Month 1 — Laying the Groundwork: Planning & Research

Our first step is deciding what type of book you want to create, who it will be about, and how you are going to bring it to life. We will talk about cleaning up the applicable branches of your tree in Family Tree Maker before you begin, and fleshing out your research to find the images and stories that will provide context to your tree.

Month 2 — Diving In: The Power of Family Book Creator

Putting pen to paper is often the hardest part. Not anymore! I will hold your hand as you get started with Family Book Creator, choosing the settings you need to turn your data into an initial narrative with the click of a button. You can edit it, add to it, or just use it as a reference for your own writing.

Month 3 — Taking it a Step Further: Adding the Extras

Now that your book has a foundation, you can go a little further with some optional add-ons to your book. I will show you how to add things like word clouds, maps, and other images. We’ll also discuss incorporating your own writing (with pictures!) and design ideas.

Month 4 — Finishing Touches: Printing & Distribution

Let’s get this book off of your computer and onto your bookshelf. We will talk about finalizing your book and turning it into a PDF. Then we will step through the process of using print-on-demand publishing using Lulu.com. Finally, we will talk about ways you can share this book with your family.

Month 5 — Let’s Celebrate! Student Showcase

You did it! You created a family history book! It doesn’t have to be perfect; the goal is to gain confidence with the process. During this session, we’ll show our books (optional), celebrate everyone’s progress, and share ideas for future projects.