Creating Family Newsletters

This book tells you all the basics of family news letters. It gives you great info on subjects to talk about and naming your news letter. I have already started my family news letter and so far every one just loves it. This is a good book and it covers EVERYTHING you need to know about starting a family news letter. Buy this book and you don't need to look at any other books on the subject.

I enjoyed the photos of example newsletters, all in different formats. It really got the ideas floating around in my mind. The interview questions and checklists were also helpful. A nice touch would be the list of words to use for a newsletter name. This book shows how unique a newsletter can be, and I would recommend it to anyone dabbling with the idea of a family publication. I think the original price is a teeny bit high, but the quality of the material is also.

Shortly after beginning to do serious genealogy, most family researchers want to begin to communicate their findings to others in their family. But an extended family, especially when it's spread out geographically, can mean a lot of individualized correspondence. Often, the solution (at least partially) is a family newsletter. It can be simply a lengthy typed letter, photocopied and mailed in bulk -- but wouldn't you like to turn it into a real "publication," complete with pictures? And these days, if you own a computer and printer of recent vintage, you can find yourself in the newsletter business before you know it. Floyd, who has published half a dozen books on newsletters and desktop publishing generally, turns her attention here to a variety of ways in which family newsletters can be produced with a minimum of layout, font, and graphics skills. What to write about, keeping it interesting, involving *all* your family, "clustering" your news stories, tailoring your writing style, and avoiding possible trouble spots -- it's all here. And so are tips specifically for the genealogist. There's also an enthusiastic chapter about producing e-mail newsletters, designing family Web sites, and the value of "cross-publishing." This very visual volume will appeal to many family historians.

I JUST LOVE THIS BOOK! I learned about it after I had already written a few family newsletters and I wish I had heard about it sooner! The book presents a whole lot of ideas that will get you going. Before buying this book, I had only written family newsletters once a year... but now I'm inspired to write more times than that and in different and more creative formats as well! Writing about your family now will be a treasure for your family in the future. This book will help you if you don't know where to start or if you've run out of ideas. Plus, the quality of the book is so nice... you get your money's worth!

Elaine's book is organized well and easy to navigate. Whether you are a first time newsletter designer or have experience with producing many, you will find her book full of exciting ideas. She has laced the pages with samples sent to her by other families, some better than others. But, to see what others have done, may spark an idea for you. She has included everything from naming your newsletter to the mechanics of making it happen. A truely insightful, up to date and fun book to use as a tool or just to browse. I find something new everytime I look through the many chapters.