Forever Young Autobiographies

Book review: Sontag: Her Life and Work, a biography of writer Susan Sontag

A 2020 Pulitzer Prize winner by Benjamin Moser with HarperCollins Publishers

Sontag: Her Life and Work by Benjamin Moser is a definite portrait of an emblematic genius.

The biography came out in 2019 and is published by Ecco/ HarperCollins Publishers.

In short, it tells the story of one of America’s greatest 20th Century writers: a girl from the suburbs who grew up to be an intellectual and cosmopolitan force.

Indeed Moser was well-placed to tackle this towering life story as the author of Why This World: A Biography of Clarice Lispector.

Furthermore, he has worked as a books columnist for Harper’s Magazine and The New York Times Book Review.

Certainly the 832-page work has been hailed a “landmark biography” and picked up a slew of awards including being named the 2020 Pulitzer Prize Winner in Biography.

Keep reading to find out more about Sontag, what makes it interesting reading plus tips it offers us as life-story writers …

Life story challenge: Thanksgiving games and Christmas games to play with family

Ask Nicola Q&A: Amazing ways to record family stories this holiday season

Hello and welcome to Forever Young Autobiographies – Ask Nicola.

As a life-story coach I’m asked lots of questions around planning, writing, polishing and publishing.

And in this Q&A series my answers set out to help new writers!

So this Ask Nicola edition begins with the question:

Can you please suggest Thanksgiving games or Christmas games that involve family stories?

Firstly, fantastic you want to record stories for family, friends and future generations!

Next let me introduce a fun life-story challenge for the upcoming holidays …

Case study: John Lawrence’s funny medical memoir Playing Doctor: Part Two: Residency

What a former medical student with a severe case of imposter syndrome wants you to know

John Lawrence’s laugh-out-loud new Playing Doctor memoir is a candid and unfiltered look at what you can expect as a medical student.

Playing Doctor: Part Two: Residency (Blundering along with imposter syndrome) is due out in December and covers residency training with increased responsibility and fear.

Indeed it follows on from Lawrence’s recent Playing Doctor: Part One: Medical School (Stumbling through with amnesia) about transforming from an uncertain, head injured, liberal-arts student into a medical doctor.

Certainly Lawrence was not a typical med student. For example, he snuck out of hospital while on-call to audition for television shows so that he could pay the rent!

But his writing has been praised by No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Lauren Weisberger (The Devil Wears Prada and When Life Gives You Lululemons).

Lawrence caught up with Forever Young Autobiographies recently to tell us more about his new life-story book, the writing process and offer tips to fellow writers …

Red Sneaker Writers podcast: Talking life stories with a New York Times bestselling author

The Red Sneaker Writers podcast (left) and host William Bernhardt (right). Photos by William Bernhardt.

Sharing quick and easy writing advice with William Bernhardt on his writing podcast

It was my pleasure to recently be a guest on the Red Sneaker Writers podcast.

The popular show covers the latest news from the publishing world and includes interviews with top authors, agents, editors and other professionals.

And it is hosted by the New York Times bestselling novelist William Bernhardt who is the author of over 50 books, most recently Exposed (Splitsville Legal Thriller Series Book 2).

Indeed I had a fantastic conversation with Bernhardt about sitting down to write life stories. (Listen or watch the podcast here!)

So in today’s article I’m highlighting some of the key topics we talked about such as: my top tip for writers, being a ‘planner or a pantster’, and how to get started creating a life story.

Now let’s jump in …

Tell the truth: The surefire way to out skeletons in the closet

How to write truthfully, types of truth and truth definition

Tell the truth: this is easy to understand but difficult to execute, especially over decades and across generations.

So as Halloween looms, I’m asking do you have skeletons in the closet?

Are there ‘truths’ that should be outed and included in your lif e -story creating?

And what is the definition of truth and the different types of truth anyway?

I answer all these questions in today’s article.

So grab your vampire fangs or witch’s outfit and let’s take a walk on the wild side.

Book review: Biography The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X, a leader in racial equality

A Pulitzer Prize and National Book Awards winner by journalist Les Payne and Tamara Payne with W. W. Norton & Company

Epic biography The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X by Les Payne and Tamara Payne is not just a life story but a lesson in history.

The Liveright/ W. W. Norton & Company publication was released last year and draws on hundreds of hours of interviews to present an unprecedented portrait of one of the twentieth century’s most politically relevant figures.

Renowned Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Les Payne started the book in 1990 and was assisted by his daughter and principal researcher Tamara Payne.

However, after her father’s death in 2018, Tamara went on to finish his life’s work.

Notably the book has picked up a slew of awards including being named Winner National Book Awards 2020 for Nonfiction and most recently Winner 2021 Pulitzer Prize Biography.

So keep reading to find out more about the biography, its points of interest and lessons we can learn as life-story creators …

Case study: Adopted twin sister Julie Ryan McGue on penning her family search memoir Twice a Daughter

Amazing story of how identical twins overcome closed adoption to find their birth parents

The fantastic twists and turns of a family quest inspired adoptee and identical twin Julie Ryan McGue to write her new memoir.

Twice a Daughter: A search for identity, family and belonging was published in May by She Writes Press and named 2021 Living Now Awards Gold Winner in Memoir – Female.

The book tells the story of how a medical issue prompted McGue and her sister to find their birth parents.

Indeed this became a five-year quest involving a search agency, private investigator, confidential intermediary, judge, an adoption agency, social worker and a genealogist.

Plus the sisters unearthed secrets, lies and family members who were literally right next door!

Forever Young Autobiographies recently caught up with McGue to find out more about sitting down to write her amazing story …

Case study: US educator Evelyn Kohl LaTorre on writing her interracial marriage memoir Love in Any Language

What a 1960s Peace Corps volunteer to Peru knows about interracial relationships, love and marriage

Evelyn Kohl LaTorre’s new memoir Love in Any Language is a beautiful account about the trials and joys of blending two cultures.

The book is available from September 28 through She Writes Press and follows on from Evelyn’s popular life story Between Inca Walls.

Between Inca Walls is about her Peace Corps trip to Peru in the 1960s and falling in love with University student Antonio.

But in Love in Any Language Evelyn writes about finding out she is pregnant at age 23, marrying and moving home to California.

Here she learns to juggle full-time work and parenthood while Antonio learns English, finishes college and finds a job.

Forever Young Autobiographies recently caught up with Evelyn to find out more about sitting down to write this latest book plus her top tips for fellow life-story creators …

Case study: Englishman and West Ham fan Joe Morris on writing No Joe Bloggs

Essex local discovers life-story writing flow after Autism diagnosis

No Joe Bloggs by Joe Morris should be an inspiration to those wondering if they can pen a life story.

Indeed Englishman Morris fell into his autobiography project while seeking medical care.

And being diagnosed with Autism certainly did not hold this writer back.

In short, his book ranges from affectionate childhood memories growing up at Ilford, Essex, to quirky tales of London life.

Plus there is a moving account of Morris’s family, who survived the Holocaust, among other lighter topics like England’s 1966 World Cup win.

Forever Young Autobiographies caught up with Morris to hear more about his life, writing the book and encouragement for fellow creators.

Funny stories: See how easily you can be humorous and write a funny story

Ask Nicola Q&A: How to be funny and write humorous stories in 3 simple steps

Hi and welcome to Forever Young Autobiographies – Ask Nicola.

As a life-story coach I get lots of questions about all stages of writing.

And in this Q&A series my answers aim to help writers just like you!

So this Ask Nicola article starts with the query:

I want my book to be funny! I need some writing techniques. Can you help?

First, that’s fantastic you are read y to sit down and record your life for family, friends and future generations!

Second, warm-up your cheeky side and let’s jump into how to create a funny story …