In 2009, I completed work on a substantial personal project: a book. Written by my grandmother, the 145-page family record — written in the spirit of an oral history — contains her recollections of her ancestors, tracing back several generations.

I edited her words, re-arranged them somewhat, and integrated her “tangents” into miniature sidebars that inject detail into images and even other sections of her writings without disrupting the flow of each main text. She had already commissioned the artistry of my mother for tree branch sketches used to mark each of the chapters in our family’s history, but I suggested the addition of as many photographs as my grandmother could get her hands on, then spent countless hours reworking them into quality images that put faces on the many names she introduces to readers along the way.

The results far exceeded my grandmother’s expectations and have widened interest in the project, with many distant relatives purchasing several copies for their own family members.

Our first “test” editions published through Blurb that August. A bulk order from Houchen Bindery was received just after the holidays for distribution within the family.

Out of respect for my family’s privacy, I do not have an online version of this project available for viewing; but if you’re interested in seeing some sample pages, they are available on request.
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FOR HIRE: If you are interested in knowing more about how I can bring your own project to life, please visit my venture offshoot: GNAology.