Discover The Stories StoryTerrace Help Share.

Dad. Pops. My Old Man. Papa. Stepdad. Daddy.

No matter what you call your father, there’s a universal sentiment about the men in our lives — when they talk, we listen.

Father’s Day will be here soon, which got us thinking about the important figures dads are. Whether they’re giving us a warm hug, teaching us how to ride a bike, wiping away tears after a breakup, cheering us on to victory in our soccer match, high-fiving us at college graduation, or making us laugh uncontrollably — dads play a welcome, integral role throughout our lives in so many ways.

After all — a dad is a son's first hero and a daughter's first love.

Think about it:

How many times have you gone to your old man seeking help and advice — no matter if you’re 5 or 55? Countless. Life lessons he's taught us? Immeasurable. Seems like dads always deliver the precise words of wisdom we need for any situation.

So, we decided to look into some powerful advice famous fathers have imparted. So much of it rings true with us here at StoryTerrace, and we wanted to share it with you, too.

Photo credit: Vintage New Daily

Famous Fathers, Great Advice

Way back in 1933, novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote a poignant, poem-like letter to his 11-year-old daughter. Here’s some of what he shared:

Worry about courage
Worry about cleanliness
Worry about efficiency
Worry about horsemanship
Worry about…

Things not to worry about:
Don’t worry about popular opinion
Don’t worry about dolls
Don’t worry about the past
Don’t worry about the future
Don’t worry about growing up
Don’t worry about anybody getting ahead of you
Don’t worry about triumph
Don’t worry about failure unless it comes through your own fault…

Isn't it amazing how Fitzgerald summed up so many important lessons in so few words? We especially love his note to not worry about popular opinion — just be yourself and do what makes you happy!

Scottie with her father, Francis Scott Fitzgerald. Photo credit: Agefotostock.com

And here’s an honest and thoughtful letter that former President Ronald Reagan wrote to his son just days before the 26-year-old’s wedding in 1971:

“You have entered into the most meaningful relationship there is in all human life. It can be whatever you decide to make it. … There is an old law of physics that you can only get out of a thing as much as you put in it. The man who puts into the marriage only half of what he owns will get that out. … There is no greater happiness for a man than approaching a door at the end of a day knowing someone on the other side of that door is waiting for the sound of his footsteps.
P.S. You’ll never get in trouble if you say “I love you” at least once a day.”

Well, President Reagan, we agree — telling our family and friends we love them is so important!

Ronald Reagan reading a magazine with his daughter, Maureen, circa 1945. Photo Credit: Getty Images

We also love the blunt directness from rapper, movie star, and businessman Ice Cube:

"Mind your own business and you will live longer. Don’t take crap from anybody. Stand up for yourself. Be nice. You don’t have to be mean. Don’t leave it up to the mother to raise your kids. You need to be just as involved. Just being there is not being there. You have to be there and be involved. Don’t sit on the sideline and leave it for your wife to do.”

Yes to all of that, Ice Cube! We think he should create a rap song with those powerful words of wisdom. It would certainly go to the top of the charts!

You know, it’s quite amazing how so much fatherly advice withstands the test of time. In particular, we like what Harper Lee penned for Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird back in 1960:

“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”

Insightful Quotes That Resonated With Us

“Don’t take life too seriously,’ and more than anything, he always told me to pursue my dreams.”
— Conrad Anker, Professional Mountain Climber, including Mount Everest

“My father used to say, “You know, Marty, the key to life is to do the decent thing.” I’d like to be remembered as someone who tried to do the decent thing.”
— Martin Short, Movie and TV Star

Photo credit: Pixabay

“My father and mother emphasized two things: Every person is responsible for his or her own actions, and, to the best of your ability, leave the world better than you found it.”
— Bill Nye the Science Guy

"I feel that the greatest gift that I can give my children is the freedom to be who they are."
— Will Smith, Movie and TV Star

Capture Your Dad’s Joy and Wisdom

No doubt your own father has shared some valuable insight over the years. There’s no better way to capture that advice and all the wonderful memories you've shared together than with his very own memoir of life’s journey, crafted by StoryTerrace.

As our dads are getting older, there’s no time like the present to honor him with a priceless family heirloom. In fact, a parent we worked with said writing her story was the best thing her sons could have done for her.

Reviewing all this excellent paternal advice reminded us to call our dads and tell them how much we love them. Maybe you will, too.

We'll leave you with this anonymous quote that sums everything up quite perfectly and succinctly:

“To the world, you’re a dad. To our family, you are the world.”

Oh, one more thing — here’s some advice for you, dads: Keep your words of wisdom coming.

If you’d like to preserve your father’s advice for future generations, contact StoryTerrace or sign up for our newsletter to learn more about writing a family biography today.

Have you ever wondered what your parents dreamt about as kids?

Imagine you grab a book that describes the story of your life long before you were born. The words introduce you to a decade in which you didn’t yet exist, and the paragraphs move you to places where you’ve probably never been.

And you can’t put it down because the principal characters of that breathtaking story are your parents.

As you read, you discover who they were before they met, how they grew up, and how their lives had the fortunate twist of crossing their paths. In a nonfiction book that describes your parents’ life, you can preserve those invaluable memories and connect, over and over, with your loved ones.

Writing your story and preserving your heritage not only offers benefits for your mental health, but it's also an excellent way to strengthen your relationship with your family and an admirable gesture to honor your parents.

But how do you get started? Writing your parents’ life story from scratch is a big task, but you can make it manageable by following three simple steps.

Photo credit: Pixabay

1. Start a Five-Sense Conversation

The first step is to gather all the interesting stories of your parents’ lives. The research phase can be easy for you, but it might overwhelm your parents. Sit with them and listen carefully to their story. Enjoy that pleasant conversation — it’s not an interrogation! As they talk, hand them photo albums, old letters, or objects with sentimental value to prompt their memories.

As you talk, focus on having a five-sense conversation. Your goal isn’t just to know the facts about dates and places. You also want to awaken emotions that were asleep in a hidden memory. To do that, the storytellers must work with their senses to access the best of their memories and speak from their hearts. In that way, you capture their authentic voices when it’s time to type those words on the computer.

To touch on the five senses, ask for details about what things looked like — colors, textures, shape, and size. If there’s a song they love, play it, and maybe even dance or sing together. If there’s a meal your parents enjoyed as kids, try to cook it with them. Spend time with them and enjoy the process together, doing all you can to gather rich details about sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell.

Photo credit: Burst

Don’t be afraid to ask about everything that intrigues you. Invite your parents to talk about their dreams and downfalls, their struggles and efforts, their progress, and their mistakes. Ask them which crisis made them grow, the happiest moments of their life together, and what advice they would offer to the future generations of your family — or the world.

If there are gaps in their stories, you can call on other relatives or family friends for additional information. Those supporting characters in the story can offer another perspective or a more detailed description of an anecdote.

To get more detailed information on how to prepare to interview your loved ones, check out this guideline published by the library of UCLA.

2. Record the Interviews

It’s important to keep proof of those stories, so don’t forget to record your interviews. This will allow you to check back as you write to make sure your details are accurate. Recording will also free you from the burden of note-taking so you can concentrate while they speak and enjoy a more natural conversation. In addition to preserving facts for your book, you’ll also have a treasured keepsake that captures the tone and timbre of their voice for posterity — an incredible gift for future generations.

During the interview, there are three things you should keep in mind:

• Make sure your electronic device is completely charged and has enough storage space before the conversation starts. Once the interview begins, activate the voice recorder and place it near the storytellers. It’s a good idea to do a test first, to make sure their voices are clear.
• Listen and observe your parents as they speak. Let them talk as long as they want, and try not to interrupt them — sometimes tangents turn out to be the best anecdotes! Pay attention to how their emotions bloom as they tell about a specific moment of their past.
• Have a pad and a pen handy, but be careful not to overuse it or let it become a distraction. Write all the questions you have, and take notes of decisive citations and revealing thoughts.

Your smartphone provides the easiest way to record your interviews. Voice Memos is the best recording app for iOS users — just touch the bright red button and let it record. If you have an Android device, download Easy Voice Recorder.

If you can’t meet in person, you can record your interview on your favorite video calling app. Zoom, Skype, and Google Meet all offer ways to record your call.

3. Digitize Photos and Documents

To help bring your parents’ stories to life, you’ll want to include photos in your book. Seeing your parents in their youth will complete the portrait you paint of them as full, interesting people.

Photo credit: Getty Images

To round out the book, collect photographs, letters, and documents such as birth certificates or diplomas. There are several free, downloadable apps that make scanning and editing these images easy:

• PhotoScan is one of the best ways to digitize old photographs for both iOS and Android users. It also allows you to back up scans with Google Photos for sharing.
• Photomyne is also free, and you can upgrade to premium features that let you scan multiple images in just one snapshot. It's free to download for both iOS and Android.
• Genius Scan and CamScanner are useful for scanning text documents. The apps automatically crop images and allow you to share them as PDF or JPG files.

Digitizing photos and documents is a great way to preserve them for posterity, and it makes it possible to insert images into your story as you write.

StoryTerrace Can Help

Crafting a book from scratch is a thrilling project, but it can be overwhelming. If you've thought about creating that book but are having trouble getting started, StoryTerrace can help you transform that idea into a hardcover non-fiction book with our experienced team of editors, writers, and designers.

StoryTerrace takes on the hard work of book production so you can relax. One of our 600 writers and journalists will interview your loved ones and turn their words into clear, compelling prose. With our specialized Bookmaker platform, you can easily add photos to the book. When all is ready to print, you’ll receive a beautiful hardback book worthy of passing down to future generations.

Watch our video here

If you’re worried about not having the time or the skill to do your parents’ story justice, we’re here for you! StoryTerrace makes it possible to capture your parents’ stories in a professional book that you’ll be proud to share.

To learn more about our hardback books and writing process, contact StoryTerrace today. You can also subscribe to our newsletter so you never miss out on helpful writing advice.

Writing your own book is an immensely rewarding journey.

Whether you complete the project yourself or work with a ghostwriter, authoring a book is an incredible achievement. But once the manuscript is finished, one big question remains:

How are you going to get your book into your readers' hands?

Today there are more ways for new authors to publish their work than ever before. Understanding the basics will help you make the best choice to get your book out into the world.

The Rise of Self-Publishing

In the past, traditional publishing was the only way to bring your book to a wider audience. Traditional publishing requires you to find a book agent willing to take you on as a client. Then you must submit a series of query letters and book proposals in the hopes of securing a deal with a publishing house. This process is notoriously difficult and time-consuming. If you manage to be accepted by an agent and then sign a publishing deal, the publishing house controls most of the rights to your book. In turn, you surrender control over nearly all decisions relating to your intellectual property, from the cover art and editing to the method of distribution and the marketing plan.

Self-publishing, on the other hand, provides a new experience for writers of all genres. The rise of user-friendly self-publishing platforms and the global freelance economy has disrupted the traditional publishing world — much to the dismay of the big publishing houses. Self-publishing makes it possible to bypass the middleman and get your book straight to market. When you self-publish, you do so on your terms and retain full creative control of your book.

This boom in self-publishing is no mere fad. The number of self-published titles topped the 1 million mark for the first time in 2017, and 31% of daily e-book sales are now by self-published authors. With backing from tech giants like Apple, Google, and Amazon, the self-publishing trend is here to stay.

7 Major Advantages of Self-Publishing

Photo credit: Pexels

1. Guaranteed Publication: Some publishing houses only look at book proposals from agents and automatically discard mountains of unsolicited proposals from independent writers. Even well-known authors have had to endure this: J.K. Rowling was rejected 12 times before Bloomsbury snapped up Harry Potter, while Tim Ferris was rejected by 25 publishers before going on to sell 1.5 million copies of The 4 Hour Work Week in 35 languages. Self-publishing guarantees that your book will be published without delay, because you don’t have to wait for permission. You set the timeline for your book, and you can get started just as soon as your final draft is ready to go.
2. Higher Royalties: For many authors, self-publishing provides the potential for higher earnings than traditional publishing. It all comes down to the royalties paid out under each system. A royalty is the percentage of each book sale the author receives as income. When working with a traditional publisher, you may receive an advance before the book is published. This upfront payment for your work may sound great, but it’s usually paid against any future royalty earnings. This means that your book must make an equal amount in sales compared to your advance before you start receiving any additional royalties. Even then, on average, authors often receive only about 7.5% of each book sold. In the world of self-publishing, you’re likely to receive a much higher percentage in royalties. Amazon, for example, will take a cut of each book sold, but authors can receive as much as 70% of the book’s price if they meet certain requirements. With other platforms like Sellfy, you can earn as much of 92% of the book's sale price. For many writers, self-publishing has made it possible to make a living as a writer without jumping through hoops with traditional publishers. The latest report from Author Earnings points out that over 1,000 independent authors are earning an annual income of $50,000 or more from their self-published titles.
3. Personal Satisfaction: For an author, writing a book is often about more than just making money. You may have a story that simply must be told. You might want to share your story to help others in similar circumstances or to raise awareness of an important issue. You may want your book to further validate your unique insight or expertise. Or you might just want to share your story and be heard. Unfortunately, many such stories are overlooked by risk-averse publishers who prefer to stick to what they already know: celebrities and established authors. And that’s a shame because there are so many interesting voices and perspectives out there going unheard. Self-publishing offers a valuable counter-balance that lets independent writers find their audience.
4. Thought Leadership: Publishing a book is an incredible way to show your authority as an expert in your field. This is true for just about any topic: business, personal development, faith — you name it. If you’re interested in taking your career or business to the next level — or just establishing yourself as an influencer or thought leader — your book will impress potential clients and provide opportunities for publicity. Your book could also lead to invitations to write guest columns, speak at events, appear on expert panels, or be interviewed on television. All that exposure secures your position as a true leader in your field — a sustainable benefit that goes well beyond the initial royalty checks. StoryTerrace is launching a brand-new service designed specifically for writers looking to publish professional books. StoryTerrace Pro allows creative professionals, entrepreneurs, executives, and consultants to write, publish, and promote their books in one easy package. It’s a great way to share your ideas with the world without having to worry about navigating the complexities of traditional publishing, and it’s ideal for a wide range of writers, whether you’re a life coach, surgeon, or an expert on a niche topic.
5. Print-on-Demand Technology: Self-publishing is by no means limited to e-books. You will still be able to sell printed books if you self-publish. Print-on-demand technology makes it convenient and affordable for self-published authors to print any number of copies and sell these books directly to readers. In the past, self-published authors had to pay high upfront costs to print a large number of books. High print minimums meant that they would then be left with extra copies to store, which typically meant paying for warehousing or self-storage. It was inefficient, to say the least. Print-on-demand services such as Amazon Kindle Direct, BookBaby, and Lulu bypass the risk associated with print copies and allow self-published authors to print only after they’ve made a sale. You don’t pay for the service until after you’ve actually sold the book, so you don’t need to buy in bulk or stock the books yourself.
6. Streamlined Promotion: Prior to the boom in self-publishing, one major advantage of working with traditional publishers was their marketing department. But the power of social media allows independent authors to build a following and reach their audience directly. It also allows you to build a more personal relationship with readers. If you want some additional support, the rise in freelancing platforms means that specialists are available at the click of a button to help you market your book. You can find social media managers, content marketers, and even designers to make a website to promote your book. If the idea of finding and vetting qualified professionals to promote your book sounds daunting, StoryTerrace offers self-publishing and promotion add-on packages that streamline promotion and provide everything you need to launch your book to the public. We connect you with fully vetted experts who will guide you through every step of the process, from book creation to distribution and effective promotion. We offer tutorials as well as project management services to help you successfully navigate the brave new world of self-publishing.

Photo Credit: Burst

1. Total Control: When you work with a traditional publisher, the book becomes their intellectual property to do whatever they like with. There’s no guarantee that the final version of your book ends up matching your original vision. When you choose to self-publish your book, you retain total creative control over the content of your book. You are the boss at every stage of development and distribution, including:
   • Cover design
   • Content
   • Copy layout
   • Title

Premium Writer

Phil Hamlyn Williams is a professional writer with a master’s degree from University College Falmouth. In addition to writing for a variety of periodicals, he has published several books that vividly bring history to life.

Phil discovered his talent for writing histories — particularly the stories of individuals against a backdrop of era-defining events — later in life. He made the leap from accountant to writer at age 50, so his work is informed by passion and wisdom in equal measure. Phil currently lives in Old Dalby, Leicestershire, England.

Phil in his youth at the wheel of the Bencomo

ST: Why do you enjoy writing for Story Terrace?

I like to discover people’s and companies’ stories and then work at how best to communicate them.

ST: If you were writing a Story Terrace book of your life, what would be the title and why?

Lucky Wanderer. I have never mapped out a course for my life, but at each point of change, I have been lucky in finding interesting opportunities.

ST: What is the most memorable story you've told as a writer?

That of the MacRoberts Reply, which I wrote for StoryTerrace. It was the story of an aeroplane given to the RAF by a grieving mother, of the men who flew it, and of one man who survived its final crash.

ST: What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Being with my wife, my children, and my grandchildren.

ST: What is your biggest fear?

Alzheimer’s.

ST: What's something that people would be surprised to learn about you?

My father was 60 when I was born, and his father was 60 when my father was born.

ST: What trait do you admire most in others?

Compassion.

ST: What is your most treasured possession?

My model railway set, which I’ve had for over 60 years.

ST: Who are your favorite writers?

Philip Pullman, Penelope Lively, Sebastian Faulks, and Charlotte Bronte.

ST: What fictional character do you most identify with?

Albus Dumbledore.

ST: If you could have been born in any time or place, what would you choose?

London, 1851.

ST: What makes you most angry?

Unfairness.

Lightning Round!

ST: Dogs or cats?

Cats.

ST: Introvert or extrovert?

Introvert.

ST: Morning lark or night owl?

Morning lark.

ST: Vintage or modern?

Vintage.

ST: X-ray vision or time travel?

Time travel.

To find out more about having a professional writer like Phil preserve your family history, contact StoryTerrace or sign up for our newsletter today.

According to UNESCO, "Our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration." We couldn't agree more! The ability to give future generations an understanding of the past is priceless.

Preserving stories so that others can learn from them is central to our mission at StoryTerrace. We work with a diverse range of people from many different backgrounds, and this includes both our expert writers as well as our clients. When crafting the perfect ghostwritten biography, it's vital that the writer has a deep empathy for the client and can tell their story in their authentic voice. This connection includes the ability to understand and convey the important aspects of their culture.

Take a look at some of our favorite books from clients with a special interest in preserving and sharing their cultural legacies.

Cultural Connections

StoryTerrace writer Ellen Aaku was born to Zambian parents in the UK but split her time between Africa and Europe, ultimately earning her degree from the University of Zambia. Ellen is an experienced author of children's books, adult fiction, and creative non-fiction. She has won the Commonwealth Short Competition, the Penguin Prize for Writing, and the Macmillan Writer’s Prize. She also teaches writing to adults and children in Ghana, South Africa, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia.

Ellen (pictured centre) with participants of one of her writing workshops

At StoryTerrace, Ellen works with many clients to turn their life stories and experiences into beautiful books. As she explained to The Voice, her cultural background and own life experiences help her to connect to others, particularly to Black storytellers:

"I believe that to write about someone, you need to understand and ‘feel’ them as a person. The connection creates trust and a space where the person telling their story is comfortable to talk honestly without feeling judged. As a writer it’s important for me to feel the storyteller feels I ‘get’ their story, and the connection enables that."

In her most recent project with StoryTerrace, Ellen worked closely with Subrena Joseph of STUBS Disability Coaching. Subrena's biography, To Walk Around It, Move It, or Love It, is now available on Amazon and depicts her life story as a Black woman with a disability. She tells of the discrimination and difficulties she has faced, as well as how she has overcome them. Subrena also shares stories of her career as a social worker and the road to creating her very own charity, Striving Towards Understanding Barriers (STUBS).

_Subrena with her StoryTerrace book that she went on to self-publish_Awareness and Understanding

James Brown also wanted to share his challenges with discrimination, in this case so that his family could understand more about his background. He lives in West Yorkshire, having moved to the UK as a teenager in 1968 after being born in St. Kitts and Nevis. There he joined his father, who was part of the Windrush generation that immigrated to the UK in the wake of World War II.

As a young Black person growing up in the UK, James regularly experienced racism. He was discriminated against at work and stopped by police on the streets. Despite the adversity, he decided to remain in the UK against the odds.

James today (left) and in his younger days (right)

While James says that his "heart is still in the Caribbean," he turned to StoryTerrace to help him write a book about his experiences living in the UK and dealing with racism. As he told The Metro, he wanted his children to "have a better understanding of their grandad's struggles and now their father’s ... this book is simply for me and my family."

The challenges James faced inspired him to launch the Bradford Against Apartheid Movement (BAAM) to highlight the plight of Black people in South Africa and contribute to a more positive future.

Helping Women Thrive

Teresa Samuel grew up in the south of Sudan in a town called Wau, an area shaded by mango and mahogany trees. She had memories of hunger and hardship, but her family was happy living in the rich grassland of the savannah near the equator. When Teresa was just 11, all of this changed with the onset of the Sudanese Civil War.

Teresa worked with StoryTerrace writer Sara Walden, who ghostwrote her biography Into the Light. Teresa's book tells of the life-changing impact of growing up in a war zone before fleeing to Khartoum. There, she witnessed the desperate plight of Sudan's internally displaced people.

Teresa (pictured) selected this photo for the cover of her StoryTerrace biography

Teresa knew she had to step in to change the fate of her country's people. With several other women, Teresa founded WOTAP, a women’s training and promotion program designed to empower the displaced women and children of Sudan. As a testament to her work, Teresa was awarded funding from British, Dutch, and American governments.

Teresa is now retired and lives in London, but her daughter carries on the humanitarian work in her home country. Teresa wanted to tell her story to ensure that the plight of her people would not be ignored. "As I have been guided by the light of so many who have helped and influenced me, I hope, in turn, to bring the light of my people’s suffering to the eyes of the world," she says.

These three amazing books show just how important it is to keep cultural and personal histories alive. Within their pages, it is possible to find the truth about where the author came from and to draw a bright, unbroken line connecting the generations.

If you would like to preserve your cultural heritage or life story in a biography, contact StoryTerrace, or sign up for our newsletter for more incredible stories from our clients.

LaVerne Clouden's Musical Journey

LaVerne Clouden has been teaching music her whole life. From the moment she first tapped on water glasses at the dinner table and discovered she could make music out of everyday objects, LaVerne got busy organizing neighborhood children into musical groups. She was a natural musician and a born leader, so it made sense that she would end up dedicating her career to teaching music to high school students and leading them in both marching and concert bands.

But the path to becoming a band director wasn’t always easy. LaVerne faced an uphill battle convincing people to see her talent as a Black woman, particularly within a public school system still ruled by patriarchal ideas and more than a little racism.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking to LaVerne about her career as a music teacher in the Cleveland public schools and how she managed to build her dream career in spite of the obstacles.

*LaVerne's StoryTerrace biography titled My Musical Journey from A to G

"You Should Write a Book, Miss Duncan"

Over the years, LaVerne Clouden (nee Duncan) heard from many people that she should write a book about her experiences. The idea started at her very first teaching job in 1966, when the headteacher at the school where she worked wanted her to write a paper about all of her plans for the band and music program. As she moved from school to school, LaVerne’s students said over and over, "You should write a book, Miss Duncan."

As the years passed and technology became part of the job of connecting with students and making sure they had access to their assignments online, LaVerne kept up. As she learned the ropes on social media, she connected with her old students and band members.

When one of them asked if she had ever written that book, she knew it was time.

She clicked on a StoryTerrace ad that popped up on her Facebook feed, and the rest is history.

LaVerne’s father was a professional musician who gave her her first piano as a child

"That’s Not for Girls"

As soon as LaVerne was old enough to realize that she could be a music teacher, that’s what she wanted to do. In particular, she wanted to lead a big, brassy marching band. When she graduated high school at the age of 17, she took a job in a traveling band. The director fell ill, and LaVerne took over the role — she was the only one who knew how to conduct, so she led rehearsals. But when it came time to perform, LaVerne had to pass the baton to a male member of the group.

“They said it would look bad because I was so young and they were all men, especially because we played for mostly male organizations," she recalls. "I felt bad about it, but not bad enough to stop playing."

After several years touring — plus a marriage and babies! — LaVerne enrolled in college at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland. Despite a social worker’s race-based snap judgment that she would never get in, LaVerne — always a high-achieving student — aced her entrance exams and earned a scholarship to help cover the costs.

LaVerne studied music in college with the intention of leading a marching band. It wasn’t until she was partway through the program that she was told that there were no female marching band directors in the state — or possibly in any high school in the country. It just wasn’t done. "That’s not for girls," they said.

But LaVerne was not deterred. "That’s still what I want to do," she said.

LaVerne’s first solo flute recital in college

"One Day You’re Going to Beg Me"

When LaVerne finished high school, she applied for a teaching job in Cleveland. "I wanted a rough school," she says. "If I went to a place where people had a hard time, they would appreciate me more. I just worried about giving them something they didn’t have."

But first, LaVerne had to convince the leadership that she was worthy of the job. She applied for a high school band position first, simply pretending that she had no idea it was considered a man’s job. They took one look at LaVerne and said, "You need to go to a primary school. It’s too rough and you’re too quiet."

The compromise was a job at a junior high school. At the interview, LaVerne told the supervisor, "One day you’re going to beg me to take a high school band, and I’m going to turn you down." She didn’t even have the job yet, but she had big plans for building a music program for students.

As it turned out, she was only partially right. After nearly a decade teaching music and leading bands at two different junior high schools, that same district supervisor came to LaVerne one day and asked, "Are you ready to make history?"

She was badly needed at a high school no one else would touch, thanks to its reputation for terrible fights.

LaVerne did not turn him down.

LaVerne’s first high school band at JFK High School, 1974

"Music Makes You More Tolerant"

LaVerne made history as the first female band director, and she spent years building a successful program at John F. Kennedy High School. Though some families resisted her at first, she astounded the community by teaching her students "kaleidoscope marching" — the type of marching in which a band moves to form changing pictures on the field. The first field show of the year was a stunner, and LaVerne handily won over any remaining doubters.

LaVerne had to work hard to overcome budget cuts and get her students what they needed to perform, but their talent under her leadership was clear. The JFK marching band was invited to exclusive events across the city, was featured in local commercials, and even booked an international television show during her tenure.

In 1976, LaVerne made history again by becoming the first Black director of the All-American Youth Symphonic Band, Orchestra, and Chorus. She also took her students on special tours around the world, opening doors that most of her Black, inner-city students would not have had access to without the music program. It’s no wonder that so many of the students she touched in her career were only too happy to reconnect via social media years later.

When I asked LaVerne why she believed music education was so powerful, she didn’t hesitate in her answer: "Being in music makes you more tolerant," she explains. "It’s what makes us love each other, whether we know it or not."

LaVerne received considerable media attention for becoming the first female high school marching band and orchestra director in Cleveland, Ohio

Would you like to honor someone who has made a real difference in your life? Give the gift of a lifetime by presenting them with a StoryTerrace biography to record their good works for posterity. Contact StoryTerrace to get started, or sign up for our newsletter to read more inspiring stories from our clients.

Reflecting on the Pandemic: Moving Forward with Hope

The pandemic isn’t over yet, but spring is in the air — and with it, hope for a happier, healthier future. Still, it’s worthwhile to pause and consider how the last year has affected us — and how we can best move forward.

Last year at this time, I was sitting in my car, laptop balanced on my knees and bumping up against the dashboard on the passenger side. I was parked overlooking a salt marsh where local birds were happily diving into the sparkling blue river for fish, utterly oblivious to my presence — or to what was going on in the world at large.

I was crying.

Desperate for a change of scenery as I headed into the fifth week of lockdown, I thought I could turn my car into an office. Coffee shops were a no-go, and my own home felt suffocating.

I’m sure you have your own moment when you realized that "normal" was a lost cause.

Letting Go and Carrying On

In many ways, the pandemic was an incredible shared experience. We all had to deal with isolation, uncertainty, and abject terror at the thought of losing loved ones. Many of us experienced devastating grief as well.

Yet we did this both together — all together in the same Zoom-powered boat — and very much apart. The isolation of 2020 is an experience that has certainly changed us. But how?

At the one-year mark, now is the ideal time to reflect on what we just lived through, and how we might apply what we’ve learned to the future.

So how can we do this?

Step One: Process the Past

Research has shown that writing is a powerful tool for working through strong, complicated emotions. For instance, keeping a journal can help people better manage anxiety, depression, and reduce stress.

Writing can be particularly effective in helping people deal with memories of the past that keep nagging at them. In a recent episode of the "How To!" podcast, psychologist Ethan Cross explained how writing the story of your past can help you sort out your feelings about what happened and reach closure. Instead of trying to push negative memories away, he recommends writing them down. As you write, focus equally on what happened and how you felt about it.

Step Two: Write the Ending

Exploring the events of the past is only the beginning, though. Cross points out that the events make up the beginning of the story, but you also must write the ending. Where are you now? How has your life changed?

For example, journaling about difficult lockdown memories might involve describing your days in isolation and your fears for your family’s health. But that’s not the end of the story. As you continue writing, consider where you are today, and what pieces of a "happy ending" you are already experiencing. Adding these to your story will help you bring it to a close and let go of unresolved feelings about the past. It’s an important way to gain perspective.

Step Three: Apply Lessons to the Future

Finally, it would be a real shame to have gone through the harrowing experiences of 2020 without taking away anything of value. So what have you learned from lockdown?

This is a highly personal question, and everyone’s answer is different. For me, I learned a lot about letting go. The idea that I could recreate a coffee shop in my car seems a bit ridiculous now, and I’ve become much better at letting go of things I can’t control. I’m hardly a zen master, but I am trying.

I suspect that many of us have also realized just how important our closest relationships are to us. The past year also brought into shocking clarity that our time together is limited, and that we must make the most of it.

If you’ve heard a similar wakeup call about spending time with aging loved ones, StoryTerrace would like to help you make the most of your time together and preserve precious memories before they are lost. Now is the time to record your parents’ life stories — and our compassionate, creative writers can’t wait to help make this project a reality. They’ll interview your loved ones to write their biography while you gather treasured photographs to include in a beautifully bound keepsake to share for generations to come.

It’s the perfect way to honor the past while looking forward to a brighter future with your family and friends.

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You can give the gift of a lifetime to your parents. The Shukla family had their biography written with us.

If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you process the pandemic and preserve your most precious memories, contact StoryTerrace today. You can also sign up for our newsletter to find out more about what we do.

Premium Writer

Helena Drakakis began her career in publishing as a non-fiction editor. As a journalist, she has contributed to both regional and national titles, including The Guardian and The Independent. She currently works as a freelance journalist and professional ghostwriter, discovering what makes the world tick and helping others bring their stories to life.

She is currently co-authoring our Unsung Heroes book to celebrate the stories of 25 people who have gone above and beyond to help others during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will be publishing the book later this year.

Having reported from America, India, Africa, and Europe, Helena loves travel, food, politics, and the arts, in particular theater and dance. She currently resides in London.

Vanessa Baird (left), co-editor of the New Internationalist, receiving an award, pictured with Helena when she was working at The Big Issue*

ST: When did you first realise you wanted to be a writer?

I don’t recall ever having a Eureka moment, but I’ve always worked with fascinating people and with words either as a journalist or an editor, so writing was a natural progression. Ghostwriting is a great way to combine my insatiable curiosity, my interview skills, and my writing skills.

ST: Whose biography would you most like to write?

My grandfather’s. He lived through turbulent times in Greece and in the UK. And, like all grandchildren, I wished I’d known what to ask him while he was still alive.

ST: What is the most memorable story you’ve told as a writer?

Every story is memorable in its own way — big or small. I recently put together a set of stories for StoryTerrace’s Unsung Heroes project, and many of those, told from the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, still resonate. Of the larger, commercial projects I do, an autobiography by the singer Amy Winehouse’s mum certainly had an impact. But every story is unique — and never is what it seems on the surface.

ST: What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Great food, wine, and strong coffee.

ST: What is your biggest fear?

Zip-wiring, skydiving, or bungee jumping over deep water. In my view, there are far better ways to feel alive!

ST: Consider your life story. What’s the name of the chapter you’re in right now?

"Cross Roads." I am working on an exciting, but very frustrating, project for a major publisher at the moment. I’m quite cross on a daily basis! Plus, I am exploring writing my own book: Lockdown is giving me lots of time to think ...

ST: What’s something that people would be surprised to learn about you?

My not-so-secret love of Elvis.

ST: What trait do you admire most in others?

Authenticity.

ST: If you hadn’t become a writer, what career would you have right now?

I once told my school's career advisor I wanted to be a butcher. I suspect the authors whose books I edit might say I have indeed followed that path!

ST: What is your most treasured possession?

A clock that was saved from a sinking ship during the Spanish Civil War. It was given to my grandfather by the captain to thank him for helping to save the crew.

ST: What fictional character do you most identify with?

Oly Binewski — the hunchback, albino dwarf narrator in Katherine Dunn’s cult novel Geek Love. It’s a life-changing novel.

ST: Who is your hero?

Probably Gandhi. Hind Swaraj is still one of the most progressive texts, even though it was written in 1909. And, like all good reads, it was banned by the government.

Lightning Round!

ST: Dogs or cats?

Cats.

ST: Morning lark or night owl?

Night owl.

ST: Paperback or e-reader?

Paperback.

ST: City or country?

Both in equal measure.

ST: X-ray vision or time travel?

X-ray vision.

A mockup of what the Unsung Heroes book that Helena is working on could look like

If Helena’s passion for storytelling has inspired you to get to work on your own biography, get in touch to schedule a free consultation. You can also use our Writer Search Tool to find the perfect writer for your project today.

If you'd like to find out more about our campaign and upcoming book that Helena is involved with, visit our Unsung Heroes microsite.

Larry Sinatra: A Life of Service and Legacy

Larry Sinatra was fresh out of high school when he was drafted into the US Navy in 1944. Not long after completing boot camp, he set sail on the USS Maryland — and directly into the dangerous waters of the Pacific.

Today Larry is 90 years old, but memories of his Navy days are clear as a bell. For his 9-year-old granddaughter, World War II is a history lesson to be studied on Pearl Harbor Day or in a future high school course. For Larry, it was a lived experience aboard a battleship. "I wanted to write a book for my grandchildren so they could know what World War II and the Korean War were really like," he says.

To get that job done, Larry worked with StoryTerrace to record all of his memories of life in the Navy. The result is a hardbound book that Larry has shared with his whole family, complete with pictures that bring his stories to life.

Larry’s StoryTerrace biography

Joining Up

Larry turned 18 in October 1943, and he knew he was destined to serve. When he was drafted, he was still a senior in high school. "I went down to the draft board and told them that I would love to finish high school," he recalls. Even though he was of age, his request to earn his diploma was granted. As soon as he completed his studies, Larry was drummed into the Navy.

Still a teenager in his new Navy uniform

Working the Feed Pump

By the spring of 1944, Larry had made it through boot camp and was sent to Gulfport, Mississippi to train as an engineer. His first assignment was on a troop transport ship that carried sailors from California to Hawaii. Later, aboard the USS Maryland, he worked the feed pumps that kept fuel oil flowing to the boilers to power the engines — a job that required plenty of vigilance to monitor all the pressure gauges.

Larry and his crew in the feed pump room

Surviving the Attack

After a few months aboard the Maryland, Larry fell ill. He was sent to the sick bay aboard the ship, where he was fed through an IV for a whole week. On the morning of November 29, 1944, the doctor in charge declared Larry recovered and released him back to his quarters. Larry was packing up his things when the General Quarters alarm rang out. Knowing he wouldn’t have time to run all the way back to his post before the watertight hatches were sealed, Larry decided to hunker down in the sick bay until the alarm was over.

Then the explosion hit.

A kamikaze carrying a 500-pound bomb had crashed into the ship between gun turret #1 and #2. Larry describes the moment of impact in his book:

"I was thrown across the deck and into the bulkhead on the other side of the sick bay. Then I hit the deck and remained there, unconscious in a destroyed sick bay full of muck and oil. Around me, the handful of people who survived the blast were trying to open either of the hatches that could lead them out of the sick bay, but they were both jammed up from the debris. There were close to 30 people in the sick bay when the explosion took place and a handful of people — me included — were the only ones to survive."

A framed image of a kamikaze plane - similar to the one that hit the USS Maryland that Larry had been on

Larry, knocked unconscious by the blast, was rescued by a fellow sailor searching the wreckage for survivors. When he was brought topside and came to, his face felt so hot that he was sure it had been blown off. After desperately feeling around for his eyes and nose, he realised with relief that his face was still intact.

After the attack, Larry spent three months recovering from his injuries aboard a hospital ship. When he was finally well, he was awarded the Purple Heart.

Larry receiving his Purple Heart after surviving the kamikaze attack

Living History

It’s easy to think of war as just a series of battles, but talking to Larry about his time in the Navy made it clear that the big events that make the history books are only part of the story. Larry’s memories also include plenty of fun times on shore leave with friends, and he even sang me a song that he still knew by heart:

The coffee in the navy, they say it’s mighty fine

It’s good for cuts and bruises and tastes like iodine

I don’t want no more of this Navy life

Gee but I want to go home!

‍

Larry on shore leave with a friend, after having gotten "just a little tipsy"

Speaking to Larry about his war stories was truly a delight. My own grandfather served in the South Pacific as a Seabee, but I was too young when he died to have heard all of his stories — many of which are now lost. Larry’s granddaughter is lucky indeed to have a full account of his time serving his country at its hour of greatest need.

Did you or a loved one live through an important historical event? StoryTerrace can help capture those memories for posterity in a beautiful book.

To learn more about how it all works, get in touch today. You can also sign up for our newsletter to read more real-life stories about history as it was lived.