How do I capture my parents’ childhood Christmas stories before…
Dec 03, 2025
Dear Mr. Higgonbottom: How do I capture my parents’ childhood Christmas stories before they forget them? — Nostalgic Elf in Evanston Dear Nostalgic Elf, You truly have a gift for asking good questions! Family memories from holidays are precious, and…
The Detective Work of DNA: How Genetic Clues Can Reshape…
Dec 01, 2025
Family stories have always been about more than memory. They tell us who we are, where we belong, and why our lives connect to those who came before. Long before DNA tests arrived in little boxes at our doorsteps, families…
Show, Don’t Tell: Using Scenes to Make Your Memoir Vivid
Nov 28, 2025
Every writer has sat down to write and fallen into the trap of overusing narration or over-summarizing a life with “and then” sentences. It’s efficient, but it leaves the reader unmoved. Good storytelling is more than an accounting of events…
The Hidden Voices in Your Family Tree: How a Ghostwriter…
Nov 21, 2025
I’m a big fan of the show Frasier. The interplay between Frasier’s and Niles’ snobbery and the down-to-earth personality of everyone else in their worlds is rife with humor, and I’m pretty sure I’ve watched each episode at least three…
Why Family History Books Fail — and How to Get…
Nov 12, 2025
You’ve spent months — maybe years — diving into your family’s past. You’ve chased down names in census records, squinted at faded handwriting in church registries, and maybe even uncovered a scandal or two. You’re sitting on a gold mine…
Meaningful Holiday Ideas That Turn Memories Into Heirlooms
Nov 10, 2025
Every year, finding the perfect holiday gift seems to get harder. Most of us don’t need another gadget, scarf, or bottle of lotion wrapped in shiny paper. What we really crave are things that last — stories, memories, the voices…
Writing Family History with Conflicting Memories
Nov 05, 2025
Dear Mr. Higgonbottom, I want to write a family history, but no one can agree on what actually happened. What do I do when memories conflict? — Fact-Checking the Family Feud Dear Fact-Checking the Family Feud, Welcome to the beautiful,…
Earning Trust While Recording Family Stories
Oct 22, 2025
Dear Mr. Higginbottom: My grandmother has an incredible life story, but she refuses to talk about the hard parts. How do I honor her truth without pushing too hard? —Walking on Eggshells Dear Walking on Eggshells, Your grandmother is lucky…
How Millennials and Gen Z Are Redefining Genealogy
Oct 17, 2025
Genealogy once conjured images of quiet hobbyists sifting through brittle records in dim archives. That stereotype has aged out. Today’s family historians are just as likely to be in their twenties or thirties as in their seventies. A recent Pew…
The Top Mistakes People Make When Writing a Family History…
Oct 03, 2025
At some point, nearly every family has someone who takes on the task of “getting it all down.” Dates. Names. Birthplaces. Marriage records. Death certificates. Maybe even scanned photos and a printed family tree taped to the dining room table…
The Detective Work of DNA: How Genetic Clues Can Reshape…
Sep 29, 2025
Family stories have always been about more than memory. They tell us who we are, where we belong, and why our lives connect to those who came before. Long before DNA tests arrived in little boxes at our doorsteps, families…
How to Write a Legacy Story About a Loved One
Sep 19, 2025
They say that behind every great man stands a great woman. That was definitely the case for Winston Churchill. Behind Churchill’s famous speeches and wartime leadership stood someone just as remarkable — his wife, Clementine. History books overflow with Winston’s…
How to Write a Biography That Truly Captures a Life
Sep 12, 2025
How do you write a biography for a beloved family member that captures their unique life and spirit? We’re all familiar with the standard “born, lived, died” sequence of a typical biography. But real lives rarely unfold in perfect order.…
How Ghostwriters Fill the Gaps in Your Family History Book
Sep 05, 2025
One of the most common fears people have when they consider writing a family history book is this: “What if I don’t know enough?” Maybe your grandparents are gone, and you never got the chance to ask them questions. Maybe…
Writing Your Life Story: Should You Focus on Yourself, Your…
Aug 27, 2025
One Life Story, Many Paths Every life contains a multitude of layers — personal triumphs, private struggles, and the echoes of generations past. So when it’s time to put those experiences into book form, many writers ask: What kind of…
15 Tips for Writing Your Family History Book Without All…
Aug 22, 2025
Let me guess: when you decided to write a family history book, you imagined yourself as a kind of genealogy Indiana Jones — dodging cobwebs in the attic, uncovering ancient love letters, maybe discovering your great-great-grandmother was a secret suffragette…
Surprising Family Stories Unearthed Through Genealogy
Aug 08, 2025
Secrets From a Genealogist Ghostwriter As a genealogist and ghostwriter, I’ve been honored to help people tell their family stories — sometimes for private keepsakes, sometimes for published memoirs. But no matter the end goal, the process almost always involves…
Why Historical Context is the Secret Ingredient in Your Genealogy…
Jul 30, 2025
So you’ve been diving into your family tree — scrolling through census records, birth certificates, and maybe even uncovering a scandal or two. You’ve got names, dates, places. You’re doing great. But somewhere along the way, you might’ve noticed something:…
A Ghostwriter’s Role in Writing a Legacy Book
Jun 30, 2025
A Letter to the Future Like many people, you’ve probably given some thought to your estate. When you think about what you’ll leave behind, your mind might turn first to wills, trusts, or heirlooms. You may have already planned how…
How Much Do You Need to Write Before Hiring a…
Jun 16, 2025
Dear Mr. Higgonbottom,How much of a book does a person need to have done before they hire a ghostwriter? I have notes, but no structure. — Half-Baked and Hopeful Dear Half-Baked and Hopeful, First of all, congratulations — you’re further…
Now Is the Best Time to Tell Your Family’s Immigration…
Jun 13, 2025
We All Have a Unique Story Like many of us, I’m the product of a multi-generational immigration story. On my mother’s side: Jews of Russian or Lithuanian descent, escaping persecution and seeking opportunity. On my father’s: young men of German…
Preserving a Legacy: How to Write a Meaningful Biography for…
Jun 04, 2025
Introduction Every Life Deserves a Biography We often think biographies are reserved for celebrities or historical figures, but every life holds a story worth telling. The people closest to us — our parents, grandparents, mentors, and friends — leave behind…
A Taste of Family History: Writing a Legacy Recipe Book
May 23, 2025
“Cooking done with care is an act of love.” – Craig Claiborne There’s something magical about food—its ability to comfort, to connect, and to conjure up memories long tucked away. A single bite of a familiar dish can transport us…