Herb Kelleher, founder and former CEO of Southwest Airlines said, “You will laugh and you will learn. Linda is a person with rare ability.”
Hello,
You’re probably here because you’re interested in writing your memoir. You might be considering reading our book and taking our advice, but could be wondering, “Who are these people? Do I really want to trust them with my life story?” That’s understandable. Let me reassure you that Kathryn Gray-White and I are delighted to have helped hundreds of people with their memoirs. This isn’t just a business to us; it’s our life’s work. We believe in the importance of passing down personal stories as a legacy not only to those who will read it in our lifetime but also to those who come after us. It’s vital for us as human beings to know who made us in order to garner strength and understanding from their life stories.
As for who I am and what I’m like, all you have to do to make me happy is show me a timeworn building or historic site. I love imagining all of the souls from the past who entered those domains. My travels around the world have given me ample opportunity to savor many such settings including the Great Pyramid of Egypt, Stonehenge in England, and the Sri Mariamman Temple in Singapore. Give me an ancient crumbling sanctuary, well-known or off the beaten path, and I’m in heaven.
Many of my travels make their way into my writing. I love helping memoir writers weave their life journeys into engaging stories. It doesn’t matter if you’ve traveled the globe or never left your hometown, a good memoir will reveal the lifelong sojourns of your heart. That is what we want to capture in print, not only for future generations but for your own peace of mind, as well.
Two collections of short memoir stories, Atlanta’s Real Women and What We Talk about When We’re Over 60, winner of the Gold eLit Award, were instigated and edited by myself and a writing partner. I have three more non-fiction books and seven novels. My 2014 novel Becoming Jessie Belle, an ancestry quest adventure story, won the Indie Book of the Day award. My novel Secrets of the Asylum, 2017, won the Bronze eLit Award and was a finalist for the Silver Falchion Award. I’m ever so grateful to also hold honors from the National Writers Association, Writer’s Digest, the American Screenwriters Association, and the National Society of Leadership and Success.
Prior to focusing on writing, I spent twenty years doing training seminars and public speaking on topics like stress management, communication skills, and community building. I’ve worked in 13 countries – and visited many more – and presented over 1500 programs. For twenty years my life was such a flurry of activity I can’t even remember all of my clients but some that stick out in my mind are Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Coca-Cola, CitiBank, Marriott Corp., the U.S. Departments of State and Defense, every branch of the U.S. military, LucasFilm (yes, the Star Wars people!), Astley and Pierce of Singapore, the Scottish Heritable Trust, and the Knights of the British Empire (who treated me like a queen). My travels have made me aware of the deep cultural nuances that make up family structures, which contribute to meaningful memoir writing.
I hold a Doctorate degree in adult education (Ed.D.) and more recently have taught college courses, many online. So I have lots of practice teaching. Here’s hoping our writing lessons help you complete your memoir. I look forward to reading your life story.
Best,
Linda
PS: You can learn more about my books at www.lindahughes.com.