World War II Research and Writing Center

09/03/2026

Making final book design edits for the WWII Fighter Pilot client book (Dogfight Under the Tower) so I can upload to B&N Press today so we can get proof copies.

Pro tip! If you are writing your family history or military book - write the chapters in Word and use InDesign to do book layout. Word gets wonky after about 75 pages of text, footnotes/endnotes and photos. InDesign allows much better flow of the entire book without too many headaches.

I am taking new research and book clients for ghost writing, developmental editing, project management, book design and publishing. Explore all writing services on my online course site and email [email protected] to set up a free phone consult to discuss your project.

Preserve and honor the remarkable stories of yourself, your ancestors, veterans, and the legacies they've left behind. We understand the importance of capturing and sharing these unique narratives that span generations.

09/01/2026

Did you know that you do not have to hire a military research firm for everything? By learning how to do some of the research yourself you will save money and get to know your veterans in a new way.

With so many records available online or by request, once you learn the 2-part strategy I created 16 years ago, plus which records you need to start with, what they mean, and how to find them, you can do much of it on your own. Then when you need to obtain records, I can help since I take research clients.

Visit my online course site at the Ancestral Souls Wisdom School to see upcoming Live military research classes and the new pre-recorded classes.

By the end of September within the pre-recorded classes you will find a multitude of WWII education - much more in-depth than you will ever get at a a genealogy conference, institute or one-off webinar. Individual classes are now starting to be available and by the end of the month - military research pathways by branch.

Want to research Army service? I will have three tiers of classes you can take to learn the 2-part strategy and do some of the research on your own. You will know exactly which classes are needed and the order in which to take them. The courses will also teach you the basic records you need to start, how to build the essential timeline of service, what the records mean and where to go from each step. All programs come with extensive workbooks and materials.

So visit my online course site and be sure to go to the FREEBIES page to sign up for the newsletter so you don't miss announcements, discounts on classes, and more. https://www.ancestralsoulswisdomschool.com/store

08/31/2026

Only 5 spots remain for the WWII Marine Corps Records small group coaching in September! Part 1 Thursday September 17 at 7:00 p.m. CDT. Part 2 Thursday September 24 at 7:00 p.m. CDT. One class, two sessions.

Register today to learn the 2-part research strategy to accurately research your Marine. While this is WWII focused - the strategy applies to WWI, Korea, and Vietnam as well.

All small group coachings are limited to 10 students so I can provide individual attention to their specific questions.

Learn more and register today.

Webinars don't always work or provide you with the unique answers you require. This is where a coaching session can help.

08/31/2026

I'm excited to announce the upcoming book by my clients, Rachel Riley and William B. Riley, about their uncle William B. Overstreet Jr.

The book takes you on a journey through the life and WWII fighter pilot service of Overstreet.

To learn more please click the link and read the article.

https://wwiiresearchandwritingcenter.com/a-wwii-legend-takes-flight-dogfight-under-the-tower/

08/26/2026

Deconstructing Military Timelines
Introducing a new class from the WWII Research and Writing Center - Deconstructing Military Timelines. Thursday, September 10 at 7:00 p.m. CDT.

The timeline you create as part of a genealogy project serves the purpose of seeing the big events in someone’s life. Unfortunately, this timeline or LifeStory as Ancestry calls it, does not work well for military research. There are just too many details you need to add about any veteran and the layout does not promote successful documentation of military research.

The foundation of a well-researched military research project or veteran book is a Military Timeline of Service. Military service can contain hundreds of dates, locations, assignments, ships, units, campaigns, battles, training schools, transfers, promotions, hospitals, and other events. When all of that information is placed into one chronological timeline, important details can become difficult to see.

This class teaches you how to take that master timeline and break it into smaller, specialized research tables and timelines. Instead of looking at your veteran's service as one long list of events, you'll learn how to organize the information by dates, units, ships, locations, campaigns, battles, training, movement, and historical context.

One Timeline. Many Ways to See the Story.

Learn more and register today.

Learn how to build the foundational military timeline. Then how we can deconstruct and expand it to open new research paths and see the information from different perspectives.

08/19/2026

Last night I taught my WWII Prisoner of War class. Do you know why I love teaching in small group coaching format rather than webinar? Because I get to give students individual attention. You won't find this type of depth and attention from any other military research professional or firm.

Last night we dove into not only POW records but X-files and IDPFs. One student is a historian and author of WWII and this was a new area for her. While class ran over time a little, it was fine because she walked away understanding more about these files during and post war.

If you are ready to start your WWII education journey - visit my online course site to see what's currently on the schedule in the Store. Sign up for the newsletter on the Freebie Page so you are up to date on new offers, discounts, and resources.

You will not find another military research firm that offers classes like this or the depth. Be sure to visit the WWII Research and Writing Center website - linked on the online course site for even more educational resources.

Helping people reconstruct veteran history even if the record burned at the NPRC in 1973. I also help people write their family and military stories and heal the past.

08/19/2026

Building my September teaching schedule. I will am offering the WWII Marine Corps Records class.

USMC Records Small Group Coaching

Part 1 Thursday September 17 at 7:00 p.m. CDT. Part 2 Thursday September 24 at 7:00 p.m. CDT. One class, two sessions.

Learn more and register before space is gone. there is a 10 student max per class to allow time for individual questions and attention.

Webinars don't always work or provide you with the unique answers you require. This is where a coaching session can help.

08/15/2026

So, You ONLY Want to Research WWII Online?

The WWII Research and Writing Center is offering a new class this week about online research. Wednesday, August 19 at 7:00 p.m. CDT

While I encourage people to start their search online after requesting the OMPF, and when appropriate, the IDPF, you will not find a full veteran story online. Archival research still must be done.

So what can you find online? Where do you begin? What are the limitations and where can you go from there? I'll cover this in my class.

This class is great for those who are new to military research and are writing for Stories Behind the Stars. In fact, it was inspired by several writers who were telling wrong stories because they didn't know what they needed to, in order to find accurate information.

You can learn more and register at my online course site.

A class for those who want to see the online pathways to WWII research and skip offline records.

08/11/2026

TONIGHT! Last chance to register for tonight's 7:00 p.m. CDT WWII Prisoner of War Records small group coaching. In the small group coaching sessions, students receive information plus individual attention, to help move research forward.

What We'll Cover

A brief overview of my 2-part military research strategy to get you started on the right foot.

Where POW Records Actually

We’ll explore key record sets at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), including casualty files, POW data cards, and unit-level documentation. We will also examine websites with POW records and puzzle pieces. We will look at both the European Theater (German Camps) and the Pacific Theater (Japanese Camps).

Webinars don't always work or provide you with the unique answers you require. This is where a coaching session can help.

08/09/2026

This week I'm teaching two classes. If you'd like to join, click the link below and get registered.

WWII Prisoner of War Records Small Group Coaching.
Tuesday, August 11 at 7:00 p.m. CDT
This is the last time I'm teaching this live and it will soon only be available as a pre-recorded program.

WWII Cafe - free networking group. Wednesday August 12 at 7:00 p.m. CDT

Army Records Small Group Coaching. Part 1 Thursday August 13 at 7:00 p.m. CDT. Part 2 Thursday August 20 at 7:00 p.m. CDT. One class, two sessions.

Helping people reconstruct veteran history even if the record burned at the NPRC in 1973. I also help people write their family and military stories and heal the past.