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Alexis Chateau

Content Strategy Portfolio

Email | Website | Facebook | Instagram| Twitter

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Table of Contents

Content Page No.

Overview 4

History & Experience 4

Vision 4

Highlights 5 - 8

Featured in The Tennessee Tribune 5

Editors’ Pick on WordPress 6

Trending on Quora 7

Published on EliteDaily 8

Content Promotion 9 - 15

Social Media Marketing 9 - 12

Facebook Ad 9

Instagram Ad 10

Twitter Post 11

Memes 12

Promotional Article 13 - 15

Writing Samples 16 - 35

Business Writing 16 - 25

Entrepreneurship 16 - 17

PR, Marketing & Sales 18 - 19

Business Plan 20 - 22

Press Release 23

Editorial 24 - 25

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Table of Contents

Content Page No.

Writing Samples (cntd.) 16 - 35

Lifestyle Blogging 26 - 35

Travel Blogging 26 - 28

Health and Fitness ` 29 - 31

Personal Essay 32 - 33

Interview 34 - 35

Editing in Fiction 36 - 38

Website Building 39

Websites 39

Godigio 39

I.S. Enterprise Construction Inc. 39

Website Copy 40 - 41

TwoToneTheArtist’s Home Page 40

Alexis Chateau About Me Page 41

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Overview

HISTORY & EXPERIENCE

Freelancing has been a long-standing passion of mine for roughly ten years. I’ve freelanced not only as a writer, but as a social media manager, community manager, executive assistant, content manager, college tutor, and foreign language tutor (English). Today, I mostly work as a content strategist, which covers all areas of curating, creating, researching, writing, editing, and sharing content across a variety of platforms. I also created more than half a dozen websites for myself and clients, and still regularly contribute to five of them.

VISION

My aim is to build a small, steady clientele based on repeat business. For this reason, I only accept a small amount of offers each week, so that I can focus on not just completing assignments, but doing so to the best of my ability.

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Featured in the Tennessee Tribune

A business trip to Tennessee in March 2016, resulted in a press opportunity with the CNN

crew, Jesse Boyce, Anthony Bourdain, and members of the Godigio Team. I am in the

bottom row, second from left.

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Editors’ Pick on WordPress

Halfway through an 18-hour long road trip, I learned that the article I penned the night

before, had become an Editor’s pick on WordPress. This opportunity doubled the following

on my blog in a month. The article is still my most successful piece to date.

Click here to read Translating Becky with the Good Hair.

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Trending on Quora

Reached 734,700 views in 30 days, in September 2016.

Trending in several topics on Quora, including: Jamaica, travel blogging,

freelancing, and blogging platforms.

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Published on Elite Daily

Mar 18, 20163:00pm

Click here to view the published article.

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Social Media Marketing

Facebook Ad

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Instagram Ad

See the blog post advertised here.

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Twitter Post

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Memes

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Promotional Article

5 Great Things you Can only Enjoy in Jamaica

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This summer will make it one year since I've been away from my tiny island - the longest

I've ever spent away in my entire life. In that time, I've come to realise that Jamaica might

not be the land of opportunity for all, but there are still many unbeatable experiences to be

had.

As a tropical island, Jamaica shares many other characteristics with islands nearby - and

even islands halfway around the world. The beaches are great, the food is delicious, the

climate is warm, and the people are friendly. However, like any other country, there are

some things Jamaica does better than anyone else.

So here are five great things you can only enjoy in Jamaica - whether you're a national, an

expat, or just visiting for the first time.

Jerk Chicken on the Roadside

Ask any Jamaican what they miss about home, and this will likely make the list. Jamaican

jerk chicken is basically grilled chicken, but much spicier and far more flavourful than

you'll find anywhere else. For pesco-vegetarians like myself, there are also seafood options,

which are just as good.

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It might seem unhygienic to buy our food on the roadside from a random stranger, but

nothing smells better to you than jerk chicken or roast fish after a long day at the beach, or

while coming home from a party at 4 in the morning. I promise you.

In my 25 years of living on the island, I never heard of any instances where nationals,

expats, or visitors became sick from eating jerked food from roadside vendors. However, if

you'd rather not take your chances, restaurants do make jerk chicken, pork, and fish, which

is usually as good.

While jerk chicken is almost guaranteed to taste amazing no matter where you get it from

on the island, the absolute best jerk is made in Portland, Jamaica. The picture above is from

Boston Jerk in Boston Bay, Portland.

Read the full article here.

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Entrepreneurship

10 Factors Affecting How Much you Can Charge your

Clients

Negotiating with a client about how much to pay you for your services is a lot like

negotiating your salary at a corporate job. However, freelancers experience greater

freedom in deciding their pay rate, and with that freedom comes great responsibility.

In another blog post, I’ll offer tips on how to negotiate with a client for a fair price. But in

this post, let’s take a look at ten factors that decide what a fair price is. After all, to get a fair

price in freelancing, one must first set a fair price. Here’s what you should consider.

1. Field or Industry

Different fields command different going-rates. For instance, freelance writing doesn’t

command nearly as much money as graphic design. Likewise, building a website doesn’t

attract nearly as much money from clients, as building an app.

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The more technical an area is, and the more scarce the skill, the more clients are willing to

pay for it.

2. Professional Experience

Professional experience refers to the number of years you’ve worked in a specific field. It

also refers to the range of work completed. For instance, a writer is nowhere near as

marketable as someone who has also done editing, social media management, website

building, and HTML coding.

Consider the professional areas you’ve dabbled in over the years that can bring value to

your clients, and the task at hand.

3. Freelance Experience

It may seem like professional experience may be enough, but it’s not. Freelancing requires

a level of independence and self-motivation that working a corporate job does not.

You must also have resources on hand that you can no longer rely on an office to provide.

These may include private office space, computers, printers, scanners, phones, special

computer programs that cost a fortune, and graphic tablets.

If the freelance position requires working from home, then virtual experience becomes

even more important. Many clients are hesitant to hire freelancers who have not worked in

a virtual environment before, no matter how impressive their professional experience.

4. Educational Qualifications

Some clients may not ask questions about your educational background at all, and only pay

attention to portfolios and work samples. However, for freelancers in more technical

areas, degrees and certifications definitely provide a one-up over other candidates.

Larger and more established clients are more likely to be interested in your educational

qualifications. They may insist on English degrees for writers, business degrees for

assistants, and so on, so forth.

5. Portfolio or Work Samples

It’s virtually impossible to survive freelancing without a portfolio and work samples, even

if you have a website declaring how amazing you are. People want to see what you’re

capable of before hiring you, and may even request that you complete a trial piece before

taking you on.

Read the full article here.

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PR, Marketing & Sales

How Soulja Boy Used Social Media to Become Rich &

Famous

When music connoisseurs consider the best rappers of this generation, few people would

think to add Soulja Boy to that list, except in jest. But, when it comes to the most successful,

he definitely deserves a place. Soulja Boy may not write the most profound lyrics in the rap

game, but he can teach even public relations and marketing experts a thing or two about

how to build a successful brand.

As of November 24th 2015, Soulja Boy reigns over an impressive 4.81 million followers on

Twitter alone – roughly three times his following in 2009. The artist also maintains a

YouTube channel which draws millions of views. Today, he mostly raps about his lavish

lifestyle and the money he made from his music, in explicit songs like “Diamonds & Gold”

and “Make it Rain”.

How did he do it? And how can you use his methods to achieve similar success? Read on to

find out.

1. Make use of Freebies

Companies should make use of free or cost-effective opportunities which do not cut into

the bottom line. These opportunities should not only relate to marketing and advertising,

but also production and distribution.

For instance, Soulja Boy used Soundclick and MySpace to build his name, grow his brand

and increase visibility. He then released his future platinum selling recording on YouTube,

which generated a lot of interest and income, and later landed him a recording deal. This

may cost a lot of time, but it didn’t cost him a cent.

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2. Use Multiple Platforms and Link Them

Soulja Boy does not rely on one or two social media platforms to boost his success. Instead,

he uses quite a few; including YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and several others. He then

links the pages to each other to capitalize on the fact that different platforms provide

different ways of representing himself and his brand.

3. Create Something Catchy

This is often a hit or miss, but if companies can strike the right note and make something

that catches on or goes viral, this secures the visibility of their brand. This is what Soulja

Boy did when he not only created the “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” song, but also threw in a

catchy dance move that everyone wanted to try. The dance move coupled with the song

drove his music to viral stages.

4. Engage Your Audience

Creating content represents only one tiny facet of engaging with customers. After this,

companies should try to foster two way communications. Soulja Boy used this heavily -

especially in the beginning of his career - to talk to fans on Twitter. He even left them voice

messages on their phones using a service called SayNow.com.

In fact, unlike other labels and artists who use teams to connect with fans, he still speaks to

them directly on his own. He believes this is an important part of the bonding experience,

and enjoys doing it.

5. Use Keywords Effectively

The tags and keywords attached to blogs and articles are equally as important as the

content in attracting an audience. Those keywords provide the means by which the article

shows up in searches consumers make.

Email grantfreelancing@gmail.com for the full article.

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Business Plan

Premier Guardian

Description of the Business

Companies and expatriates contract Premier Guardian Ltd. to offer protective services

while working in volatile environments.

Vision Statement

We will protect the lives of your expatriates with our own.

Mission

Purpose of the Business

To provide our customers and their families with a feeling of safety and peace of

mind, regardless of the dangers present in the environments in which they do

business.

Services Provided

Armored Chauffeured Transportation

Visible Bodyguard Services

Discreet Services

Home Security

Training in Self Defense Techniques

Family Accompaniment (combinations of services for family members)

Corporate Values

To maintain ethical principles in our everyday actions, regardless of the dangerous

environments in which we do business.

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To place the needs of our customers above our own; both in the field, and in the

office.

To foster a feeling of social responsibility amongst our Premier Guardians and

thereby give back to the communities in which we operate.

To always remember that we are first and foremost a Jamaican company and will

respectfully represent our country in all our operations; at home and abroad.

Our Ultimate Goal

To become the top contracted private security company in Iraq, and all of the

Caribbean & Latin America.

Target Market

We intend to target a niche market which consists of expatriates who are assigned to

Trinidad and/or Iraq.

Market Segmentation

Most of our clients are single males between the ages of 30 to 50 years old, from Europe,

and the United States of America. However, our services can also be tailored for expatriates

with spouses and/ or children.

Market Position

We differentiate our business from others by doing more than monitoring security: we

enforce it. We protect our customers’ lives with our own, and hold ourselves fully

accountable for mishaps which occur on our watch. Unlike most bodyguard and mercenary

services, our service offering can also be tailored to fit the needs of that particular client or

that of his family.

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PROJECTED BALANCE SHEET

ASSETS

Current Assets

Cash (Working Capital) $6,000,000.00

Accounts Receivable $300,000,000.00

Prepaid Expenses $0.00

Inventory $1,000,000.00

TOTAL CURRENT

ASSETS $307,000,000.00

Fixed Assets $8,366,080.00

TOTAL ASSETS $315,366,080.00

s

LIABILITIES AND OWNERS EQUITY

Current Liabilities $20,000,000.00

(Accounts payable, Phone,

taxes $11,000,000.00

Long Term Liabilities $0.00

Total Liabilities $31,000,000.00

OWNERS' EQUITY

Partner #1 $100,000,000.00

Partner #2 $80,000,000.00

Partner #3 $60,000,000.00

Other Equity (Family Members) $30,366,000.00

Retained earnings $0.00

Total Owners Equity $270,366,000.00

Email grantfreelancing@gmail.com for the full document.

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Press Release

Cindy Capitani Hired by North Arlington

The Mayor and Council of the North Arlington borough in New Jersey recently hired a new

representative to assist with public relations and communications efforts. As a writer and

public relations specialist, Cindy Capitani, comes from the Scott Capitani Lubertazzo/SCL

Writing Pros PR firm. As a result, she brings years of experience and journalist contacts to

the table.

North Arlington is only one of many government bodies now looking to PR experts to

handle activities usually done in-house on a smaller scale. These duties have ranged from

reputation management and reducing public panic, to streamlining messages and

communicating with the media.

Working Together

North Arlington recently took Cindy Capitani on board to handle all PR activities for the

Mayor and Council. This includes handling press releases and managing the related social

media accounts. For this work, Cindy Capitani will get $15,000 in contract money; plus

another $15,000 to manage the website.

Though it is now the only Southern Bergen County town with a public relations specialist

on board, North Arlington is no stranger to working with firms and experts from the field.

Up until the end of 2014, Thom Ammirato previously handled these services. In addition to

this, the borough also works with Robert Ceberio from RCM Ceberio, LLC.

Source: http://www.northjersey.com/community-news/town-government/n-arlington-

council-hires-public-relations-firm-at-30k-a-year-1.1505665

Send an email to grantfreelancing@gmail.com for the full article.

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Editorial

European PR Firms Lobbying for the Bad Guys of Climate

Change Climate change only gets more attention as years go by. For this reason, every company

tries to show its green side by making green products or taking part in green causes.

Though many companies still deny climate change, most still want to seem as if they care to

keep good business. To this end some ‘big polluters’ in Europe hired PR firms to paint a

greener image to the public.

The Corporate Europe Observatory exposed these companies and their allies in a report in

December 2015. The study not only names the offenders and the PR firms behind them, but

also describes the tactics used to deceive the public about the real agenda.

The PR Ethics of Backing ‘Green Pretenders’

Ethics in PR is often a crooked, gray line. Like lawyers, PR experts must often defend clients

with shady backgrounds and bad intentions. While PR firms could give up these clients,

many prefer to keep clients for the money. As a result, a big part of doing business in PR is

representing and even supporting the bad guys.

When it comes to green causes, PR’s reputation stands at its worst. Edelman’s involvement

with deniers of climate change, for instance, not only damaged its image but also cost it

quite a few clients. Rather than learn from this lesson, many PR firms still take on clients

who fight against climate change policies.

PR firms should take a step back and think about how aiding and abetting ‘climate

criminals’ can affect the clients they attract (or lose!). While big money now might seem

like a great incentive, a bad reputation later on may follow. And no one should know that

better than the experts in PR.

GasNaturally - Polluting the Air

Six gas lobby groups support this company’s goal to paint natural gas as a good option for

switching from oil to other alternatives. The PR giant supporting this fossil fuel company is

Fleishman Hillard.

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According to the report, “GasNaturally does not appear as a client in Fleishman Hillard’s EU

Transparency Register entry. However, it shares an address with Fleishman Hillard”. The

PR firm’s website also boasts its relationship with the company. It claims that GasNaturally

charged it with the duty of making the public more aware of the benefits to the

environment of using the product.

But this claim is far from true. In fact, one study showed that using natural gas could

actually increase the carbon dioxide emissions by 10% in the next 35 years. Even the

methods of extracting natural gas prove harmful as often times, fracking is used. This

causes greenhouse gases, like methane, to enter the atmosphere, and do more damage.

Yet Fleishman Hillard makes an annual ‘Gas Week’ for the client, which brings EU

policymakers together with company executives to discuss climate change policy. The

event also includes a cocktail party, and a workshop.

Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) – Endangering Already Endangered Species

Even government-owned bodies are guilty of hiring PR firms to cast a green shadow over

harmful activities. For the latter half of 2015, many rainforests in Indonesia caught fire, due

in part to the palm oil industry. This not only caused widespread respiratory illnesses in

the region, but also affected several endangered species.

In response, the MPOC hired Havas Paris to fix the growing concern in Europe about how

the palm oil industry negatively affected the environment. Havas Paris launched the

campaign in September of 2015, while the rainforest was still ablaze. It then outsourced the

campaign to Gracias Press in Belgium.

Havas Paris built a website to provide biased information to consumers, and launched a

corresponding social media campaign to bolster it. The firm then threw in a more

traditional print and poster campaign, alongside a documentary which aimed to show how

sustainable palm oil was.

Meanwhile, Yusof Basiron, President of the MPOC presented a contrasting image on Twitter

and to the general public. He rebelled against pressure from environmental friendly groups

on the palm oil industry to change. He also advocated for the turning of the rainforest into

plantations, and reproached NGOs for putting more emphasis on saving the ensnared

animals, instead of just putting out the fire.

Send an email to grantfreelancing@gmail.com for the full article.

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Travel Blogging

10 Things you Probably didn't Know about

Jamaica

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I was born in Jamaica, and lived there for 25 of my 26 years. With that said, you're likely

wondering if the stereotypes are true. Am I Bob Marley's biggest fan? Do I smoke weed?

And wow... isn't Jamaica just the most amazing little slice of paradise ever? No to the first

two, and sometimes to the last.

But to share some real truths about my home country, here are ten things you probably

didn’t know about Jamaica – as told by a Jamaican.

#10: Foreigners Love Bob Marley more than We Do

When most people think of Jamaica, they think of Bob Marley and reggae music, so it might

surprise you to know that Bob Marley is still respected, but not a favourite on the island. A

lot of non-Jamaicans find this very difficult to believe. After all, Bob Marley is a legend. Well,

so is Elvis Presley. How many Americans in 2016 count him as a favourite musician?

The popularity of reggae has long been drowned out by blaring dancehall music - its violent

and explicit mutation. To put dancehall into better perspective for you, here's a fun fact:

Rap music actually began in Jamaica in the 1960s as dancehall, and then spread to the United

States as rap.

Aside from dancehall, we listen to music that has become popular in America and Europe.

The country’s largest music festivals have featured lineups that include musicians like Nicki

Minaj, Mariah Carey, Lil Wayne, and Alicia Keys.

Skrillex also frequents Jamaica for shows in Kingston. The subsequent influence of

Jamaican culture is easily heard in songs like "Bangarang" (an old-school Creole word

meaning "loud noise/music"), "Ragga Bomb", and "First of the Year".

#9: Jamaicans Can’t Swim

Smack dab in the tropics, Jamaica has some of the best white sand, pristine beaches in the

world. The mere fact that the country is a tropical island also means that Jamaica is

completely surrounded by the beautiful Caribbean Sea. Yet, in spite of this fact, many

Jamaicans cannot swim - possibly most of us.

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My expatriate friends on the island often joked that you can almost always spot the

Jamaicans at the beach, when you go. We are usually on the shore, getting our feet wet and

taking pictures. Swimming and snorkeling are for the tourists; not the locals. Most of the

nationals are just there to enjoy the view.

Of course, that doesn’t apply to everyone. Some locals are avid swimmers at the amateur,

competitive, and professional levels. Some also dive, snorkel, paddle board, and surf -

myself included. However, being unable to swim is not uncommon or unusual.

#8: Jamaicans Speak English

It's a common expectation of Jamaicans to have a heavy accent and to speak the island’s

dialect, called patois. However, not only are there Jamaicans who don't speak the island’s

Creole, but there are also nationals who don't understand it. In fact, contrary to popular

opinion, the island’s official language is English.

This is owing to the fact that Jamaica is a Commonwealth country. In other words, Jamaica

was once the property of Britain, and still owes its allegiance to the Queen, even though it is

self-governing.

Subsequently, business and academia are all conducted in English. And although patois is a

common dialect spoken by almost everyone on the island, it's often considered

inappropriate in schools and business, because it's too informal.

#7: Cell Phone Ownership is higher in Jamaica than in the U.S.

Even in the First World, most countries can only boast a mobile subscription rate in the 80

and 90 percentile range. The United States, for instance, boasts a subscription percentage

of 98% of its population. Canada boasts 83%. As of 2015, Jamaica has a mobile subscription

rate of 107% of its population.

Click here to see the full article.

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Health & Fitness

10 Ways to Prep your Body for Swimsuit Season

We all want the perks of a healthy lifestyle - whether it's the six pack abs, low cholesterol,

high stamina, or the ultimate summer body. But not everyone is willing to put in the work. A

big reason for this is that many of us think it's more work than it actually is.

Being healthy doesn't mean cutting off dessert forever and hitting the gym every day for the

rest of your life. It's about making small lifestyle changes that add up over time.

Here are ten tips to help you get started.

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1. Drink More Water.

Wanna know how important water is? If you don't drink it you'll die. Lucky for us, water is a

component of many other things we eat and drink like fruits, vegetables, and even sodas.

But to truly get the benefits of water, we need to drink the real deal.

Some of the benefits of water include cancer prevention, natural detoxing, better moods,

better performance at the gym, less joint pains, clearer skin, and of course, weight loss.

Try substituting sodas, teas, and juices with water as much as possible to cut down on

calorie intake. And be sure to hydrate on days that are especially hot, as well as days you

plan to get your workout in.

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2. Join a Gym.

There is a gym membership for virtually any budget – if you know where to look. Often

times, colleges and apartment complexes include gym access as a free perk. Be sure to check

if yours do before signing up for a paid gym membership. Your college may also have

partnerships with gyms to provide you a student discount.

If you do join a gym but can't afford a personal trainer, the staff should still be able to assist

you with choosing the right machines, based on your fitness goals and current body type. In

fact, from personal experience, even other people at the gym will usually step in to lend a

hand or offer a word of advice in good faith.

Click here to see the full article.

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Personal Essay

Homeless in College

"If I spend one more semester in this house the next time you see me it will be through

prison bars."

Those were the cryptic words I told my mother after my sophomore year came to a close –

and I was serious.

How it all Began...

The freshman year of my bachelor's degree started off as the adventure of a lifetime.

Knowing nothing about Kingston, Jamaica I ended up moving into an inner-city

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neighborhood run by Rastafarian thugs. The house I stayed at was dark and dreary and the

elderly people hosting me were the most miserable human beings I had ever met.

One morning, on my way to school, I had to pull a knife out on a thug who harassed me after

I rejected his catcalling. That earned me the respect of the community, but in that moment,

I knew it was time to move.

After a few weeks of looking, I found a flat in a community filled with other college students.

My housemates were a great mix of guys and girls and we got along great. We kept to

ourselves, paid the bills on time, had a great landlady, and respected each other's privacy.

The She-Devil

Then, she came.

She was the housemate from hell - a sheltered country bumpkin who had likely never been

on her own before. She looked weird, smelled weird, talked weird, and had a habit of

referring to me as "you people" and "people like you" in a derisive tone.

One day, in annoyance I asked her to explain herself. "You light skinned people," she

expanded; as though by being born a lighter color than herself I had offended her somehow.

I held my tongue in that instance, but let it loose on her every other time. She drove me up a

wall. If I left my room, she was waiting. If I stayed in my room, she came knocking. When I

was away, I would come back to find that she had used my things.

When my boyfriend came by, she did everything to be seen. One day I told her if she wanted

him, she had my full permission to try her luck. She would need it. When she looked at him,

he ducked, went back to the room and shut the door.

"Why did you say that?" he asked me. "I don't want her anywhere near me."

Email grantfreelancing@gmail.com for the full article.

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Interview

Going Rogue: Advice for Budding Entrepreneurs

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of speaking with Alexander Powell, a fellow Jamaican

entrepreneur. He too believes in the importance of turning our dreams into achievable

goals, and making them a reality. But more importantly, he has firsthand knowledge and

experience, from building Jamaica’s first social media network from the ground up.

I know Alexander has much better advice for budding entrepreneurs than I could ever offer.

Check out my interview with him below.

STARTING YOUNG

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They say many entrepreneurs began their first ventures as children. Would you

say this is true for you? And if yes, what kind of business ventures did you get

into as a child?

Oh boy. I didn't think of them as ventures then, but my entrepreneurship résumé includes

candy retail, grasshopper pet services, remote tech-support, and graphic design consulting.

I believed in diversification... and I needed money to buy Yu-Gi-Oh cards.

Did you always want to be a techie entrepreneur as a child? If not, what made

you decide to pursue a career in this field?

I've always loved technology and dial-up gave me lots of time to think about it as a child.

Technology entrepreneurship satisfies my inner detective. Piecing together the clues of

customer desire to figure out just what will make their lives better suits me well. I also have

a high tolerance for risk, which certainly helps.

How did you find other business partners and employees to help make this

techie-dream a reality?

This one was easy. We've all been friends since we were 11 years old. We've been a team

since our time at Jamaica's Campion College.

OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO SUCCESS

What was your biggest struggle while developing and running your business?

How did you handle the situation?

There hasn't been a specific "we're going to crash, grab your parachute" situation. The

biggest challenge has been being underfunded and overworked, while balancing the health

of our friendships with the health of the mission. The solution I've found is focusing on

leveraging healthy friendships in order to support the business.

Click here to see the full article.

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Editing and Fiction

September 1836

Common Pleas Hearing, Steubenville, Ohio

If I could peek through a crack in the Steubenville courtroom and see the events of

September in 1836, what might I have seen?

Wall sconces, perhaps – the flicker of light dancing on the wall as people breathed uneasily

in their seats. I picture men in dark tail coats over pantaloons, and double-breasted vests,

covering up neatly pressed linen shirts – every stitch of cloth hand-sewn by women in a

time when the delicate sex was known for little more than household chores.

I picture these women, too, wearing long dresses with full skirts, and flowery caplets. On

their heads would be tiny bonnets keeping tame long tresses that had no doubt been teased

by an autumn wind.

By the window, insects would buzz and squirm their way inside to escape the Ohioan cold.

Outside, the clip and clop of horse shoes on the cobble stone pavements would echo loudly,

amidst the colorful chirp of birds making song in the flame-colored trees.

And as they waited for the court to be called to session, the whispers of men and women

would join them – a low buzz growing into an apprehensive clamor of concern.

Is that what Isabella Huston saw when she set eyes on the inside of a courtroom, for what

may have been the very first time? Before the day’s end, she would leave an altered woman,

owing to the decisions of the common pleas judge. The most difficult decision involved the

selection of new guardians for the children she had birthed.

Such a cruel thing to suffer, and even worse, to suffer it so far away from home. And yet, it

was just another hurdle for Isabella, another hill to climb.

It all started two years prior, when her husband, John Huston, passed away. An ambitious

man, John had worked hard to make a happy home and provide for his family. Then, like a

flash of lightning, his light went out and left nothing but darkness where he had shined so

brilliantly before.

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This left Isabella to manage the farm, take care of the children, and manage household

duties. In a time when single mothers and independent women were almost unheard of,

only her resilient spirit kept her alive.

But on this day, John wouldn’t be the only thing she had lost.

Today, she would lose their babies as well…

At least five others from Isabella’s small, countryside community of Brush Creek Township

joined her in the Courtroom. There was James Love; Joseph D. Holmes; bachelor brothers,

Matt and John Russell; and their cousin, Robert Russell. Natives of Ireland, Matt and John

were nephews of the late pioneer Matthew Russell, who passed away in 1830.

Having migrated from Pennsylvania shortly after 1800, Matthew, his wife, Susannah, and

their children were among the very first settlers in Brush Creek Township. Matthew was a

native of County Tyrone, which was the homeland of John and Isabella.

His family had also settled in lands all over the Brush Creek valley. Thus, John and Isabella

had developed a strong bond with the Russell family; especially with Matt, John, Arthur and

Sarah, who were close in age with the Hustons.

While in court, Isabella was likely asked the name and ages of her children. This must have

felt like pouring salt in the wound. Little did she know the one thing that might have given

her some small comfort. The Rusells’ friendship would soon turn them to kin when her son

married Sarah Russel’s daughter in 1853.

Recorded in the Jefferson County, Ohio Common Pleas Journal H, page 327, Sept. 1836.

---------------------------------

Original Text

If I could peek through a crack in the ceiling of the Steubenville courtroom in September of

1836, what might I see and hear? Wall sconces glowing with flickering light. Men in dark

tail coats, linen shirts, doubled-breasted vests, and pantaloons. Every stitch hand-sewn by a

woman. Women in long full dresses, capelets, and bonnets. Every stitch hand-sewn by a

woman. Insects buzzing in and out of open windows. The clip-clop of horse hooves on the

A L E X I S C H A T E A U P a g e | 38

streets outside. Birds chirping in early autumn trees. Whispers of men and women waiting

for court to be called into session.

This might be the first time Isabella Huston had ever seen the inside of a courtroom. On this

day, decisions made by the common pleas judge could alter her life, including the selection

of guardians for her two young children. As if life hadn't been cruel enough to this young

lady - so far away from home! Just another hurdle to jump. Another hill to climb. Another

smack in the face to further toughen her resilient spirit! It all started over two years ago

following the death of her ambitious 35-year-old husband, John Huston. So many more

goals they planned to achieve! So quickly they had moved along -- working hard to make

once-impossible dreams come true! Then, in a blink of an eye he was gone! She was left to

manage the farm, the babies, the hunting, the house. . .everything. . .on her own! How

heartbreaking it must have been! And John wasn't all she lost! How much can a woman's

heart be called upon to bear? At least five others from Isabella's rural community of Brush

Creek Township joined her in the courtroom. James Love, Joseph D. Holmes, bachelor

brothers Matt and John Russell, and their cousin, Robert Russell, were all in attendance.

Matt and John were natives of Ireland and nephews of the late pioneer Matthew Russell,

who died in 1830. Matthew, his wife, Susannah, and their children were among the very

first settlers of Brush Creek Township, having migrated from Pennsylvania shortly after

1800. He was also a native of County Tyrone - John and Isabella's homeland. He had family

living in land sections all over the Brush Creek valley. John and Isabella had obviously

grown close to the large Russell family, particularly Matt and John and Arthur and Sarah,

who were all close in age with the Huston's. Yet, Isabella would have no idea at this time

that they would one day be kin, when her son married Arthur and Sarah Russell's daughter

in 1853. While court was in session, Isabella was likely asked the names and ages of her

children. Recorded in the Jefferson County, Ohio Common Pleas Journal H, page 327, Sept.

1836:

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Godigio Website

I.S. Enterprise Construction Website

A L E X I S C H A T E A U P a g e | 40

TwoToneTheArtist’s Home Page

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In The Beginning

I started my career in music fifteen years ago in Peoria, Illinois, after my parents’ divorce took me from an upscale community and into the ‘hood. Thrust into a new environment with new people in a new school with new opportunities, I steadily moved away from nu-metal and industrial rock to focus on rap.

Stepping my Game Up

Realizing that music was more than just a hobby, I invested in a studio, which I continued to upgrade over the years. Over the past decade, this studio not only allowed me to record and produce my own music, but to work with other great musicians, as well; especially after moving to Atlanta to pursue my dreams.

Global Opportunities

Unfortunately, the Atlanta music scene wasn’t half as promising as it seemed from all the way up north in Illinois, but I’ve enjoyed playing shows, making music, and working with other independent artists from California, Georgia, Virginia, Illinois, Sweden, and even Iran.

Outside of Music

I’d love to tell you my life revolves solely around music, but while it certainly plays a huge role in it, there are other passions I’m currently pursuing. I love animals, collect retro-video games, and might be slightly obsessed with zombie films, comedy, hiking, and working out.

Since I spend so much time around the computer making music and playing video games anyway, I also decided to go back to school to major in computer science. The Spanish and Calculus are kicking my ass, but my experience thus far in life has taught me that there are far worse things to grapple with than second languages and math.

The Road Ahead

Needless to say, it’s been one hell of a journey, but it ain’t over yet. I look forward to connecting with old fans and new, growing my audience, and…

Visit the page here.

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Alexis Chateau’s About Me Page

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About Alexis

How this all Started… In 2014, I turned down a lot of opportunities to travel and experience the world, because I

am a woman and women almost always prefer stability and safety to risk. After saying no

to what might have been an amazing experience in Australia, I promised myself that for

2015, my resolution was to take risks – calculated risks, but risks all the same.

Since then, I have gotten more involved in charities, and built relationships with people

who opened doors for me I never could have on my own. I quit my full-time job in Jamaica,

gave up my apartment, condensed my life into three suitcases, and left the country. I’m now

doing everything I was too scared to try in 2014.

My Career Taking that risk was the best decision I ever made. I saw so much, and did things I never

thought myself capable of. One of those things was becoming a full-time writer and actually

making a living from it. As I don’t believe in giving advice I can’t follow, this turn in my

career compelled me to create this website, and more recently College Mate, your survival

guide for college.

I’ve since learned the unfortunate truth that though many of us start blogs with high hopes

of success, statistics show that 95% of blogs fail and that most bloggers quit in just three

months. This might surprise you, but when you start running your own website you quickly

begin to see why. It takes a lot of time and effort and not everyone has the time, the skills,

or the energy to keep up with it.

This blog started with 25 views per month in July 2015 and now gets up to a thousand

views per day, and up to 118 views per hour. My other blog, College Mate, also does well

with up to 8000 views per month. All this, after more than a year of research,

experimentation and hands-on public relations. Not bad for a one-woman show….

Visit the page here.

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Thank you for viewing my portfolio. For more writing samples, please email me at

grantfreelancing@gmail.com.

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