Turning Family History Into Books: Preserving Stories Beyond the Screen
Because a story saved is good—but a story shared is better.

Tell Me A Story
It’s something we’ve been asking for all our lives.

As children, we asked for stories before bed.

As adults, we find them in books, movies, and long conversations around the table.

Because no matter our age, we’re drawn to stories—especially the ones that feel real.

And what could be more real than the lives of the people who came before us?

These aren’t fairy tales (although some come close).

They’re stories of ordinary people who lived through extraordinary times—full of love, hardship, humor, and the occasional surprise.

Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you even find a pirate in the family tree.

There are people who have done the work. They’ve gathered the records, uncovered the stories, and pieced together lives filled with detail, drama, and meaning.

And then… it sits.

Stored on a computer. Saved in files. Carefully researched—but never shared.

I never wanted that to happen to our family stories.

So instead of waiting for the “right time” or a traditional publisher, I started creating books—simple, printed copies of our family history—and giving them as gifts.

You don’t need to print hundreds.
You don’t need permission.

You just need to begin.

🔹 Why This Matters

• Digital files get lost

• Websites change

• People don’t always seek out history—but they will open a gift

A printed book doesn’t require a login, a password, or a subscription.
It just waits—ready to be opened.

What Kind of Book Can You Make?

Start with What You Know

• A collection of ancestor biographies

• One side of the family (yours or your spouse’s)

• A combined book for children or grandchildren

Tip One: Write your stories in a text editor first, not inside the book builder.
Cut and paste later—it makes editing much easier.
Tip Two: If you already have a tree online, take a screenshot, then crop out the headers and footers. With a little editing, you’ve got a clean, printable version ready to go.

A Note on Writing (Permission Granted)

Most of us are not natural-born writers—and that’s okay.
You can absolutely use AI to help shape your stories:

• List the facts (dates, places, relationships, life events)

• Add how you feel about the person

• Then choose a tone—historical, humorous, dramatic, even whimsical

Let it help you get the story written.
Because a finished story—however it’s created—is far better than one that never leaves your notes.

A Simple Alternative: Calendars

If a full book feels like too much, try a calendar:

• One ancestor per month

• Photo + name + dates

• Bonus points if you match them to their birth month

It’s simple, meaningful, and actually gets used.

Let Someone Be the Star

Instead of mixing living and deceased, consider creating a book just for one person.

• Scan a “Grandmother Remembers” book

• Or sit with her and fill one out together

• Label photos while you still can

• Capture stories in her own words

Same goes for Grandpa.

This isn’t just a project—it’s time well spent.

A Single Family Story

One of my favorite books focuses on six sisters born in the early 1900s.

• Parents on the opening pages

• A group photo of the children

• Then each sister gets her own page

Simple details:

• Birth order

• Marriage

• Children

• Hobbies, occupations

Big photos. Big text. Easy to read.

These are the kinds of books people actually come back to.

Themed Books

Sometimes the best books follow a theme:

Military Service
Track their journey from training to deployment
Add small personal details:

• Where they lived

• What they ate

• What they thought of each place

(“Louisiana is hotter than heck in August!” absolutely belongs in a book.)

Immigration Stories
One book can hold multiple journeys:

• Passenger lists

• Maps

• Photos of ships

• The “why” behind leaving

Every one of these stories matters.

Cemetery Visits
This one is more meaningful than people expect.

• Photograph graves

• Include multiple family members

• Take before & after cleanup photos

• Add flowers, context, even people

Some relatives can’t visit.
This lets them feel connected anyway.

A simple note at the beginning acknowledging that—
that alone can mean more than the book itself.

🔹 “Greatest Hits” Version

A smaller book for family members who are just starting to get interested.

Not everything—just enough to spark curiosity.

🔹Final Thought

Even a 20-page book is enough.

It doesn’t have to be everything.
It just has to be something.

🔹 Getting Started (Without Overthinking It)

Step 1: Use what you already have

• Website content

• Biographies

• Photos and documents

Step 2: Keep structure simple

• Title page

• Short intro

• One story per section

• Photos alongside text

• Closing note

Step 3: Let go of perfect

Done and printed beats perfect and unfinished—every time.

🔹Where to Create & Print

Print-on-Demand Options

• Shutterfly

• Snapfish

• Blurb

• Mixbo

• Try Groupon for these or other POD photo book companies.

• Sometimes Rakuten, formerly known as Ebates, offers cash back deals for POD.

💡 Print one copy first. Hold it. Then decide what comes next.

🔹 What to Include

• Old photos (even imperfect ones)

• Document snippets

• Short, readable stories

• Clear captions explaining who and why it matters

People don’t just want names.
They want context.

🔹 Making It Personal

This is the part that turns a book into something people keep.

Facts are important. Dates matter. Relationships matter.
But what people remember—what they feel—is the connection.

You don’t have to be a great writer to do this. You just have to be honest.

Add a short note at the beginning.
It doesn’t have to be long. Just something simple:

I put this together because these stories matter to me—and I hope they matter to you too.

Tell them why you chose these people.
Why this branch. Why this story.

If there’s someone in the book you wish you had known better… say that.
If there’s someone who made you laugh, or frustrated you, or surprised you… say that too.

This isn’t a history textbook.
This is family.

You can even speak directly to the reader:

If you recognize a face, or remember something I don’t, I hope you’ll add to this story.

And don’t be afraid to include the little things:

• A memory you were told as a child

• A detail that stuck with you for no real reason

• A sentence that begins with “I always wondered…”

Those are the pieces that make it feel alive.

And if you’re not sure what to say?

Sit with it for a minute and think:

Why did I make this book?

Start there.

Because at the end of the day, this isn’t just about preserving the past.
It’s about reaching forward—leaving something behind that says:

These were our people. And they mattered.

🔹 A Gentle Nudge

If you’re waiting until everything is finished, you may never begin.

Start with one story. One branch. One small book.

Because someday, someone in your family may hold that book in their hands—
and for the first time, truly understand where they came from…
not as names and dates, but as stories.

The kind we’ve all been asking for since we were children:
Tell me a story.