Customer Reviews

Producing a Quality Family History

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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.

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.

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 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.

I hesitated in buying this book because of its age, so borrowed it from the library thinking perhaps there were just a few ideas I might use. I found there was so much good information I wanted my own copy since I was constantly referring to it. The author is a technical writer as well as a genealogist which is the best for a guality genealogy book. One reviewer complained that the computer information was outdated. My opinion is that the best genealogy book will come from the quality of information, the organization, and the layout. The author tells how to do that. She gives enough information about computers so you will not make any major mistakes.

Outstanding book on all the how to's in producing a book. Full of technical information on formatting, styles, chapters, headings, etc. A great companion to You Can Write Your Family History by Sharon DeBartolo Carmack. They are both outstanding and you need both.

I have picked up several valuable tips to help improve the Family History book that I have almost completed. They deal with form more than substance, since I have almost completed the writing. However, they will make the book much more readable and useful to its readers. A very worthwhile investment for anyone contemplating writing a book about their family's history.