My Son Denis Is Born
My second pregnancy was also easy enough. This time Albert was with me, and he and I could live it together. My mother had had most of her babies at home, but by the mid-1940s, women were… (more…)
Cancer Diary: Family Celebrates Thanksgiving with Sadness
The following cancer diary entries are from Martha Blowen and me, while celebrating Thanksgiving with the family after her diagnosis. (more…)
Breast Cancer Diary—How “My Eye Fell Into the Soup” was Launched
Martha’s breast cancer diary was published as My Eye Fell Into the Soup and is a cancer journal/memoir of Martha Blowen’s experience with cancer. (more…)
Marriage in New France: Barthélémi and Marthe Wed
As was the custom in the colony, the wedding was set for a date soon after the contract signing. These were exceptional times. Winter was just three months away, and if Barthélémi and Marthe were to survive the long, cold months at the new farm in Chateau-Richer, there was much to be done. Until she […]
No Smile on my Face
Dr. Morin would say that my mother had not put a smile on my face when she carried me, but I think it was because, as the oldest, I was made to be a too-serious child. (more…)
Memoir Leads to Exploring the Past
Writing a memoir is like opening a window into your life. It can also help clear the fog on windows of the past. Writing my own story in my memoir Nothing Like Normal (to be published by Black Opal Press November 14) caused me to wonder about the tales of my parents and ancestors and […]
Raising My Family Around the World ~ The Adventures of a CIA Wife and Mom
I have been married to a man who worked for the CIA for thirty-two years and we spent many years living outside of the USA. I tell my story from the context of being a wife and mother making all those moves — 18 in 21 years. (more…)
Free books in My Memoir Education area
There are many free books, MP3s, and PDFs in My Memoir Education area for you to enjoy. If you have not been to the downloads section lately, check it out. (more…)
Is a Life Ever Too Ordinary for a Memoir?
Isolated memories that seem too ordinary for a memoir can be a challenge to incorporate into a memoir as they usually lack inherent drama. How to place early memories into a narrative so that they give a sense of the foundation of a life without turning the reader off. Let me know in the comments […]