Telling the Whole Story

Telling the Whole Story

When I began writing professionally nearly 30 years ago, I felt fortunate to work with experienced journalists. All believed that the first three rules of journalism were “accuracy, accuracy, accuracy.”

My editors also taught me some tricks of the trade: to vary my sentences and the way I described my subjects and invite the reader into the story. They insisted that I contact all sources and present the full story and added that the best writing came from rewriting.
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Individual Stories Become a Part of All History

Individual Stories Become a Part of All History

On Tuesday, September 27, 2016, the Friendship Connection #1 invited me to talk about how individual histories become part of all history at the Poinsettia Pavilion in Ventura, California. On a sweltering fall day, I shared my past experiences collecting oral histories for the Museum of Ventura County and presented excerpts from these interesting interviews. I also spoke about what an honor and privilege it was to help other people tell their stories in book form.

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My own memoir, What Lies Within, grew out of these experiences. After all, if I could write others’ tales, why couldn’t I write my own? I did. But it took nearly ten years from when I began writing my book, a memoir of my early years, until it debuted in 2013. I squeezed it in between client projects and work for my professional organization, the Association of Personal Historians, Inc.

One project I began as a subcontractor in 2003 became my second longest writing achievement. A combination memoir/biography written by Horace Dade Ashton and Marc Ashton grew into a challenging series of tales that I helped tell. Based on recordings that the late Horace Ashton left behind and Marc Ashton’s story of his kidnapping in 2001, the book became The Spirit of Villarosa: A Father’s Extraordinary Adventures; A Son’s Challenge. This book was released on June 28, 2016, and I feel fortunate to have been part of this amazing true-life tale’s writing team.

I read excerpts from both books and answered questions about them and my life. Afterwards members purchased copies of the books, which I gladly signed.

Writing can be a lonely profession, so I really enjoy the opportunities I get to share my work by venturing out and speaking. It felt wonderful to be welcomed by such a warm, receptive audience.