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Here you’ll discover valuable writing and self-publishing tips as well as relevant stories and industry updates to help you write a faith-based book that amplifies your message, builds your brand, and scales your mission.

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From Home Front to War Front: Documenting Veterans’ Experiences

Declaration and FlagI am proud to be an American, and on this Veterans Day, I am humbly reminded of the sacrifices that my fellow countrymen and women have made to ensure that the United States of America remains “the land of the free and the home of the brave.” As the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs states: “The … observance of Veterans Day [on] November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date [the Armistice of WWI on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month], but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good” (for more information on the history of Veterans Day, visit http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp).

Living in southeastern North Carolina, I am surrounded by a U.S. military presence. The area is home to Camp LeJeune (Marines), Fort Bragg (Army), Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, and U.S. Coast Guard stations. In the Wilmington area, a variety of landmarks also serve as visual reminders of the valor and selflessness of the nations’ veterans throughout history: Moore’s Creek National Battlefield preserves the significant Revolutionary War battle that occurred there, Fort Fisher and the Wilmington National Cemetery memorialize the Civil War engagements that dealt a critical blow to Southern supply lines, the majestic battleship U.S.S. North Carolina welcomes visitors aboard to learn about her crew’s impressive campaigns during WWII, and the frequent docking of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Diligence along the Cape Fear River represents our country’s continued protection of our coastal waters.

Yet on Veterans Day, it seems appropriate to take time to reflect on the service members themselves rather than on their general presence or the tours that the historical landmarks offer. As a personal historian, I am especially interested in individual experiences – not just what happened, but also what thoughts and emotions were intertwined with the events.

My father served in the Army National Guard for many years. I wish that he were here today so that I could ask him about his experiences at boot camp and the relief/assistance missions that he participated in here in the States. As it is, I am left with a few childhood memories of him teaching me how to march while chanting the cadence (“I don’t know but I’ve been told! … Sound off [1,2], Sound off [3,4]…”), showing me his bivouac gear and rations, and me proudly watching him as he marched with our town’s American Legion post in various parades. On a few occasions, he took me to “the Legion” – it was a treat for me because although I participated in the American Legion Little League program, I was typically only allowed on the ball fields, not inside the building itself. I loved to listen in on the adult conversations as I nibbled on french-fries and sipped a soft drink.

Today, my love of listening to, and reading about, others’ stories has not waned. I am intrigued by reading the diaries and love letters of soldiers (see http://www.teacheroz.com/WWII_Oral_History.htm for a great list) and I have been honored to help preserve the Air Force experiences of one of my clients.

If you possess a box filled with a relative’s war correspondence or journals, I encourage you to preserve them and make them accessible to other family members and the public in general. Photocopy the originals (if they are fragile or are showing signs of wear, first consult with a professional to avoid potential damage caused by the scanning process) and transcribe them into a Word document, which will make it easy to send to family members via email or to print multiple copies. Then contact your local historical society and library and offer to provide them with copies.

If you are fortunate enough to still be able to visit with a veteran, particularly one who is a family member, consider conducting a recorded oral interview (or a series of interviews). These recordings can also be transcribed into a written work, if so desired. Interviews are fun to do, and the result is priceless. The Veterans History Project is a fantastic resource to help you in this endeavor, plus it results in the preservation of your veteran’s experience within the Library of Congress’ American Folklife Center (for more information, visit http://www.loc.gov/vets/).

To any veterans reading this post, I want to say “thank you.” These two words seem so small, but they contain heartfelt gratitude for your willingness to defend this amazing country and its citizens.

Family Bibles and Personal History: A Spiritual Heritage

Open BibleWhen I recently learned that October is National Bible Month, it prompted me to explore the historical relevance of the Bible not only within the United States, but also on a more personal level. The Bible has a long and important history within the United States, particularly within our government and judicial system. The Founding Fathers based the U.S. Constitution on the principles of the Bible. Every U.S. president except one (Theodore Roosevelt, during his first inauguration in 1901 at the home of Mr. Ansley Wilcox following the assassination of President William McKinley) has been sworn into office with a Bible, usually opened to a page containing a meaningful verse. And throughout the history of our country, individuals – prior to testifying in a U.S. court of law – swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth as they raise their right hand and place their left hand on the Holy Bible.

Occasionally, particular Bibles become historically significant. Consider, for example, the Durant Bible at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It was recently used as the Bible for the installation ceremony of the new chancellor, but its importance as a historical artifact is also signified by the steps taken to preserve the 414-year-old volume (see http://www.unc.edu/campus-updates/installation-durant-bible/).

In addition to government and higher education, a Bible can also play an important role in personal and/or family history. The scriptures within the Bible provide multiple genealogies, the most important being that of Jesus, and so it can be assumed that is why publishers initiated and maintained the custom of providing family tree charts in the front matter of most Bibles. Old Bibles typically feature several pages of ornate, beautifully drawn charts upon which a beloved family member painstakingly recorded – using flowing, cursive handwriting – the names and dates of births, marriages and deaths within the family. Many individuals possess an ancestor’s Bible, and often treasure it for the genealogical record that it provides, particularly when multiple generations diligently updated the information.  This one-of-a-kind handwritten document is so important to some family members that it can become a point of contention when distributing a deceased relative’s personal effects, and can cause emotional distress when a family Bible becomes lost or damaged. In fact, there is at least one Internet search board that helps reunite individuals with their family Bibles; visit http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?board=155.0

As important as the genealogical record is, I believe that there are other valuable connections between a family’s Bible and personal history. Simply remembering the appearance of the family Bible and how relatives used it can be relevant. For example, my great-grandmother read her Bible daily. It was a small, white, soft-leather Bible with gilt-edged pages and it had her full name monogrammed on the front in gold lettering. Although she kept it on her bedroom dresser, she always took it into the living room to read it in the comfort of her recliner (although I don’t ever remember her reclining while reading). Advanced in years, she often dozed off after awhile, almost always with one of her hands resting on the Bible’s open pages. As a child, I didn’t think much of her devotional time, but as an adult, I now understand that she helped to shape my spiritual journey by showing the importance of daily Bible reading.

I wish that I possessed my great-grandmother’s Bible. I know that she recorded our family tree within its pages, but I don’t recall if she made notes in the margins of scripture. Many people have told me how important their family Bible is to them because of loved ones’ notations regarding a particular passage or verse. Those scribbled marginal notes benefit my friends’ understanding of the scriptures and simultaneously give them insight to the spiritual struggles and victories within the lives of their ancestors.

Whether or not you currently own a family Bible, it is important to recognize that you can begin your own. Not only can you preserve your family’s genealogy, but you can also contribute to your family’s spiritual heritage.

An Uninvited Pet

Lizard on Truck - reducedThe great thing about personal history is that everything that happens to you is relevant to your life story. Take pets, for example. They provide innumerable moments of joy and happy memories, prompting some people to devote entire chapters within their memoirs to their beloved pets.

I’m certain that my family could write several chapters about all of our pets through the years, as we have almost always had at least one pet. However, since the passing of our cockatiel a year ago and our cocker spaniel three months ago, we have been pet free. The boys are frequently asking for a new companion, of differing species depending on the week. The five-year old has asked for a fish and a frog. The eleven-year old would love another dog, but has also asked for a cat. The upcoming 4-H project involves a dozen incubated chicken eggs, but their father and I have put our foot down on keeping the eventual cute and fluffy chicks that will quickly turn into squawking, clucking, and generally annoying (and occasionally aggressive) hens and roosters (I know this from firsthand experience, but that’s another story).

Although I truly loved our beloved and now-deceased pets, I must admit that I do not miss the scattered birdseed and rogue feathers, nor do I miss the incessant and futile vacuuming required as the owner of a dog with black fur. I have actually been enjoying the pet reprieve and am not in a hurry to replace them.

It never occurred to me that perhaps an animal would make the decision to become our pet on its own. As I drew back the dining room curtains the other morning, I was startled by movement near the top of the curtain rod.  Glancing on top of the china cupboard, I was met by the intense stare of a green lizard as he sat perched on one of my son’s trophies.

Lizard on Roof - reduced IINot daunted at all by my immediate order to get out of our home, he merely jumped onto the side of my son’s model rocket. Amazed that the creature had not knocked over the lightweight rocket, I grabbed my camera (see photos below). I couldn’t resist the chance to take some photos of him – after all, how often does a lizard pretend to blast off into space? He didn’t mind the photo op; in fact, I think he posed for it before meandering across the top of the cupboard. I wasn’t sure what to do. Not generally a fan of reptiles, I do think the little chameleon-like lizards native to our coastal home (Green Anole – Anolis carolinensis; they change from green to brown, depending on their surroundings) are cute. However, they’re not cute enough for me to want to hold one, and certainly not adorable enough to reside inside my home.

Of course this occurred while my children – who love to catch and play with the things – were at school. As I pondered what to do, the impudent lizard decided to go for another joy ride. He climbed onto the bed of my youngest son’s derby truck and simply stared at me. Then he climbed onto the roof of the truck, as if perhaps that would make him go faster. After taking a few more pictures, I turned to place the camera on the counter. Turning back around, I no longer saw him.

That was two days ago. I have not seen the lizard since. I hope that he managed to find a way outside and is not galavanting around different rooms in my house, proud of his new abode. I’ll keep you posted if I see him again. In the meantime, please share your own wildlife stories – I would love to hear what has happened in your household!

 

Back-to-School Reality
school building

Source: Creative Commons

Entering into the fourth week of the new school year, I finally have time to return to my blog. The flurry of end-of-summer activities and back-to-school preparations somehow always catch me off guard. This year, I had to double my efforts as my second child officially entered the school system.

As is customary for many children, my kids were filled with both excitement and trepidation on that first day of school. My oldest was excited only for the fact that he would be seeing his friends every day. My youngest was eager to be a “big” kid and see firsthand what “real” school (apparently, preschool did not count) was all about.

I planned to provide them with a great breakfast, get them there before the masses arrived, and take Pinterest-worthy photographs of their big day.  In reality, I overslept, fed them cold cereal, and broke the speed limit only to stand in line with a throng of other highly stressed parents and children as we endured the new security procedures. As for my post-worthy photos, I had to be content with a sour-looking expression from my oldest and a partially blurry image of my youngest as he moved with the crowd into the school.

Despite my failures and the chaotic start to their school year, they are enjoying it, making new friends, and they are creating memories. That realization got me to thinking about my own school memories. I do not vividly recall my very first day of school (not until college, anyway), but I do remember many other things. My education began with half-day kindergarten where making cottage cheese and playing instruments in music class come to mind. Elementary school was filled with wall-mounted pencil sharpeners, cleaning chalkboard erasers, cherry-bumping kids on the teeter-totter, spelling bees, learning multiplication facts in fourth grade, learning to play the clarinet, and being startled by the sudden THWAK of a serving spoon (wielded by the cafeteria monitor) hitting a lunch table to subdue the din caused by all six grades of students at one time in a combined gymnasium and cafeteria.

As for high school, I loved it. There are so many memories, I could write an entire book about them. Thus, when my personal history clients are having a difficult time knowing where to start or what to talk about, I often recommend discussing their school memories. No matter what their experiences – whether good or bad – they remember a great deal about their school years. That one topic includes a variety of categories (i.e., friends, teachers, rules, transportation, meals, discipline, sports, and classes) that can then lead to deeper discussions about the society and events of that particular era.

What about you? What are some of your school memories? Share them here in the Comments section, and be sure to document them privately for your family as well.

Beyond the Facts: Memoirs that Entertain the Reader
men laughing while reading paper

Source: Creative Commons

I recently participated in The Memoir Network’s teleclass, “How to Find Your Images and Metaphors,” taught by the organization’s founder, Denis Ledoux. As he noted, a memoir or personal history should not only provide the facts (who, what, when, where), it should also convey emotion.

It can be fun to perform research, make discoveries and accumulate facts, but let’s face it – a mere listing of events or names on a family tree can make for some very dry and less-than-stimulating reading. Make the characters come alive by infusing emotion into the story, and don’t be afraid to expand the setting and action. This can be achieved by utilizing vivid descriptions (imagery) and comparisons (similes and metaphors) to better create a mind picture for the reader.

For example, the following is grammatically correct, but merely states facts:

My father, a volunteer fireman, was frequently summoned by the town’s fire siren.

Now consider a more descriptive version:

My father, a volunteer fireman, was frequently jarred to attention and summoned by the sudden piercing wail of the town’s fire siren – a sound as mournful and chilling as the random coyote’s howl.

Don’t worry about becoming too verbose – incorporate as much detail and description as you can. When precise words fail you, turn to metaphors and similes to help you convey the meaning, but try to avoid clichés. Be creative! Think of something new and out-of-the-box to engage the reader. Write whatever comes to mind – remember, you can revise and condense if necessary at a later time.

Yes, adding emotion and descriptions will require extra effort, but it will culminate in a much more engaging and entertaining memoir.

A Case for Old-Fashioned Interaction
old photo album

Source: Creative Commons

There’s something special about blowing the dust off the lid of a faded box and slowly removing its contents. Immediately, you are transported back in time as you decipher handwritten letters, gaze at black-and-white photographs, and carefully inspect random memorabilia. It is even more rewarding to look through those treasures with loved ones as they reflect on their past experiences. The problem is that such moments are themselves becoming things of the past in our fast-paced, technological and far-flung world.

In today’s society, rather than taking the time to pen handwritten letters and cards, we opt to share our life experiences via social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter and send e-Cards. Instead of ordering double prints and painstakingly labeling the back of each photo before mailing them to friends and family, we digitally upload and share our pictures on photo storage sites like Snapfish and Shutterfly. It’s instantaneous and, many might argue, still reflects the same amount of consideration toward the recipient.

However, looking at something through a screen is a far cry from the sensory experience of actually holding an item in your hands. Take an old diary or journal, for example. Not only can you look at it closely at varying angles in order to decipher the handwriting, but you can touch it. You can feel the smoothness of the worn leather cover and the brittleness of the yellowing, stained pages. You can hear the gentle crinkle of the pages as they are turned and the soft whisper of an old photo or theater ticket as it falls to the floor. Depending on where the journal was stored or how old it is, you might detect the distinct smell of aging paper or even a trace scent of flowers from an old sachet.

It is undeniable that the Internet and technology offer us much in the way of communication, but we all crave face-to-face interaction occasionally. This is especially true for the oldest members of our society. Oftentimes, seniors wish to talk about their experiences and share their learned lessons with loved ones, but this actually only takes place, if at all, at holidays or other family get-togethers. These tend to be stressful times when many are distracted by the meal preparations, the big game on TV and exuberant children on a sugar rush.

It should come as no surprise, then, that my clients enjoy the dedicated one and two-hour intervals that we sit together; a time where they get to discuss, at length and uninterrupted, on the topics of their life experiences. Frequently, they get so excited about the process that they jot down notes in preparation for the next interview session, not wanting to overlook an important, amusing, or insightful event.

If you are fortunate enough to still have living grandparents and/or aging parents, try to take the time to sit and listen to them. You may need to ask a few questions to get them started, but you will soon discover how easily they relax and begin to engage you in their stories. Take notes, record the session and enjoy the experience. It will be treasured by each of you, as well as your descendants.