The Diary of William Heitman William Henry Heitman was the son of local miller Peter Heitman and his wife, Louise [Sarman] Heitman, born in Gardnerville, Nevada in 1888. You may remember our recent story about his father and the Heitman/Sarman flour mill. In June, 1958, William wrote a fascinating account of […]
Take a Break From Writing? Really??
Last month, I gave myself a break. A break from writing, that is. I didn’t stop the word flow entirely, mind you. I kept up with a fiction project. But normally I also turn out two nonfiction stories every single month. For once, I listened to myself. I stopped pushing […]
A Letter from World War I
In April, 1915, while World War I was raging overseas, Carson Valley resident Fritz Bohlmann received a letter from relatives back in Germany. For over a century, the Bohlman family has saved that letter, and they have kindly allowed us to share it with you. Here’s the tale. _________________ […]
Carson Valley’s Early Flour Mill
Peter Heitman was born in Bielefeld, Westphalia, Germany in 1852, the fourth of what would soon become seven children. As a young man, he learned the miller’s trade. In 1868, Peter’s sister, Wilhelmina (Minnie) Heitman, emigrated to Carson Valley with fiance H.H. Springmeyer and three friends. Peter followed about 1872, and brother Louis […]
Forks in the Road: A Memoir Writing Tip
This fresh new year brings us a “fork in the road” – a chance to make different choices. To do things differently. To work on your memoir, perhaps. Or sometimes . . . not. Rather than gritting your teeth as you make a “New Year’s resolution” to write, I hope you’ll approach these next twelve months […]
The Hawkins’ Tale
The Hawkins family hasn’t lived there for over half a century. But here in Alpine County, people still know their early Woodfords homestead as the Hawkins Ranch. If you’re headed south on Hwy 89 from Woodfords, what’s left is a ramshackle collection of buildings to your left. The small residence has recently been upgraded and […]
Finding Your Support Tribe as a Writer
Let’s face it: writing can be a lonely business. But a “support tribe” can help keep you motivated and on-task! What’s a “support tribe”? In a nutshell, it’s a network of folks who provide encouragement and advice for your writing. That can take different forms, depending on your particular needs. It might be an informal […]
The Saga of Carson Valley’s First Records
From the outside, this slim volume doesn’t really look like much. A small, ruled notebook about seven-by-nine inches in size, its 81 pages are filled with handwriting that requires a good deal of squinting to decipher. But it’s one of Nevada’s historic treasures: the earliest land and governance records of pre-statehood […]
A Heart for Helping
Writing a memoir is a big undertaking. And tackling that job all alone can make it feel twice as big! Luckily, helpers are out there. Whether you call these folks personal historians, memoir coaches, or developmental editors, all of them can help with various parts of the writing process. This month I wanted to […]
Three Ways to Start Your Memoir (Without Actually Writing)
Writing a memoir isn’t all about writing. Some powerful early steps actually don’t involve writing at all! Here are three powerful ways you can get started: * * * * * * * 1. Pick Your End Date: Okay, I know it sounds counter-intuitive to think about finishing a […]
A Promise Kept for 140 Years
It was September, 1868 when Genoa’s Masonic lodge was granted its official charter, becoming “Douglas County Lodge No. 12.” Serving as first Worshipful Master for the Lodge was Robert W. Bollen, who would be elected the Sheriff of Douglas County that same year (and later became Grand Master for the state of Nevada). […]
Five Things I Learned Doing My Family History
I recently finished my own family history, a six-month project that only took me, oh, about thirty years to complete. That’s right. I’ve helped dozens and dozens of other people write their memoirs or family histories. I’ve written a whole book about how to do what I did for others. But it’s taken me […]