Although I started this blog five years ago next month, and that sounds like a long time, I’ve been working (on and off–mainly off while raising my kids and teaching) on family history, family photos, and genealogy since I was just out of college and beginning a master’s in history (which I did not complete and ultimately switched to English and creative writing).
I was blessed with many antique and vintage photographs and a grandfather with a great memory and a talent for storytelling.
But it wasn’t until a couple of years ago that I got the idea of putting my research and knowledge of our family history together with my creative writing. Then I began to write lyric poems, prose poems, and a few pieces in a genre that was new to me–flash nonfiction, which is a form of very short prose–based on individuals from my family’s past.
Ultimately, I pulled these pieces together into a chapbook (44 pages) which has been published by Finishing Line Press and is now available, not only on their website, but also on Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites.
Kin Types looks at what the lives of my ancestors were like. The locales are mainly Kalamazoo (and other towns in southwestern Michigan), Elmhurst (Illinois), and the Netherlands. Using the fruits of my research, which included studying newspaper articles, documents, and the details of antique photos, I tried to “inhabit” the lives of some of the people who have come before me.
If you click through the link to the Amazon page, the book can be ordered for $14.99. To order through Barnes & Noble, try this link.
Here is a sample poem from the collection:
Genealogy
Tigers die and leave their skins;
people die and leave their names. ~Japanese Proverb
The more relatives I unearthed,
the more Franks rose to the surface
like deer bones after a storm.
On the trails I could follow,
I found seven named Frank,
three Franz, three Francis.
Frans, Francois, and Franciscus.
Frances and Francisca,
the women peeking out
from under their fathers’ names.
The name passed forward
like a cross polished by many hands.
The verb frank means to allow free passage
for man or post. But these Franks
and Franciskas paid with their labor
and their babes buried along the way.
If you read this blog, some of the characters of the book might be familiar to you. And because the project is quite unique I think people passionate about family history, genealogy, history, and local history will probably be particularly interested. Some of the pieces have been published in literary magazines. Combined together, they tell a story of the history of “forgotten” women.
So what are you waiting for? 😉 Go to one of the links and place your order! And thank you very much.
The Family Kalamazoo 
I am looking forward to receiving my copy!!
I can’t wait to hear what you think :)!
Congratulations on your new book! That’s amazing!
Thank you so much, Katie!
Will order one today! Can’t wait to get it. I’ve been grappling with what to do with my own family history posts. You’ve inspired me to keep writing them, especially since my mother showed me another big box of more photos and documents from Warren and Nelson Kerns’ mother’s side, which migrated to San Diego to get construction jobs for the 1936 World’s Fair. Congratulations on Kin Types. I really think I will incorporate some type of genealogy writing using old photos in my middle school classes this fall. Thanks again for posting!
Ah thanks, Marilyn. Yes, do not stop!!! The World’s Fair angle sounds fascinating. I’m so glad you have the photos and documents. I see old photos in antique stores in southern California from time to time, and the history is just “dripping” from them, but they are mainly unidentified :(. I love the idea of the old photos in your classes. I’m sure you already do this, but make sure the assignment includes adoptees in it gracefully. I’d love to hear about the work your classes do this year!
Will keep in touch with you on this!
I’m excited about your classes!
I am doing the same thing with my father’s stories that I have been posting, through Amazon. Good luck!
Such a worthwhile project! Good luck to you, too!
Wonderful project and poem. I like the cover; I wonder what she was looking at.
Thanks, Jose! Me too. She has a very Mona Lisa-ish expression, doesn’t she?
Congratulations! That is so very exciting. Will be ordering your book.
Karen, thank you! I really hope you enjoy it. It’s a project I am so passionate about!
So I received your book yesterday and sat down to read it immediately. Let me just say that I am a big fan. You have breathed new life into your ancestors and allowed them to tell us their stories through your words. What a gift to be able to feel the emotion and capture the spirit of these individuals.
Karen, thank you so much! That is so kind of you. Very grateful!
Sounds interesting – ordered and will send you a response – plus the concept may be inspiring – thank you
Spyro, thanks so much! I can’t wait to hear what you think about it. The whole idea of creating an emotional context for the facts as I have found them has been exhilarating.
Congratulations! Placing my order now.
Thank you so much! I can’t wait to hear what you think about it!
Reblogged this on texthistory and commented:
Just bought this from fellow blogger. Looks intriguing.
Reblogged and ordered it through publisher – B&N charging too much postage to UK. Good luck with it.
Thank you so much, Barb! I can’t wait to hear what you think about it!
Am happy to help fellow writers. Look forward to reading it
Congratulations!!! I really enjoyed reading this book, and hope others have also. Descriptive and emotional. Couple of my favorites – “This boy brought into movement all these dead memories, animating them with this new place, each day rhythms born in them.” or “.. even though she had been at his side since they were teens, he had the sense he did not know her.” Such good descriptions of behavior of lots of people – old and young. The writing by these folks was direct and descriptive. Back then – without email – letters were written differently – descriptive, factual, direct. Responses could take weeks, so writers had to get stories out and describe fully. Directness sure comes across as admirable. The poems or stories also are direct and descriptive. As a reader, I could not help but feel for several people in this book – issues with doctors, family members – described openly. Good Luck and I hope for continued success. Thank you – Spyro
Oh, thank you so very much, Spyro! I value your opinion, and I am thrilled that you enjoyed Kin types! I love that you say talk about the directness. I value that quality in “real life” as well. I also love how you mentioned the passages you particularly liked! If you get a chance I would love it if you post a part of this review over wherever you purchased the book: Amazon, B&N, or the publisher. Reviews bring more readers which might lead eventually to another print run (print run wasn’t too big, so a second one would be really great).
Just ordered a copy..can not wait to read your book!
Ann Marie, thank you so much! I can’t wait to hear what you think!
Congrats on your new book. I’m very impressed by your skill and creativity. I’ve tried several times to convert some of the things I’ve done on my blog into a book, and have always given up in frustration. It’s wonderful how your were able to combine your interest in creative writing with your family history activities.
Sheryl, your kind words mean a lot to me. I took all the information I had gathered and put myself in creative writing mode entirely. That’s the way this happened!
Live the title of your book and the play on words.
Thank you so much! I am so glad you like it!
Hooray! I’ve fallen so far behind that this (and many other posts) have been sitting open on my computer. School started today for my middle boy and I’m working on catching up. I just ordered your lovely book and can’t wait to read it! Congratulations Luanne! 🙂
Woohoo! I can’t wait to see what you think about it! I put so much of my passion for “finding my family” into it! Thank you, Amberly!
You are welcome! 🙂
Congratulations on the book & on 5 years of blogging!
Thank you so much, Jon! The book is doing very well! And I can’t believe I’ve been blogging so long and have no intention of stopping!
[…] Luanne’s own words describing the project here, and purchase this lovely book […]
Heello mate nice blog