AUTHOR / MELODY LAUGHLIN

Stories rooted in place.
Ideas rooted in people.

Name: People First
Author: Melody Laughlin

From the history of my hometown to the way we work and lead, writing is how I explore the connections that shape us.

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01 / AUTHOR

Stories that connect
people and ideas.

History, leadership, and the connections between people, work, and place.

FEATURED BOOK Cover of Where the River Runs by Melody Laughlin

A return to the place that shaped me.

LOCAL HISTORY · WATERTOWN, NEW YORK

Where the
River Runs

A Complete History of Watertown, New York

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Watertown is where my story began. In this book, I explore the city’s history and the Black River’s place at its heart, tracing the people, industry, and changes that helped shape a community.

It is a project rooted in my connection to home and my belief that the stories of a place deserve to be remembered.

Inside the book

Follow the Black River’s influence on Watertown through its people, industry, and changing community. A read for local-history enthusiasts, North Country families, and readers drawn to the stories behind a place.

For your reading group

How does a river shape a community’s identity?
Which local stories deserve to be preserved for the next generation?
What makes a place feel like home as it changes?

For book-club, library, interview, or author-event inquiries, share your audience, format, and proposed dates.

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LEADERSHIP & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Ideas for the way
we work and lead.

My writing also explores project management, leadership, and the people at the heart of an organization.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT · ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

AI-Powered Project Management

The Modern PM’s Playbook for AI-Driven Success

A professional-development book connecting the practice of project management with the possibilities of AI.

For: Project managers and delivery professionals exploring AI in their work.

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LEADERSHIP · PEOPLE

Servant Leadership

Power through People, Not Position

A leadership title centered on service, people, and influence beyond a formal position.

For: Managers, team leads, and aspiring leaders interested in a people-centered approach.

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CULTURE · ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP

People First

Building Culture Intentionally

A book about approaching organizational culture with intention and keeping people at the center.

For: Leaders and business owners thinking about the culture they want to build.

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ON THE WRITING DESK · WORK IN PROGRESS

The Second Name

“Some names are inherited. Others are waiting.”

A developing historical fiction series, beginning with The Name Beneath the Stone. Follow along as the next chapter takes shape.

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FOR LIBRARIES, BOOK CLUBS & MEDIA

Meet the author.
Start a conversation.

Author biography

Melody Laughlin is an author, PMP-certified program and PMO leader, website designer, and owner of The Cruise Travellers LLC. Originally from Watertown, New York, she now calls San Diego home. Her writing explores history, leadership, project management, and organizational culture. Her book Where the River Runs: A Complete History of Watertown, New York reflects her connection to her hometown and an interest in the people and places that shape a community.

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Conversation topics

Watertown, the Black River, and a connection to home
Writing about people, work, and place
Leadership, project management, and intentional culture

For an interview or event inquiry, include the publication or organization, audience, proposed format, dates, and any deadline.

EXPLORE WATERTOWN & THE NORTH COUNTRY

Keep following
the story of a place.

Independent resources for readers interested in Watertown’s history. These are further-reading links, not a bibliography of sources used in the book or interviews with Melody.

Stories rooted in place.
Ideas rooted in people.