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…
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,…
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…
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:…
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…
Best Tools for Organizing Family History
May 07, 2025
Dear Mr. Higgonbottom,I've recently started digging into my family's history and quickly realized how overwhelming it can be to keep everything organized—photos, documents, dates, and stories from multiple generations. Are there any tools or software you’d recommend to help me…
Why You Need a Genealogy Ghostwriter to Preserve Your Family…
Apr 30, 2025
The grandmother whose childhood home is lost to history. The uncle whose military service remains a mystery. The great-great-grandfather whose birthplace is unclear. These are just a few examples of the kinds of family stories that can quietly slip through…
What are the different forms a family history book can…
Apr 15, 2025
Dear Mr. Higgonbottom,I want to write a family history. What are the different forms a family history book can take? Dear Aspiring Writer, Family history formats generally fall into two basic categories: traditional genealogy and narrative. Here’s a brief overview:…
Characters in Your Clan? Write a Family History Book with…
Mar 20, 2025
No one wants to read a litany of dry facts, names, and dates—especially in something as personal as a family history. The wonder of family history, what makes it different from every other form of writing, is its power to…
How AI Can Revolutionize Genealogical Research
Mar 10, 2025
Genealogical research has long been a painstaking process of sifting through archives, deciphering old handwriting, and cross-referencing historical records. Today, artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the field, making it easier than ever to trace family histories, uncover lost connections, and…