Ally Kirkpatrick sitting at a table with books in a bookstore, smiling at the camera. Books with titles like 'Death of the Author,' 'I SOLA,' and 'Black Woods Blue Sky' are displayed in front of her, along with a sign that reads 'New in Fiction.'

Building creative projects fueled by joy, purpose, and belonging

WRITER • SMALL BUSINESS OWNER • PROFESSIONAL CREATIVE

I'm Ally Kirkpatrick—writer, serial entrepreneur, and community builder who believes the best things happen when you stop waiting for permission and start building what you wish existed in the world.

Whether you're curious about collaborating or want to learn more about my book-in-progress, I'd love to connect!

HERE’S WHAT I’M ALL ABOUT

Creativity takes courage, and community makes it possible.

I'm a 'more is more' kind of person when it comes to creative projects. 

I believe in the power of stories to build worlds, and that the worlds we create—whether they're bookstores, businesses, or books themselves—should be generous, joyful, and brave.

My work is rooted in the idea that creativity isn't just a nice-to-have, it's a survival skill. And that the best creative work happens when we stop trying to do it all alone.

Having navigated everything from securing small business funding to raising three daughters while writing a book, I know what it feels like to need encouragement, practical advice, and someone who believes your wild ideas might just work. That's what I'm here to offer.

—Ally

Chocolate ice cream scoop with chocolate chunks.
Red fountain pen with gold nib and red plastic cap.
Image of a pencil shaving with a natural wood-colored surface and orange edge detail.

A few things I’m working on

Building more of what the world needs: joy, shared stories, and places to belong

Ally Kirkpatrick working on a laptop at a desk with a black and white dog lying on a nearby sofa, looking at the camera, in a cozy room with books and a vintage radio in the background.

Writing & Creative Consulting

I'm available for editorial writing assignments, creative consulting for small businesses, and workshops that help people make their big ideas real.

A woman arranging books behind a window, with various books on display in front of her, inside a bookstore or library, decorated for the holiday season with Christmas lights and ornaments.

The Book

The Animal Within the Animal is my memoir-in-progress about postpartum psychosis, recovery, and the long work of rebuilding identity.

A white, two-story building with black window frames and stars on the facade, situated at the corner of South Royal and Prince streets, with two cars parked in front and leafless trees around. Old Town Books, Alexandria VA.

The Bookstore

I'm the founder of Old Town Books, Alexandria's independent bookstore that's been building literary community for seven years.

Hand holding a vanilla ice cream cone with two scoops, against a blurred background of colorful books on shelves.

The Ice Cream Cart

Fabled Ice Cream is my newest venture—a storytelling-inspired ice cream pop-up with dreams of becoming a neighborhood scoop shop.

Ally Kirkpatrick standing in Old Town Books, holding a stack of books. She is wearing a black dress, black boots, and patterned socks.

MEET ALLY KIRKPATRICK

The person behind the projects

I’m a creative & community-builder with a knack for making what I wish existed in the world

Basically, I'm a dreamer who actually does the thing. I believe in putting your ideas out there, making space for what matters, and taking action on the passion projects that won't leave you alone. 

I hold an MA in Creative Nonfiction from NYU and am the owner of Old Town Books in Alexandria, VA. My work has appeared in Guernica Magazine, Edible DC, and Roxane Gay's The Audacity, and has been supported by residencies at VCCA, Vermont Studio Center, and Martha's Vineyard Institute.

As a writer, indie bookstore owner, serial entrepreneur, and mom of three, I know firsthand that meaningful creative work can absolutely happen within a full life. (... And within a full house of foster dogs.) 

Whether I'm securing small business funding, navigating a new venture, or working on my book in progress, my philosophy is pretty straightforward: go out there and do it. The world needs what you're dreaming up.

As seen in…

PRESS & CLIPS

My writing and entrepreneurial work have been featured in publications like Edible DC and The Audacity (Roxane Gay's newsletter), plus I've been supported by grants and residencies including the McCoy Grant for Bookseller-Writers and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts.

Washington Post Logo
Roxane Gay's 'The Audacity' newsletter logo.
Alexandria Stylebook Logo
WJLA LOGO

I love writing and talking about the intersection of creativity and entrepreneurship, the reality of building community-focused businesses, and mental health and motherhood.

Follow along behind the scenes

And watch it all come together in real time!

I'm launching a video essay series on YouTube that follows the journey of being an independent bookstore owner and building Fabled Ice Cream from concept to reality. Think business vlogs meet creative diary, with plenty of honesty about what it's actually like to start something new while juggling everything else.

You'll also find essays about the writing process, small business enthusiasm, and the kind of behind-the-scenes content that shows the messy reality of bringing passion projects to life.

A person in a gray sweatshirt is writing in an open book, which appears to be a library or bookstore catalog, on a wooden surface with books. The person is holding a pen and the book's pages contain organized text and checkboxes.

Want to stay in the loop?

Want to stay in the loop?

Eventually I’ll start sending a newsletter. You’ll be glad you got in early!

Be the first to know about new projects, book progress, ice cream cart updates, and all the creative experiments happening behind the scenes. Plus occasional book recommendations and small business insights that I can't fit anywhere else.