Publisher Karen Altom celebrates growth, a holiday concert, and a mission centered on uplifting the community
For 15 years, Postcards Magazine has delivered stories that focus on the people, places, and events that make East Texas unique. Publisher Karen Altom says the vision has always been simple: highlight the good. That approach has turned what began as a small quarterly publication into a trusted monthly magazine with tens of thousands of readers in Huntsville, Walker County, Lake Conroe, and beyond.
A Growing Magazine with Deep Roots
When Postcards first launched, the plan was modest. “It was going to be really easy,” Altom recalled. “It was going to be 10,000 copies a quarter, no big deal.” But the reaction from readers told her something different. People were not only reading the magazine, they were asking when the next one was coming. “We had such a great response and people were going, ‘Is that the new one?’ and we were like, ‘No, we were just refilling a rack.’”
That reaction pushed the publication to expand. Today, Postcards distributes 25,000 copies in the Walker County area and another 25,000 in Lake Conroe. Every issue also appears online, where the reach has surprised even the team behind it. One article about Lions Club benches in Huntsville led to an email from St. Louis, Missouri, where a group wanted to start a similar project after reading about it online.
Community Focus
Altom’s philosophy for the magazine is straightforward. Keep the tone positive, uplifting, and true to the community. “We just believe in sharing positive and highlighting things that are good and true and keeping people’s minds focused in the right place,” she explained.
That has meant stories ranging from profiles of local families to features on small businesses and nonprofits. It has also meant space for pets and grandchildren, something Altom says readers love. “We know the minute the magazine hits mailboxes, because the first things that come in are always pet photos,” she said with a laugh. Readers want to see their dogs, cats, and family members featured alongside stories of Huntsville’s growth and history.
The Role of Family
Postcards is very much a family operation. Altom credits her husband Wes, whom she calls the “comma police,” with catching grammatical details before an issue goes to print. A retired police officer, he now brings a sharp eye to the magazine’s copy. “He really listened to his high school English teacher,” she said. “So normally he is putting in a comma I left out or moving one that I should not have put in.”
That commitment to quality reflects the care the Altoms want to bring to the community. Readers often do not realize how much work goes into each issue. Proofing, checking colors on ads, and balancing stories and photos all take time. Every detail matters in creating a magazine that Huntsville can be proud of.
Reaching Beyond Print
Postcards is not only about what appears on the page. The magazine has also sponsored and hosted events that bring people together. A few years ago, Altom helped organize a concert featuring the Three Heath Brothers, a gospel-pop trio of siblings whose music draws both young audiences and older fans.
Altom said she was struck by how the concert attracted such a wide range of people. “What floored me were the people who came who were in their 70s and 80s,” she said. “I thought, this is not going to be for them, but they loved it.” The event showed how Postcards could serve as a bridge across generations.
A Holiday Concert for Huntsville
That experience laid the foundation for an even bigger event this year. On November 15, the Three Heath Brothers will return to Huntsville for a holiday concert at the Huntsville High School Performing Arts Center. It will be the kickoff of the group’s national Christmas tour and the first time the Performing Arts Center has hosted a community event of this kind.
The concert is more than entertainment. Proceeds will support Huntsville ISD social services, which provide assistance to students who are homeless or housing-insecure. Altom noted that between 300 and 400 students in the district fall into that category. Some live in cars, some move from couch to couch with friends, and many go without basics like socks, deodorant, or school supplies.
“It is unbelievable that is in our community, but it is,” Altom said. “And so if we can help our social services ladies who do such an incredible job provide those things for them, that is what we want to do.”
How to Attend
Tickets for the Three Heath Brothers concert are priced at $25, with free admission for children 12 and under when accompanied by an adult. A VIP option allows fans to attend the sound check, participate in a question and answer session, and spend extra time with the performers. Tickets are available now at https://aftontickets.com/event/buyticket/om9o6qy39g.
Altom said she hopes churches, youth groups, and families across Walker County will see the concert as an opportunity to celebrate the season together. “It is going to be a great community event to celebrate the holidays and support our kids,” she said.
A Positive Mission
At its core, Postcards Magazine remains focused on its original purpose. Whether it is through features on local businesses, photos of beloved pets, or concerts that support schools, Altom believes positivity is the key to strengthening community.
“We just believe in sharing positive,” she said. “That is what we do.”