APH Anthology

My Words Are Gonna Linger: The Art of Personal History

Edited by Paula Stallings Yost and Pat McNees

We share our personal stories out of a deep need to shout to the future, "Do not forget me! I was here!" And stories are the most powerful way to pass the experiences, wisdom, and voices of one generation on to the next.

The APH Anthology, My Words Are Gonna Linger: The Art of Personal History, celebrates the full range of life story writing, from lighthearted stories and deeply felt reminiscence to eyewitness accounts of history. Available now from Personal History Press, this rich collection of 49 stories from real life, gathered or written by members of the Association of Personal Historians, also explores the importance of life review and why these stories matter so much.

Often the story behind the story is as interesting as the story itself. Back stories and introductory material provide enough practical insights into memoir writing to get you going, whether you are recording your own story or writing someone else's.

Foreword by Rick Bragg

 — bestselling author of All Over but the Shoutin' and Ava's Man, from his foreword to the anthology

"I guess I should try and argue that the woman with the baby slung on her hip, waiting outside a jail or even on a welfare line, has a story as compelling, as important, as anyone, and that the generations that came before, that brought her to this, are more than just a treadmill of hopelessness. Or, I could argue that a man who teaches at a junior high or sells insurance or Pontiacs for a living has reason to want to dig back into his lineage, to discover—and share—the stories of generations. I could argue that not everyone has the skill or the time or even the lasting will to tell it, but everyone really does have a story."

Review by Susan Wittig Albert

"If you're a fan (as I am) of stories rooted in real life, you will very much enjoy this book. It would also make a delightful gift for the storytellers in your family, and might even give them a few valuable ideas (and some important motivation) for telling their own stories. And if you're a teacher of memoir, reminiscence, or personal history, it would make an excellent addition to your classroom teaching or to your students' reading list. Imaginatively conceived, thoughtfully arranged, and professionally edited and presented, My Words Are Gonna Linger: The Art of Personal History will be a source of pleasure, information, and instruction." »» Read more of this review...