Milwaukee Central Public Library Downtown, 814 West Wisconsin Avenue
- MCGS membership meetings are in person at the Central Library. The meetings will start with a short business meeting, followed by our speaker presentation about 1:15pm. Look forward to seeing MCGS members and guests at the library! This presentation will be in person and via zoom.
PLEASE NOTE: The meeting will be held in the Central Library 2nd Floor Innovation and Learning Lab (Old Computer Lab)
"How to Self-Publish Digital and Print Books Inexpensively"
by Joe Kirchen
We all have one thing in common: we have built family trees, established them on genealogy sites, and collected a wealth of information about our ancestors. Beyond the data in our storage boxes—the old photos, obituaries, and funeral cards—we have uncovered fascinating stories about the lives they led and the history they moved through. We are proud of these roots, but the question remains: what do we do with this fountain of information?
Like many of you, I had never written anything longer than a brief school assignment or business report. However, at the suggestion of a friend, I looked into Amazon’s Kindle Direct Self-Publishing software. After spending a week getting a feel for the program, I envisioned a way to share 300 years of family history with my relatives. Five months later, I held a 200-page paperback proof in my hands, and by the sixth month, I had 40 finished copies ready for our family reunion—all at a cost of under $10 per book.
I am looking forward to sharing my experience of becoming a first-time author with you and am happy to take any questions you may have.
Bio: I am an amateur genealogist and have been retired for 14 years. Prior to my retirement, I had a 36-year career with the Chicago Cubs, where I served in several front-office positions. I am an accountant and ticket manager by trade.
Join us: IN PERSON or ZOOM for meeting.
Please register for a zoom link to the meeting.
