Dear Readers

The idea for this book came to me last year (2019) while attending 3 conferences: 1) RootsTech, the virtual portion of the mega-genealogy event held each year in Salt Lake City; 2) APPO (now called The Photo Managers), whose 2019 conference was held in nearby Bernalillo, NM; and 3) Southwest Writers, which I made a spontaneous decision to attend for the first time — it’s next week? it’s right down the street from me? It’s full, but there’s a cancellation? OK!

It was at the Southwest Writers conference that all of my interests — organizing, photos, family history, storytelling, memorabilia, legacies, and making it all accessible to everyone, no matter their level of interest and wherewithal — came together in a book idea that I articulated to my new writer friends, who were enthusiastic about it.

In one session someone asked: “When should we start promoting our book?” The answer was: “As soon as you get the idea!” That sounded a bit scary to me — what if I change my mind, or never finish it? — but it also made sense in terms of generating interest. So I started telling people about it.

Then 2020 happened. And all that implies. Here I am a year later, not having finished the book yet, as I had originally hoped. But it’s well on its way, and will be worth the wait!

I have not yet described the book to anyone who hasn’t said how much they needed the information and wanted to buy a copy. And it is their — your — enthusiasm and encouragement that has kept me going despite all the 2020 setbacks. Some of my colleagues have been super-productive this year. I am not one of them.. sigh… But I’m not giving up, either!

Click here >>> What’s a photo without the story? <<< to read the blog post that inspired me to write a whole book. (It was originally posted April 2019 and updated in July 2020 — with the mystery solved!)

Contact me (or simply leave a comment in the box below) if you would like to be notified when the book is ready for you to read, or to give as a gift.

Thank you!  Hazel  9/16/2020

UPDATE 1/14/2021 Coming Soon! When, exactly? Um…it’s hard to say. While some of my colleagues were super-productive during the pandemic, I wasn’t one of them. But I promise it will be worth the wait! Meanwhile, it’s your encouragement that keeps me going. Thank you!!! Subscribe to Org4life News if you would like to be notified when the book is ready. Or, simply leave a comment in the box below.

UPDATE  4/20/2021 — Still working on it! (Off and on.) Making progress! Not giving up!

UPDATE  7/9/2021 — I’m “this close” to finishing. That is, “this close” to showing it to another human being for editing. There are lots of details to be worked out — cover design, formatting, etc. — but the hard part is nearly over!

UPDATE 7/25/2021 — OMG. I did it. I just hit “send” on the email that will convey the long-awaited umpteenth draft (but the first one to ever be shown to another human’s eyes) of my new book! There’s more to be done, of course — editing, formatting, cover design, give people a heads-up who have no idea they’re mentioned in the book, publishing, etc. I’ve edited plenty along the way, but even I know not to try to final-edit or proofread my own book!

UPDATE 9/14/2021 — Today is the 2-year anniversary of the idea of my book. And it’s looking like I’m on track for a mid-November release!

UPDATE 11/12/2021 — Or, maybe not mid-November, precisely, but I swear it’s 99% ready! Finishing touches only at this point. And…..it will also depend on how long it takes to get a proof copy in the mail from KDP before I can hit “Publish” and give you an ordering link. Self-publishing is not for the faint of heart!

UPDATE 11/25/2021 — Thanksgiving. What a great day to hit the “Publish” button!