About the Author

wpid-IMG_20130326_125025.jpgKassie Ritman is a writer who happens to love family stories.  Helping others to learn the ins and outs of writing about family is a favorite pass time. She especially enjoys leading workshops for Genealogists and writing on her blog “Maybe someone should write that down…” The tongue in cheek writing lessons offered on the blog mingle and mix with her own crazy relatives as she writes under the thinly veiled Nom de Plume of “Mom.”

Kassie is also an active member of the Catholic Writer’s Guild, a book reviewer for Tuscany Press at Catholic Fiction dot Net, and a columnist for the ISFHWE (International Society of Family History Writers and Editors) quarterly newsletter “Columns” where she pens “A Storied Past.”  Currently she is working on a novel length nonfiction book about small town life in the Midwest, and maybe a little more stuff that should be written down!

Contact me at: Kassie@WritingWithMom.com

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And yep, I won in 2014. I killed it. Fifty thousand words, 25 days, lots of time left to roast that dang ol Turkey, pretty BA 🙂

My work also appears in:

SCN Online Journal

Sounds and Words Quarterly Literary and Arts

True Words

The Story Circle Network Annual Anthology 2014

Catholic Attachment Parenting Corner : the Online Magazine

Guest Blogger for PressBooks on Writing the Book on Your Family History

Flying Island Literary Journal

The Writer’s Workshop Review Lit Journal

Look for my book “Boone County” from Arcadia Publishing, order on Amazon or by clicking the image to the left you can order custom signed copies of any of my books securely using PayPal. Discounts available (mix-or-match option) on multiple copies.

From publisher Knocking River Press–“The State of Boone” is the storybook companion to “Boone County.” This one is filled with legends, lore and lists useful to family historians with intrests in the area or those wishing to learn more about where they live. The State of Boone is available in paper or ebook  on Amazon or here on my website by clicking on the book’s cover image at left

Coming Fall 2019 a new local history suite of books on Historic Meridian Street in Indianapolis will debut. Look for books featuring old photos, current-day pictorials, and loads of stories about the amazing folks who shaped our world and called this beautiful stretch of about 10 city blocks home.

My novel “The Mercedes Lady Project” is in revisions and edits–look for it in stores in 2019. It’s fiction, funny, and very much “Mom-Centric.” If that’s a “thing”

My photography appears in:

1:1000 Journal

http://www.medium.com

“One Day in May” from Indiana University Press

 

You can follow along as I chronicle the writing of my local histories. Click the page tabs to see what’s new!

 

97 thoughts on “About the Author”

  2. Pingback: Writing the Book on Your Family History - Pressbooks

    1. Will, what a nice thing to say! I hope that you will continue to enjoy the stories and be inspired to write some for your own future family 🙂

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  5. Thank you for taking a peek at my blog on WWI soldiers from Delaware now and then! You’re very kind. Although it certainly is a modest little thing in terms of introductory comments, I enjoy spotlighting forgotten soldiers and a bygone era of newspaper columns. Concerning the soldiers you see there, I like to think of it as kin to a recent film British film called ‘Still Life’- a film most family historians would appreciate on some level.
    All the best 🙂
    Ed

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    1. Loved it! Have you ever seen the blog “Pacific Paratrooper?” It’s fantastic as well. The stories that author GP Cox writes are always well researched and interesting…and the photos…well, I’m a total sucker for those!

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  6. Thanks form visiting my blog, and that by your visit I’ve discovered your amazing space. So relevant as well as I’m in the process of writing a book. Thanks 🙂 much love

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      1. Well if you are interested I might just be back sooner then later to share a peace of my writing. I love sharing and open up to spontaneous, even more so to experienced responses to my writing 🙂

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  8. Hi there–thank you for the likes 🙂 I’m very interested in the subject of your blog–it’s not something I write about on my own, but part of my job involves transcribing data about my boss’s family history (he /did/ have a few ancestors of note, though as some of the documentation has been marked ‘private’, I think it’s probably best I don’t go into details about who they were) and I’ve rendered over a hundred and fifty pages of his family tree into MS Word; a sometimes gruelling task, but just as often an interesting one!

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    1. Rachel, what a job! I’ve transferred stuff over via Word to PressBooks too and it works great. I’m excited because all I have to worry about is content–not formatting. Hope to keep seeing you here 🙂

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    1. Thanks Judy! You are unfortunately coming up as a blank little person…I’d much rather see your smiley curls or your Logo…we need to work on getting a Gravatar set up for you!

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  14. Kassie,

    You left a comment on the World Wide Genealogy blog (worldwidegenealogy.blogspot.com) and I wanted to come back to you. I can not see an email address but if you would like to join us as a writer then you would be most welcome. Drop me an email at juliegoucher@gmail.com (pop WWG in the subject line then I will spot it straight away!)

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  15. Hi Kassie, Thank you for your comment on my cookbook collecting blog. I checked out your blog and was surprised and delighted to find that your blog is all about family stories and history. Ironically, I also have a blog on WordPress with that theme. It is called The Time and Tales of My Ancestors. Like you, I am the designated family historian. I haven’t spent much time working on the family tree recently but I did do considerable research a few years ago. Genealogy can be lots of fun. I look forward to reading more of your posts.
    Chris

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  16. Thank you for stopping by my blog and checking it out. I’m new to all of this so I appreciate it a lot. So odd that you of all people would check out what I’m doing too, because I too am the family genealogist (by default since my uncle passed away). I started using Ancestry several years ago and have pretty much hit road blocks at this point, much to my infinite frustration! I was actually just talking to hubby yesterday about ways I could extract all of the information that I’ve dug up and coordinate it into a book or something. Hopefully I’ll find some interesting things on your blog and intend to follow! Thanks again!!

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    1. Oh my gosh! That is serendipitous! Sometimes just changing course for a little while makes all the difference. I write stories for a while, and then I go back to the research, then back to stories again…it helps with both projects a lot!!

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  17. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a like on my recent post. Would you believe I am now in Paris and just about to start a two week writing course. Hope I can bring some of the inspiration from my recent trip to England into play. I will blog more on that trip as soon as possible.

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    1. How Cool! Please be sure to share the whole experience. I travel vicariously, and always love to hear a new, fresh spin on the writing “thing” I’m so consumed by 🙂

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  18. Hi Mom! You’ve just posted such a nice comment (about my book title – if you have a read I hope you enjoy) I had to come and find out who you were…. What’s not to like about a blog that digs out the nuggets behind the photos in that tatty old shoebox? I’m utterly fascinated by my family tree – my brother and I keep talking about digging out the whole thing roots and all at least to try and gets us back to France in the 17th or 18th Century when our ancestors came to the UK. I’ll have a good rummage here and maybe I might just find that stimulus I’ve been looking for…

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  20. Thank you so much for stopping by and liking my post. I’m glad I got the chance to see your blog, I’m also my family’s ‘genealogist,’ the torch handed down to me by my dad in his semi-retirement of everything that wouldn’t fit inside of an RV! 🙂 I can’t wait to dig in and see all of the interesting things you have on here. Have a wonderful day!

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  21. Hey there momma, Thanks so much for the “like” you gave on my song “Dirty Old Maps and memories”. Your work is beautiful. I am in love with genealogy and I may never find all the answers I want but I’ve fallen in love with the journey it takes me on. Thanks again 😉

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  22. Mom, thanks so much for your “likes.” I like your stuff, too, and I am now following you. No, I’m not a stalker, just a fellow family history traveler. Best, Susan

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  24. Hi, I wanted to thank you for liking my post, Advice from a Tree. My aunt was our family’s genealogist. She passed on two years ago, though.

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  25. Thanks for your recent visit to my blog and your like. I’ve just been exploring your blog and like what I’ve seen so far – informative, interesting, sometimes rather humourous/wry pieces. Thanks for the writing tips (and I really like your little red house)

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    1. Thanks Shery!
      Honestly though…who could resist a blog with a title like “Living your Wholefullness”! I enjoy your writing, it’s soothing and provoking at the same time (it makes me want to DO something!)…like get back to my keyboard 🙂
      Thanks for inspiring!

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      1. You’re welcome! And thank you so much for your comments! I love writing, but sometimes I feel I’m writing into emptiness, so it’s encouraging to receive feedback such as yours. I’m especially gratified that you like my blog title 🙂

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  28. Pingback: Receiving the “One Lovely Blog” Award! | Heart of a Southern Woman

  29. What a cool topic to focus on. Every family has a story to tell, a saying goes. The black and white portrait of you is beautiful too.

    And thanks for visiting my blog. I hope to read more stories from you.

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  31. Thank you for recently visiting my site. I have looked through yours too and it is very interesting, and see that we have that common interest in family histories and genealogy. I have done over 30 yrs. of research on my paternal grandfather’s family from Odessa, Russia and am using much of what I have learned and researched in the fictional story, The Informant’s Agenda so thank you for reading the recent chapter, Emerging.

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    1. How is the researching for Russian ancestors? I always wonder if that would be harder or easier to find info? I really enjoyed reading your fiction chap too!

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      1. It is kind of hard to get good info. and facts and data that was not well archived and recorded during the cold war, but the country now is trying to make all accessible. I used a lot of different resources, (Internet, books, genealogy organizations, libraries, and the RLDS family library centers and Jewish genealogy resources as well. So, I ended up with stacks of paperwork, files, etc. but an exciting journey. I actually became rather obsessed with it all when I got into it, but have not done as much on it lately except for my story research.

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      2. Joyce,
        A Family History Hound obsessed? Really? Does that happen?!
        Haha! I think we all get that way…I start looking through a pile for a specific something, and then I look up and hours have gone by…it just sucks you right in 🙂
        I love that you are combining two loves to write your book. Your chapter was well written and I think is quite wonderful! Have you fished for a publisher yet? I know of a great opp with a large house. If your interested send me an email to the Kassie . aka . Mom at-sign Gmail.com and I can give you the info.

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      3. Thank you. I appreciate that. I will do that. I have four chapters or so to go and will re-edit all of it. It has been an ongoing project for many years with the research project along side.

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  32. Someone should write this down! Yes! Despite the fact that I have NO free time, I make time. Im passionate about exactly what you are doing! Before my mom lost her ability to speak, I sat her down and wrote down her stories. Same with her brother. even in my chosen profession. Im in the pork industry. Started to research the history of the meat industry in South Africa and Africa at large, along with the history of bacon (our company started as bacon producer). I discovered that most of the history of meat curing is a one sentence statement in chapter 1 of almost every meat science book that reads almost without exception: “Even though the origins are lost in antiquity. . . . “. Even the recent history. Surnames of key players are spelled in several different ways. telling me that the story has never been properly told! Information are lost. Most key books out of print and no copies available. And as I research, and make small, incremental advances, worlds open up. I sit in stunned silence every week-end (when I do this work), thinking to myself. . . . “how is it possible that nobody is telling these stories!!??”. So from family history to the history of bacon and meat curing, to the meat industry at large. . . . someone should be writing these things down! this is at least true for my life. 🙂

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    1. That’s so cool! I immediately think of Sinclair Lewis’ The Jungle, and my own family’s work at Kingan’s here in Indianapolis. I believe they were first to successfully use refrigeration for packing and transport. I wonder if there are some corporate records or histories that would give you ideas? Or, perhaps there could be some interesting leads available through the Pork Producer’s Associations? Old farm journals might help? That’s an amazing co-project you have going. Keep us posted! I’m fascinated!

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  33. Hi! We wanted to take the time to let you know that we love your blog, and we nominated you for the One Lovely Blog award. You may have been nominated before, and I don’t want for you to feel that you need to do a post– we are just recognizing you for your unique and inspirational blog. We enjoy reading it!

    http://dorianshand.wordpress.com/2014/09/16/i-have-a-lovely-blog-the-lovely-blog-award/

    XO, Dorian and her Mama

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      1. That is the reason for the blog– so that Dorian, when she no longer remembers, knows how she was and what we thought of her and how much we love her. I write on my own too, and I will leave a gazillion words behind for others to have a memory of me. Thank you so much again for helping to keep inspiration in others to write and to leave a legacy.

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  34. I don’t know how you found my blog, but thank you for liking some of my flowers. As an oldest child, (not of an oldest, but the middle kid), I have always been fascinated with family stories. It is funny how my siblings and I remember specific growing-up stories quite differently. I know my version is correct, because I am the oldest kid! Often now I double check with my sister 13 months younger than I am. More often than not, she will confirm my story.

    I will have to stay in touch with you, as I do like the idea of writing more stories down.

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    1. Susan~ I really appreciate all of your photos. I’ve been trying to re-do several of my planting beds. They were rookie gardener’s mistakes when we bought this home. Now, 10 years in, some spots are looking shaggy and and just need a complete overhaul. When I look at gardening catalogs I get so wrapped up in all the photos, I tend to put aside where they would best be sited. Your blog has given me some great real-life examples!

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      1. Dear Mom – (I just like the sound of that!)
        Gardening like life is the experience, the experimenting, the process, the learning. We try to pick up tips from others along the way, in an attempt to make our own way easier.
        Wow – that sounds so philosophical! I think that gardening, as a solitary endeavor, gives one’s mind a chance to wander. Sometimes I feel like I solve the problems of the world.
        Ok, back to work for me….
        Sincerely,
        Susan

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    1. Oh Viva~ that’s the way I get to travel most often~ vicariously 🙂 “Dad” is staunchly a home-body. And rarely moves from his seat during the Notre Dame football season (unless it’s while heading to South Bend to watch a game live…or like tonight when he’s down at the Colt’s stadium watching them pound Purdue up close and personal!) Thanks for letting me tag along!

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    1. Oh Mary that sounds like a great project! Let me know when you’re ready to start, I have a couple of blogger friends who write exceptional stories from these times and use letters and remembrances and history and photos and just cobble it all together into some spectacular writing! They would be really inspirational for you

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      1. Dear ‘Mom’
        A while ago you mentioned a couple of your blogger friends who might be useful as I start to write about my father’s war. Well I think I’m about ready to start and wondered if you could forward the details.
        Best wishes
        Mary

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      2. You’ll love both of these bloggers…actually I’ll give you 3 to look at:
        1. Greatest Generation Life Lessons
        2. Pacific Paratrooper
        3. The Genealogy Lady
        All are wonderfully well written blogs! I guarantee you can get lost in their storytelling. Enjoy 🙂

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  39. Hello Kassie,
    Thank you so much for reading our blog. Gwen became obsessed with Genealogy and went on to write 20 books. She also has her memoir “Always Going” that spoke of her childhood in the 1930’s-40’s in Texas, that you might find delightful to read. See our blog solopress2.wordpress.com for more info on Gwen and her books.
    Thanks,
    Alexis Campbell Jansky
    Solopress 11

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  40. Hi Kassie, our mutual interest in genealogy has brought us together across the pond. I love hearing stories of my ancestors, but there is nobody left to tell me any. Both my parents died years ago, and my last auntie died 2 years ago at the ripe old age of 99. I tried to glean some information from her, but in her last years she was too deaf and blind to know what I was asking.
    I also write novels and have had 3 published, with another two at the editing stage, and 2 more that I need to edit.

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    1. Oh Angela, I sure hope some of my tips and tricks will help you out! I hate it when so much is lost. Maybe take a look at my post “Too Little” and see if it sparks anything for you! Sounds like you’re pretty accomplished, I’m betting you can dig up a little something 🙂

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  41. Hi Kassie! It’s great to find your site! I am a fellow genealogist and look forward to reading more about how you write family stories. I didn’t really intend to make my blog about ancestry, but that is a huge part of my life so I guess it makes sense. I’ve really enjoyed writing what I’ve done so far. Anyway, thanks for stopping by my neck of the woods:-)

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    1. Rosh~
      Isn’t it funny how all that family stuff just creeps into your blog no matter what!? The Ancestry stuff is my guilty pleasure, and combining it with writing gives me just enough of an excuse to keep chasing it 🙂

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  42. Kassie aka Mom, thanks so much for stopping by my blog and “liking” a recent guest post by Lorraine Ash. I hope you found something helpful there. I enjoyed perusing your blog and your writing life. Hope to get to know you better.

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    1. Don’t wait too long! I switch back and forth between my family writing and my booky stuff. I find that one can kind of inspire the other, or at least re-fire the creative juices when I’m feeling a little bit thin 🙂 Good luck with your YA. Keep us posted on your progress please!

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a penny for your thoughts dear~