and post them to this page if at all possible.  You can send me questions by email at alfugate@yahoo.com .