We are now 2 weeks into 2022 and we hope you are having a happy, healthy, productive start to your new year. What have we been up to? In September, we added our son, Trevor, to our team as Chief Storyteller. You may know Trevor as the author of Six-Word Lessons on Growing Up Autistic. He wrote and published it almost 10 years ago and it remains our top seller. Now, as our in-house author, he is working on a book about various disabilities and what we can learn about them from movies. He also works on social media and design and is learning all aspects of the publishing business. Trevor has a Bachelor's degree in film and media studies and has produced a movie-review blog, Trevor's View on Hollywood, since 2014. We are currently working with an author in Pennsylvania on a Six-Word Lessons book about how to tell your community's story, and we are in discussion with several authors about their books, including a memoir from someone born in the early 1930s. As a family company, Lonnie, Trevor and I are here to edit, design, and publish your book--whether it's a Six-Word Lessons templated book, a Tell Your Story book about your company or life, or any custom book you have in mind. And we can work with authors from anywhere. We are always happy to talk by phone, on-screen or in-person to give you more information about how the publishing process works, whether it's with us or another publisher or avenue. Thank you for your support and we hope you have a wonderful 2022. Please let us know how we can help with your book-writing and publishing goals. Patty, Lonnie and Trevor Pacelli P.S. We would love it if you would follow us on Instagram and Facebook!
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Memoirs and biographies have always been popular genres. There is fascination in someone else's story, whether it's personally relatable or vastly different from one's own life. Biography usually refers to someone famous, while memoir is an unknown person. As publishers of memoirs in our Tell Your Story series, we have learned a few things to keep in mind as you write your memoir or life story. Protecting Privacy. Your story will feature other real people, who may or may not want to be named or even written about. But you can't tell an honest, compelling story without them. To avoid libel claims, think about changing names, which means you have to keep track of everyone with a table or spreadsheet. Or write the story with the real names, and go back and change them all before it's published. Either way, you'll need a system to keep track of who's who. Permissions. Getting permission from everyone in your story is ideal, but that's not always desirable or possible. It's best to keep them unrecognizable, change the names, and not say anything in the book about them that isn't true and isn't derogatory. You may need legal advice if you're not sure if you're being libelous. Decide whether to use pictures. You should get permission from anyone in a picture before using it, as well as permission from any professional photographers, and give them credit. Poems, songs or other quotes should be thoroughly cited and permission granted, unless in the public domain. Internet and website searches usually give you this information, or your editor can help direct you. Book Structure. Plan out your structure in advance, such as time sequencing. Will the book jump among several time periods, or tell the story from beginning to end? Book coaches and developmental editors can help with this. Purpose. What is the purpose of telling your story? For your own catharsis? To leave a legacy? To help or inspire others in similar situations? To make money or create a platform and name for yourself or a related business or cause? It will help to know your purpose before you start writing and marketing the book. We are here to answer any questions about memoir writing and publishing. Patty and Lonnie Congratulations to author and speaker Todd Morrison on writing and publishing his memoir, A Profound Mercy: Finding Redemption in the Despair of Our Own Doing. Todd grew up as a missionary kid in Copenhagen, Denmark. Then his family unraveled; his parents abandoned him; his father came out as gay; he became a high-end cocaine dealer; and nearly lost everything to addiction. Todd has found unexpected mercy in the depths of despair, every time. He has written his story with a personal, compelling voice that will give anyone hope. The cover was designed by Rachel Ronan of Kiwi Creative and Todd's book is part of our Tell Your Story series. Let us know if you'd like to write the story of your life or the founding of your business or company. |
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