Pat West, Personal Historian
Pat with her grandparents
Pat has been writing stories in one form or another for many years. When she was eight years old, she wrote and illustrated scary stories modeled after "The Blob" (for those of you who remember that movie) and sold them for 10 cents each until her third-grade teacher caught her! She became a teacher and then a social worker for over 25 years, incorporating teaching, training, and writing throughout her career. Early in her social work career, Pat received specialized training in interviewing people and has written or edited hundreds of family stories.
Pat has been, among other things, the director of a therapeutic foster care agency and a family life coach. She has also worked in adoptions, helping adoptive families and children write their Life Story Books as an introduction to each other and as a therapeutic aid to the adoption process. As a community volunteer in various capacities, Pat has also seen how rewarding it can be for people to share their stories, values, and messages with friends and family and feels honored to be a part of that process.
Pat founded Tree of Life Memoirs in 2011. As a personal historian, she has written twenty books and has provided the layout, design, editing, photo editing, publishing, and technical assistance on several others. Two of the books Pat has published are in commercial distribution, as well as one other book for which she provided extensive technical assistance and design. Pat also subcontracts with other personal historians to photo-edit client images and works with clients on special projects such as turning paintings into posters. In addition to writing memoirs, she is happy to give a presentation or a workshop to your group on the subject.
Pat was a member of the Association of Personal Historians (APH) from 2012-2017 and co-founded its Tennessee chapter. In addition to producing books, Pat has volunteered with several nonprofit organizations, including a local historical association and one involving animal resource and rescue. She recently relocated to the Hilton Head area of South Carolina and plans to become involved with nonprofits in that area.
Pat has been, among other things, the director of a therapeutic foster care agency and a family life coach. She has also worked in adoptions, helping adoptive families and children write their Life Story Books as an introduction to each other and as a therapeutic aid to the adoption process. As a community volunteer in various capacities, Pat has also seen how rewarding it can be for people to share their stories, values, and messages with friends and family and feels honored to be a part of that process.
Pat founded Tree of Life Memoirs in 2011. As a personal historian, she has written twenty books and has provided the layout, design, editing, photo editing, publishing, and technical assistance on several others. Two of the books Pat has published are in commercial distribution, as well as one other book for which she provided extensive technical assistance and design. Pat also subcontracts with other personal historians to photo-edit client images and works with clients on special projects such as turning paintings into posters. In addition to writing memoirs, she is happy to give a presentation or a workshop to your group on the subject.
Pat was a member of the Association of Personal Historians (APH) from 2012-2017 and co-founded its Tennessee chapter. In addition to producing books, Pat has volunteered with several nonprofit organizations, including a local historical association and one involving animal resource and rescue. She recently relocated to the Hilton Head area of South Carolina and plans to become involved with nonprofits in that area.
Pat would love to hear from you...
Contact Pat for more information or a free consultation.
(931) 636-6069
pwestmemoirs@gmail.com
Pat (left, center) with colleagues from the Association of Personal Historians, Tennessee Chapter, at the Southern Festival of Books in Nashville, October 2015.