Yesterday my publisher, Big World Network, hosted a fun Twitter party to launch my new book "Climbing Family Trees."
Below is the dialogue that trended all morning long:
Trina Boice has been with BigWorldNetwork.com since the
beginning of the site in late fall of 2011, and has since published several
series and books with us. How to Stay UP in a DOWN Economy, a nonfiction book
about earning and saving money from home, is available now in paperback, eBook,
and audiobook.
Trina’s newest novel, originally published in 2005, and then
as a series on BWN, is a joint effort with her twin sister, Tracey Long –
Climbing Family Trees: Whispers in the Leaves.
Climbing Family Trees is a nonfiction/inspirational book
about genealogy, with advice as well as personal stories from the twins and
others. The book released this past weekend, starting with a Twitter Release
Party in which BWN asked the sisters to join us and answer some questions about
the book.
BWN: Welcome to BWN’s second ever Twitter Release Party!
Featuring new book release Climbing Family Trees: Whispers in the Leaves. This
is the 2nd edition of Climbing Family Trees. What originally inspired you and
Tracey to take on this book?
Trina: Our own family inspired us to write Climbing Family
Trees several years ago. We had been bit by the genealogy bug and loved
inspiring stories. It was such a fun book to write! Any time you want to have a
spiritual experience, just do genealogy!
Tracey: It was such a fun project to do together. Because
we're twins, we think alike so we're already "on the same page."
BWN: How did you go about gathering so many inspiring
personal stories about genealogy?
Tracey: We sent query letters to genealogical societies and
got great stories.
Trina: Genealogists are VERY giving. Sharing is what they do
all day long, so they were eager to contribute. We put a call out for
inspirational stories of people who felt help from heaven with their family
tree. We received so many heartwarming stories. Heaven truly helps those who
want to unite families! So sweet!
BWN: Further proof that writing can be communal! What was
the most difficult hurdle while working on Climbing Family Trees?
Trina: We wrote the book before cloud computing and had to
email the manuscript back and forth. Our computers crashed TWICE while writing
it. Luckily, we each had manuscript versions to email to each other. The two of
us are in the process of writing another fun book together. We love the
collaboration.
BWN: What new title are you working on? Can you give us a
sneak peek on the topic?
Tracey: Because our focus is "families" &
"fun" we're writing a book of party games. People often rely too much
on watching videos for group entertaining because they don't know what else to
do!
Trina: We're usually working on several things at a time!
We’re working on a kind of Whose Line Is It Anyway party game book. Our nephew
was in a comedy improv group in college and shared some of his group's warm-up
games to add! We've tried many of them at parties. Soooo much fun! We'll post
videos when the book comes out.
BWN: That sounds fantastic! I know my family get togethers
could use some fun ideas for activities.
Trina: Every family has natural hams, so interactive party
games at family reunions are always a hit. We have a whole chapter in Climbing
Family Trees with fun family reunion party games too!
BWN: Was Climbing Family Trees your first time writing
something together?
Trina: Yep, the first official published work. We had
collaborated on other projects together and still do.
Tracey: We competed in a National Speech/Debate event
together as twins.
Trina: Can you believe Tracey was my live prop once in
college for an expository speech about twins? We won 1st! Another project could
be to gather fun stories about twins. People love stories about twins tricking
people.
BWN: Have you and Tracey ever tricked anyone as twins?
Trina: Of course! We switched classes, and tricked dates.
Tracey's husband almost kissed me on her wedding day!
Tracey: The question is how many times have we tricked
people! That's a great book idea!
BWN: Agreed! Thank you both for joining us today! Genealogy
is something anyone can get involved in, and often engrossed in before they even
realize it.
Trina: Absolutely! It's not just for "old" folks.
We all have a hunger to know where we came from. Genealogy isn't just finding
your ancestors, but connecting with your living relatives and celebrating
family.
Tracey: Alex Haley, the author of Roots stated everyone has a deep thirst to know more about their
family. Our book helps you start learning how. Many people believe in a
guardian angel, and who best but an ancestor of yours to help guide you in
climbing your own family tree.
Trina: Climbing Family Trees includes TONS of ideas to honor
your heritage and celebrate family every day. It also includes touching stories
of adopted children finding their blood relatives. Very tender.
Tracey: We even have a chapter on animals involved in
genealogy. And we'd love to know how the book helps readers and listeners find
and connect with their own family trees!
To let Trina and Tracey know your thoughts on the book, feel
free to respond to this blog post, on their series page, on any episode pages
for Climbing Family Trees, or leave a review on Amazon.
Purchase your copy of Climbing Family Trees: Whispers in the
Leaves now at: https://bigworldnetwork.com/site/store/climbingfamilytrees/ …
and receive a FREE audiobook with purchase of the paperback
Watch for FREE eBook days on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Climbing-Family-Trees-ebook/dp/B00CUTES2U/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1369001924&sr=8-2-fkmr0&keywords=climbing+family+trees+trina
Check out the video promo here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNSX_yW5f_s …
You can also download and print a FREE bookmark at the
Climbing Family Trees series page: https://bigworldnetwork.com/site/series/climbingfamilytrees/ …