Road
Trip Carolina, A Ride Across the Old North State
NEW BOOK PERFECT FOR SUMMERTIME
Just in time for summer adventures and memorable vacations comes
Road Trip Carolina, A Ride Across the Old
North State, the new children’s book by local author Missy Julian Fox and
textile artist/illustrator Elaine O’Neil. Their successful work on Goodnight Carolina, a book about Chapel
Hill and the University of North Carolina, led them to team up again on a
fun-filled invitation to explore their home state.
Buckle your seat belt for a lively trip! Cruise across
mountain peaks and sandy shores. Travel to storied landmarks and enchanting
sights. Road Trip Carolina is certain to spark wanderlust in
the young explorer and cherished memories in those who already know and love North
Carolina.
The book travels across the state through four distinctly
wonderful seasons and stops in to visit legendary state sites – like
Grandfather Mountain and Biltmore from the Blue Ridge Parkway. It continues through the Piedmont and
Sandhills and on to the beach to "bury toes in silky sand" and fly
kites at the Wright Brothers Memorial. Energetic, rhythmic, playful and
educational, words and illustrations capture the heart and intrigue of this
rich and diverse state.
Author Missy Julian Fox says, “So many people have been asking
us to do a book about North Carolina! This book captures why we love this state and
feel such pride to be a North Carolinian.”
Hillsborough illustrator Elaine O’Neil says, “I have been
creating North Carolina scenes for more than a decade now. For me, this beautiful state never fails to
fuel inspiration and ignite a creative spark!”
ABOUT THE
AUTHOR
MISSY JULIAN FOX, a born and bred North
Carolinian, lives in her hometown of Chapel Hill. Her elementary school
dreams were to be a mom, a teacher and a writer. Earning a B.A. degree in
English from Carolina and a M.Ed. from Boston University, Missy served as a
Title I reading teacher, forging a commitment to children, education and access
that continues to be a lifelong passion. She literally grew up in her
parents’ legendary clothing store, Julian’s, on Franklin Street. She
managed the business for 15 years as she raised her family and advocated for
downtown and her community. Currently, Missy works as Director of UNC
Visitors’ Center, connecting people to the University’s history, charm and
impact to the town, the state and beyond.
ABOUT THE
ILLUSTRATOR
ELAINE O’NEIL lives in Hillsborough, NC,
the great-granddaughter of a Maine lighthouse keeper, granddaughter of a farmer
and daughter of an ardent seamstress. She has been re-creating
the places we love in North Carolina with her unique textile collage art for over
a decade. Instead of using paint, she creates each image using a myriad
of fabric colors and textures, all painstakingly sewn together, to evoke a
sense of place and connection with wonderful memories. She graduated from
Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science, earning a B.S. degree in textile
design. Her work is featured in galleries and shops across North Carolina and
the USA. The North Carolina Cancer Hospital displays a collection of her
art to inspire and honor patients from all 100 counties in the state.
