Biography and Research

A few years ago, a small family foundation commissioned me to write the story of one of their relatives, who had passed away five years before that. (If you are interested in interviewing a candidate to write your family’s story, please note that I offer a free 20-minute consult.)

I built this woman’s biography using primary research, including her own letters, which were housed at the rare books library at a nearby university. I spent almost a year in that elegant, hermetically sealed room, combing through nearly 100,000 pieces of individual correspondence. I also interviewed hundreds of her friends (including such local luminaries as Coach Mike Krzyzewski and former North Carolina Governor James B. Hunt Jr.), and family members.

Your family’s story—and the conditions in which it is kept—may be quite different. Instead of some temperature controlled, haughty-librarian patrolled research station; you might have a dingy basement, or a secret attic. Suffice to say, if the material is there—and if your interest is there—then I am there and interested.

There are vastly different levels of engagement for this kind of research work.

1. One is writing a full-length biography, like the one described above.

2. Another is an article.

3. Of course, this could entail many lengths and take many forms.

4. Like, for example, a picture book.

Again, please recall the 20-minutes consultation. If you are sincerely interested in pursuing this, then why not take advantage?