The Story Behind the Story
Meet Carrie Volpe
A childhood love of Halloween, a school writing contest at age 13, and one very special calico cat — that's where The Magical Pumpkin began.
About Carrie
Carrie Volpe has loved Halloween and storytelling since she was a child. The idea for The Magical Pumpkin first began when she was just 13 years old and wrote the original story for a school writing contest.
Years later, Carrie returned to that childhood idea and brought Hope, Joey, the Magical Pumpkin, and Cali to life in a colorful Halloween adventure for a new generation of readers.
Inspired by her love of Halloween, family traditions, imagination, and creating lasting memories, Carrie writes stories that combine fun and magic with meaningful lessons about kindness, friendship, responsibility, and thinking of others.
Cali, the calico cat featured in The Magical Pumpkin, is inspired by Carrie's real-life cat and has become a special part of the story's world.
Carrie hopes The Magical Pumpkin becomes a Halloween tradition families look forward to reading together year after year — and this is only the beginning of more magical adventures to come.
— Carrie Volpe
Author of The Magical Pumpkin
Where the Magic Came From
"I wanted The Magical Pumpkin to become a Halloween tradition families look forward to reading together year after year."
The story began as a 13-year-old's entry in a school writing contest. Decades later, Carrie brought those same characters — Hope, Joey, the Magical Pumpkin, and Cali — back to life for a whole new generation of readers.
A Few Things About Carrie
Has loved Halloween since childhood — it's her favorite holiday.
Wrote the original Magical Pumpkin story at just 13 years old.
Cali the calico cat in the book is inspired by her real-life cat.
Believes family traditions and lasting memories are life's greatest gifts.
More magical adventures are already in the works!
Get in Touch
Interested in school visits, library events, or just want to say hello? Reach out — hearing from young readers and their grown-ups is the best part of this whole adventure.
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