The holidays, with their myriad family gatherings, is a great chance to get together with all of your relations to collect and record family history. The Henry and Stark County Genealogy Councils are teaming up to host a workshop with storyteller, author, and historian Brian Fox Ellis to help you do just that.

Mr. Ellis will entertain and inspire workshop participants by telling a few of his family stories and helping folks write their own at the Bishop Hill Welcome Center, 207 North Bishop Hill Street, from 10am-2pm, Saturday, November 22nd, 2014.

The workshop title says it best: On Beyond Genealogy, moving beyond research and turning notes into stories. Once someone has collected family bibles and obituaries, and surfed Ancestry.com, the question arises: How do you translate this list of names and dates into tell-able tales? This workshop will walk you through the steps of telling and writing stories to keep our ancestors’ memories alive. Everyone has a story to tell. This workshop will help you find ways to pass on this deep sense of who we are and from where we came. These stories can become the foundation for a book that is a legacy for generations to come. Fox will also present lessons on narrative and poetic writing styles to bring family lore to print and a primer on what you need to know to self-publish your family history. Participants are asked to bring paper, pencil, five of their favorite family photographs, and a family tree if you have one. Come to listen and come to tell! Advance registration is required. Seating is limited.

Brian “Fox” Ellis presents dozens of family literacy programs across the country every year. He is the author of more than 100 magazine articles, 12 CDs and 16 books, including the acclaimed children’s picture book, The Web at Dragonfly Pond, (Dawn Publications 2006), a true story about fishing with his father.

The fee for the program including lunch from Bishop Hill’s Filling Station is just $25 for adults or $15 for students. E-mail Sharon @ larshar63@gmail.com to register. Send checks to HCGS ℅ Sharon Perkins, 7885 W Osceola Rd, Neponset, IL 61345.  This is not a BHHA event.