Special to IFN

Southern author Joe Hudson knows how to find humor and hope in most of his daily encounters and can weave a tale about them that will captivate readers from start to finish.

His newest book, “A View From the Front Porch,” is a collection of such tales.

Hudson wants his readers to see themselves in the characters he writes about and the experiences he shares.

“I love when someone tells me how they connected to one of my stories and it has made them feel a little more positive about themselves and the world,” explained Hudson. “The front porch is more than just a symbol for a comfortable place with a view. … It’s where relationships and connections are made. That’s what these stories are about.”

Hudson’s new book can be purchased at gg’s Art Frames Gifts, located at 125 W. Broad Street in Statesville.

He will be signing copies of the book at gg’s annual holiday open house from 1 to 4 p.m. on November 10.

“A View From the Front Porch” can also be ordered online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Hudson’s columns are published each month in “IFN Monthly,” which is available in more than 125 locations across Iredell County, and on the North Carolina Writers Network. When he isn’t writing, the retired government employee is often busy serving as a Statesville City Council member.

His recollections of growing up on a farm in eastern North Carolina, adventures in raising a family with his wife Louise, and observations about everyday life make for memorable reading in his newest book, as well as his first publication, “Big Decisions Are Best Made With Hot Dogs.”