Forever Young Autobiographies

I Was A Teenage Know Nothing: A 1990s coming-of-age memoir by Ryon Ownbey

Case study: Amazing tales of a motorcycle-loving teen from Washington

I Was A Teenage Know Nothing by Ryon Ownbey is a youthful life story full of turbulence and confusion.

This memoir is set in the 1990s “before Amazon, smartphones and streaming media dared exist”.

In sum it tells how Ownbey navigated new experiences and learnt to use his instinct.

So keep reading to find out more about Ownbey, how he started the book plus suggestions for your own creating…

Best life stories of 2024: Settle in with an award-winning book

What every life-story creator should read this year

Welcome to my best life stories of 2024 ‘to be read’ shortlist.

These are the best life stories to claim a prestigious award during the past year.

They include writers from Australia, United Kingdom and USA.

Use this list to get inspiration for your own reading and writing during the year.

Stay tuned as I’ll also aim to publish book reviews on the website during 2025…

Sit, Cinderella, Sit: A puppy love memoir by Lisa Cheek

Sit, Cinderella, Sit by Lisa Cheek. Cover of Sit, Cinderella, Sit, Cheek in China with Cinderella the dog in a basket, and a portrait of Cheek. Photos by She Writes Press, Lisa Cheek, Kathy Schuh Photography — *Sit, Cinderella, Sit* (left) by Lisa Cheek (right) and in China with Cinderella (inset). Photos by She Writes Press, Lisa Cheek, Kathy Schuh Photography

Case study: How a LA ad editor ended up on the set of a Chinese fairy tale

Sit, Cinderella, Sit by Lisa Cheek is a unique life story blending fairy tale elements with true-life experience.

This unusual and charming memoir tells how former TV commercial editor Cheek got a call (at 2.45am!) from a Hollywood director asking for her help to make the original Cinderella story.

So keep reading to find out if she granted this wish, how the She Writes Press publication got started plus tips for your own creating…

Super-Infinite: A historical biography about love poet John Donne

Book review: A British Book Awards winner and bestseller by Katherine Rundell

Super-Infinite: The Transformations of John Donne is a sparkling, modern biography about an ancient, standout scholar.

Oxford’s All Souls College Fellow Katherine Rundell brings Donne to life by detailing his myriad of careers and poems on love, sex and death.

As a result, this Faber bestseller won British Book Awards 2023 Book of the Year Non-Fiction Narrative.

So keep reading to find out more about this famous shape-shifter and hints for your own life-story creating…

Qualities of a good writer: Positive characteristics and habits

Ask Nicola Q&A: 5 positive traits to improve your writing

Welcome to Forever Young Autobiographies – Ask Nicola.

Regularly I get queries about creating life stories for family and friends.

Today’s Ask Nicola question is:

Help, I’m not a natural-born writer! What are some positive traits and qualities of a good writer that I can learn from?

So let’s dive into 5 top characteristics…

The Boy from Boomerang Crescent: Australian memoir by AFL star Eddie Betts

Book review: Australian Book Industry Awards winner about a First Nations and Carlton identity

The Boy from Boomerang Crescent is an Aussie sports memoir about Eddie Betts’s long, hard road from the bush to the stadium.

The Australian Rules football legend tells how he was once a “skinny Aboriginal kid” growing up in Port Lincoln and Kalgoorlie but found success against the odds.

Significantly the life story has become a bestseller and won the Australian Book Industry Awards 2023 Social Impact Book of the Year.

So keep scrolling to find out more about this giant of the sport, his life story and tips for your own creating…

How to write a book title: Types of headlines and great story titles

7 amazing secrets on how to write a book name (plus examples of eye-catching headlines)

Want to know how to write a book title that is short and powerful?

Indeed I have written thousands of headlines as a print editor and understand what sings and what falls flat.

So keep reading for my favourite tips to entice and intrigue life-story audiences…

Nobody’s Daughter: A memoir of healing the mother wound by Rica Ramos

Case study: How a Florida journalist wrote this She Writes Press life story

Nobody’s Daughter: A memoir of healing the mother wound by Rica Ramos is a family story about old trauma and new life.

The memoir tells how American journalist Ramos was about to remarry in her early forties but questioned inviting her mum to the wedding.

In short this was because her mother refused to acknowledge the sexual abuse a young Ramos had suffered at the hands of her stepfather.

So keep reading to find out what happened, how the She Writes Press publication got started plus essential tips for your own creating…

Feature article: Helping you create a life story super fast!

Amazing reasons why you should write a feature story

A feature article is the surefire trick to creating a whole life story super fast!

As a print journalist and life-story coach I have written many over the years.

So I know how powerful and far reaching they can be to preserve, celebrate and share life stories in no time.

Unlike a full-blown autobiography, creating a feature article about your life or a loved one’s life has many advantages…

My Dream Time: Tennis memoir by Wimbledon and Aus Open star Ash Barty

Book review: Australian Book Industry Awards winner about an Aussie girl from Ipswich

I started My Dream Time: A memoir of tennis and teamwork by Ash Barty AO during the middle of an Aussie summer when the Australian Open was being played.

It certainly was a fitting time to read this story by the 2022 Australian Open champ, which charts her tennis story from age 5 when she picked up a racquet in Queensland.

Notably the HarperCollins life story nabbed the Australian Book Industry Awards 2023 Biography Book of the Year and has been a huge bestseller.

So keep reading to discover more about this First Nations’ Australian, her memorable story plus what it can teach us for our own creating…