In War of the Words, you share your family’s experience building the company that shaped the modern office and the crushing blow that came with the Information Age. Why was this an important book for you to write?

It’s an untold story—that of the early days of tech innovation, before Silicon Valley. The earliest implementers of tech were secretaries who had to convert from typewriters to word processors. Ultimately, these women became the ones who transformed their offices into full-blown automated offices. Office automation elevated everyone. The crushing blow came to companies such as ours that couldn’t compete with Microsoft’s power and money. Few small companies and even some tech giants could.

I appreciate the candor with which you tell your family’s story. What was the most difficult thing for you to write about?

My memoir has twists and turns, triumphs and tragedies. My mother’s devastating illness, my father’s allegiance to a “new Age Cult,” and my brother’s alcoholism all contribute to the arc the story takes. The rise and fall of a most unusual company that was instrumental in the dawn of the Information Age.

What advice would you give someone who is considering writing a memoir? Why are you writing it?

To inspire, to heal?  Give yourself time to reflect, to pause, as you write. Memoirs bring up emotions that have to be dealt with, and some can stop your progress. Allow time to heal as you write, for writing a memoir is a healing process. By sharing your story, perhaps others can heal or be inspired.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from your family’s experiences?

Take chances. Live a full and exciting life. Make a difference. Try something new. Be daring.

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