Forever Young Autobiographies

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 …

Case study: French memoir Blown Out of Proportion by author Rachel Caldecott

An amazing story of love, glassblowing and one family’s gutsy move to France

Building writing confidence through experience was key to Rachel Caldecott publishing her memoir Blown Out of Proportion: Misadventures of a Glassblower in France.

Certainly Caldecott never expected to end up writing, despite coming from a ‘booky’ family that included a writer mother and publisher father.

Indeed as a youngster she was interested in “too many things” and assumed something else was waiting for her.

But, despite these doubts, Caldecott’s Blown Out of Proportion was published in April.

And it tells the tale of moving, with her husband Chris and their two young children, from the United Kingdom to southern France.

Here they establish a glassblowing studio in an impoverished, sleepy town while braving scorpion-filled hovels, eccentric locals, corrupt politicians and traumatic legal battles.

Forever Young Autobiographies caught up with Caldecott to find out more about her book, the creative process and her suggestions for fellow writers.

Case study: American memoirist Karen Hill Anton and writing her award-winning The View From Breast Pocket Mountain

What The Japan Times columnist and skilled Japanese calligrapher knows about leading an adventurous life and living in Japan

Memoir writer Karen Hill Anton has certainly had one interesting life!

Firstly she grew up in New York City and hitch-hiked the length and breadth of Europe as a youngster in 1965.

Next, in 1974, she left the United States with her husband and daughter, 5, and drove a VW Beetle from Amsterdam to Afghanistan.

Indeed, the family was on the road, mostly camping, for a year before arriving in Japan.

“After our first year of studying yoga and martial arts under a tyrannical sensei, we settled in rural Japan,” Anton said.

“The province of Shizuoka, Japan’s premier green-tea growing region, is where I’ve made my home and raised my four bilingual-bicultural children.”

Anton’s acclaimed memoir The View From Breast Pocket Mountain has been awarded the Book Readers Appreciation Group (BRAG) medallion 2021 and the Self-Publishing Review Book Awards gold medal 2020.

And this week she shares with Forever Young Autobiographies readers more about the book, how it was created plus tips for new creators …

Story outline: What is an outline and having life-story topics to write about

The quick and easy way to understand outline meaning and how to make an outline

It’s lockdown again in our state and my children are getting back into homeschooling.

Certainly coronavirus restrictions mean there is a lot to juggle between work and family.

Indeed, sometimes I don’t know where to start!

Similarly planning a life-story project can feel overwhelming.

You have a whole life to sit down and record, which can be daunting.

But just like surviving any hectic season of life, you need a plan.

So today I’m going to show you the power of creating a story outline.