How to Write and Publish a Family History Book

To write a family history book, pick one structure, get your charts and reports out of your genealogy software, set up the pages at a KDP trim size, choose black or color ink, and then print copies for the family. This post takes those steps in order. The structure advice is mine. The KDP facts come from KDP’s own help pages.

How should I structure a family history book?

Pick one of three, and stay with it. This is my advice, not a rule.

1. By generation. One chapter per generation, such as your grandparents’ generation, then your parents’. It is easy to follow, and it suits a tree with many branches that meet.
2. By family branch. One chapter per surname line, such as your mother’s father’s family. It keeps each story together and suits research that grew branch by branch.
3. One chapter per ancestor. Best when you have a few people with a real story each, and less for the rest.

Choose the one a cousin could pick up and follow without you in the room. Write the names and dates in a consistent form from the start.

How do I get my tree and reports out of my genealogy software?

Use your program’s own report and book tools. RootsMagic’s home page says you can “print 100+ reports and charts, make books, or publish online.” Family Tree Maker’s Family Book Creator “uses your family tree to generate a professional quality family history book on your home computer.”

Neither page says which file types the output comes in. KDP wants a print-ready PDF for the interior, so check your program’s help for how to save a report or book as a PDF before you plan around it. Then read the PDF page by page. A chart that looked fine on screen can be too small to read on a printed page.

What trim size and bleed do full-page family trees need?

KDP’s page on trim size, bleed and margins says to include bleed “if you have any images, backgrounds, or illustrations” that reach the page edge. It adds that “even if just one page in your interior requires bleed, then your entire file should be set up with bleed.”

• Bleed means objects extend 0.125 inches (3.2 mm) past the trim line. For a 6 x 9 inch book, the page is set to 6.125 x 9.25 inches.
• Margins must be at least 0.25 inches without bleed and 0.375 inches with bleed.
• The inside margin depends on page count. For 24 to 150 pages the minimum is 0.375 inches, and for 151 to 300 pages it is 0.5 inches.
• Bleed is only supported for fixed-format files such as print-ready PDFs.

In my view, a wide chart that spans two pages is where most trouble starts. Keep names and dates away from the inside edge, where the binding hides them.

Should a family history book be in color or black ink?

KDP’s print options page says to “choose a color ink option if any images in your book are supposed to print in color,” and “the cost for books printed in color is higher.” A standard color paperback needs at least 72 pages. A black ink paperback needs 24. The page also says “the ink and paper type are locked after publication.”

If your photos are old black-and-white ones, black ink may be enough. If color matters for a chart or a color photo, look at the print cost for your page count before you decide. For old family photos, who owns them is a separate question from how they print.

How do I print copies for relatives?

You do not need to sell the book to give it to the family. See publish a book just for yourself for printing one copy or a few, and for keeping the book private.

What about living relatives in my tree?

Think about each living person before you print their name, dates or story. My post on writing about real people covers it.

Where does this fit?

A family history book is a memoir of a whole family instead of one life. The steps for categories, descriptions and upload are in how to self-publish a memoir.

What I do about it

If your research is done and you are not sure how to shape it into a book, book a free 25-minute discovery session. We will look at what you have and decide the next step together.

Free 25-minute self-publishing call with Chris Baird

Tell me where your book is now. You leave the call with a clear next step for publishing it.

Book your free call

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