Producing a Quality Family History

This book has great, detailed information about writing and publishing your family history. I recommend it to anyone who is considering tackling such an effort. My only disappointment is that the computer publishing information is so dated. Obviously it's hard to write about computers without the information quickly becoming out-of-date, but there have been such huge advances in desktop publishing since this book's release (in 1997) that a second edition is really overdue.

All genealogists do research on their families, but not all publish the results of their work. Those who do publish would do well to read this book first. Hatcher is a CG and a technical writer and editor by profession, who also has self-published a number of volumes and co-authored _Indexing Family Histories._ Here, she explains the basics of book design for the novice, lays out a number of options in organizing family information for the printed page, and leads the reader through the questions of style, structure, and documentation. She also offers advice in the creation of camera-ready art and photographs and in dealing with subsidy publishers. And in no case does she claim to know the *only* way to accomplish the readers goals.

This book contains a wealth of information on writing and publishing a family history. I'm glad that I read it before I started, as it enabled me to structure and format properly. I would have hated to go back and do it properly. This manual covers many aspects of family history writing, including publishing options that you may want to explore before commencing the actual writing and formatting, so you are better prepared in the end. It answered many questions I had, and some I was bound to come across later. I recommend this manual to anyone who is considering writing a family history, even if you plan to publish at some distant date. The info is exceptionally helpful, and if a question is not answered the book, it gives specific reference to where you can obtain yet more detailed info. It did not answer every question I had, but it did answer most, and pointed me to the answers in other cases. This should be mandatory reading for anyone considering writing a quality family history. It is prominently placed in my work area for reference.

Deservedly joining the pantheon of genealogical how-to works--such as Barnes and Lackey's "Write it Right"--is Hatcher's "Producing a Quality Family History." She wasn't stingy with her information, and you won't be wanting additional info. on her topics. This book is jam-packed with info. on every aspect of genealogical publishing. Very comprehensive. Almost like a "Chicago Manual of Style" for genealogy. If only all genealogists who were intent on publishing would buy this book first....

When I embarked on the task of writing my family history, I purchased this book. It was such a help, from learning the industry standards to practical ideas on how to make a family history interesting. I especially appreciated the useful advice on how to use word processing software, and how to include scanned photographs.