Seeking Yesterday unfolds as both a personal quest and a sweeping historical account, blending memoir, genealogy, and local history into a seamless narrative. Why was this an important book for you to write?

The drive to understand our roots is a primal human need, and this book began with my husband, Bob’s, quiet desire to reclaim his. After over 50 years of marriage, I knew he wouldn’t write an autobiography, so my initial mission was simple: to create a family scrapbook of a 7-day ancestral journey.

But what started as a small, personal commemoration grew into something far grander.

The deeper we delved, a passion ignited in me. The focus shifted from merely collecting facts to understanding how history shaped these lives. Relying on family recall left too many tantalizing questions:

Why did a WWI veteran choose to homestead in the unforgiving desert?
Where did they find the grit to persevere through the Great Depression and a second World War?
What were the final, crucial details of the WWII pilot shot down in action?

The untold answers transformed a simple family record into a fascinating tale of resilience and mystery. My ultimate decision was to write the book in Bob’s voice—to impersonate his perspective and make his silent story heard. While unique to one family, I believe the powerful quest for identity, the perseverance through hardship, and the secrets unearthed resonate with anyone seeking their own vital connection to the past.

What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?

Ancestry is more than a list of names; it is a profound journey of discovery. While we may feel our own lives fall short of “extraordinary,” the tales of our forebears often sound instantly intriguing. Why?

The answer lies in the dynamic and vital intersection of two forces: individual personality and historical context.

This book is dedicated to exploring that very synthesis: the idea that character is not innate, but forged in the fires of world events. The questions that propelled my research became the essential themes I needed to share:

What is the true cost of global conflict on a single family’s spirit?
What does real resilience look like when played out against the backdrop of the Great Depression?
How are the universal qualities of grit, love, and loss magnified when they intersect with military service, homesteading, or personal tragedy?

My goal is to show how the seemingly “ordinary” lives of these ancestors were, in fact, extraordinary products of their time, and to demonstrate that understanding their story is the key to understanding the enduring identity—and resilience—of the generations that followed.

How has writing your family’s memoir impacted or changed your life?

Writing this book—stepping into my husband’s character to pen his family’s memoir—did more than create a historical record; it fundamentally deepened my relationship with him.

After 53 years of marriage, Bob and I have always been “joined at the hip,” but this project provided an unprecedented path to understanding. By immersing myself in his ancestry, struggles, and triumphs, I gained a profound, intimate appreciation for the forces that shaped the man I love. It served to reinforce the already strong bonds, continuing the love affair by giving it a rich, historical dimension.

Beyond the personal growth, the book offers an unexpected, yet deeply humbling, value: the chance to resonate with and help others on their own quest for roots. The fact that my personal labor of love is being met with accolades and can serve as a catalyst for other families is a rewarding bonus that extends the book’s personal legacy.

What advice do you have for aspiring memoir writers?

Begin with familiar family stories and traditions, imagine how your ancestors may have lived, review world events as it was during their lives, research important milestones, and ask questions… many questions! The secret is in the answers.

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