Because of a weirdly wide age spread in the generations in my family, the Mormon pioneer experience is only three generations back, even though I’m
Grandpa’s Voice Tells their Pioneer Story
In writing a life story ask: What are my talents?
If you are writing your autobiography, life story, or memoir, it’s an insightful exercise to ask introspective questions: What are my talents? What are my
What this photo says about death of a mother
You wouldn’t know by this photo that “the most important person in the world isn’t here any more.” My friend, René Thornton Jr., was the
My mom confessed “I dreaded Mother’s Day”
A friend once asked me what it was like having a mother who was so supportive. I have thought about that question a lot since
On gradually losing my mom: She is the sea and she says hush, hush, hush
This week I share an article I wrote a while back about losing my mom while she’s still here. So much has changed in her
Ancestral homes – How to research the story of a home or building
There can be an uncanny connection to ancestral homes and the places where our forebears walked. In our line of work, we’ve noticed some pretty
Is Yours a Redemption Story?
I remember asking my boss for help a couple of years ago and it prompted me to write in my journal, “My younger self wouldn’t
How to write dialogue in a true story
Should you include dialogue in your memoir, autobiography, or family history? What if you don’t remember exactly what people said? In this article, we’ll address
Christmas of 1944 in Europe
Last month I had the pleasure of joining Tamara K. Anderson on her uplifting podcast, Stories of Hope in Hard Times. I’ve known Tamara for
Why do we celebrate Veteran’s Day? Because every uneventful day is a gift
Pausing to reflect on the sacrifice that others have made touched my heart on an ordinary autumn morning. Why do we celebrate Veteran’s Day on November