Writing Family Stories Leads To A Family Publishing Business
July 15, 2008 by Mary Emma Allen
Writing Family Stories
The desire to write your family stories or use anecdotes as springboards for other stories often leads to books and magazine publication. For the family of Zanita Spencer Collins, it has resulted in the formation of Spencer Family Books. So far, they’ve published four books combining their writing and illustrating talents.
These include Duck Strut, A Blink Is As Good As A Wink, Harry Wesley Spencer’s Boots, and Grandmother’s Gifts.
Starting with Zanita Spencer Collins, who began teaching in a one-room schoolhouse in 1929, Spencer Family Books includes three generations and six family members with an incredible amount of talent and experience among them and a strong commitment to produce high-quality children’s books recommended for children ages 2 through 9. (From their web site.)
Also, for people living in the Plymouth/Rumney, NH area, it’s great fun to open a children’s picture book and see illustrations of places you recognize. For instance, some of the illustrations in Harry Wesley Spencer’s Boots are drawn from old photos of the farm where he lived and which still exists.
I met with Lois Kerr, Mrs. Collins’ daughter, and discussed the family’s books. As a columnist and children’s author, I found their story fascinating concerning how they drew upon tidbits of family tales and experiences for the books. Working from their various homes, the descendants of Louis and Mabel Spencer have collaborated on stories for others to enjoy. They also have more in the planning stages.
Do you have family stories you’d like to write down and perhaps turn into books? If it’s only for your own family and descendants, it’s a worthwhile enterprise.
(Amazon image; click for details)
(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen
Thank you for the notice about our books. In my presentations at libraries and schools, I have met many people who have shared their stories and confessed that they have always wanted to write a children’s book “someday”. To all of them I say, “Just do it. Do it now.” As you pointed out, it is indeed a worthwhile enterprise.