Q: When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?

A: I enjoyed writing during grade school and middle school, but it was in my high school journalism classes when I made the conscious decision to focus my future education to become a writer.

Q: How and when did you make this dream a reality?

A: I always wrote, but my dream truly became a reality when I wrote and published my first book, Value Meals on the Volga, Sharing our Heritage with New Generations in 2006.

Q: What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned so far in your writing career?

A: The most important lesson I have learned is to listen to everyone’s advice.  People come into your life for a reason.  It may be for a short time or a long time. Being open to the experience is the key. Many people may offer you a tidbit of information which helps you to the next step in your writing career. If you have questions, there are many resources available. Some advice works for you and some advice works better for others.  However, the more you explore, the better your chances of success.  My writer’s critique group and my local and national NAWW contacts have been invaluable to me.

Q: What are you working on right now?

A: I am working on three projects.  My first project is a serial article entitled, “31 Days…31 Ways to make your family history live forever.”  One of the 31 ways will debut on my blog each day in October to celebrate Family History Month.  My second project is a coloring book with the working title, Maggie Visits Grandpa. I am writing and illustrating the book as a means to share family history fun with children.  The book will be published before the end of the year.  My third project is a historical fiction novel detailing the lives of Germans from Russia.

Q: Name some authors or books that have influenced your writing life in a positive way.

A:  There are many great books on writing.  One book I recently read is Cunning and Craft–Sound Advice and Practical Wisdom for Fiction Writers by Peter Selgin. Selgin writes an excellent and entertaining book. It helped me immensely as I move from writing non-fiction to fiction.   The book is so well written, it is helpful for all writers.  Two other books which I read many years ago also helped me to understand the basics of writing.  The first book is the Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr.  It is a small book packed with a powerful message.  It is a reference book every writer should own.  The second book is How to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren.  This book is a guide to help readers gain more insight from reading material. The book analyzes step by step how to read and learn from the written word.  As we better analyze writing, surely we will be more conscious of our own words. Is there a better way to improve our writing than to view it from the reader’s perspective?

Q: What have you recently read or what are you reading right now that you would consider an outstanding work?

A: Over the years I’ve enjoyed books by Marianne Williamson, Shirley MacLaine and Louise Hay. Recently I read In Praise of Slowness, How a Worldwide Movement is Challenging the Cult of Speed by Carl Honoré. Honoré writes about how our hurried society creates an age of rage due to speed.  It is a well researched book which offers real life solutions to help us slow our pace.

As I transition to writing fiction, I have read more historical fiction. I recently read Helen of Troy by Margaret George.  Her research was fabulous and she made me feel I was in Sparta and Troy. I also enjoy books by David McCullough such as John Adams or The Great Bridge–The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge. My next historical fiction book is The Widow of the South by Robert Hicks. The novel takes place in Franklin, Tennessee during the Civil War era. I am intrigued to read this book because I lived in Franklin for 10 years and have visited the sites in the book.

Q: What excites or ignites your soul?

A: My passion is genealogy, and my books revolve around learning and sharing family history. Reviewing historical records and photographs bring home the realization of how fast life passes and how we need to embrace every moment.  As a mother of two young women, I prefer to focus on women’s history and its impact on society. The next generation of women will be at a crossroads. We need to ensure we pass on a legacy of self reliance.

Anna Dalhaimer Bartkowski, a second generation German from Russia, was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, the daughter of Joseph Dalhaimer and Doris Herzog. Her maternal grandparents, Sophie Reimer and Fred Herzog came from Reinwald, Russia.  Anna’s paternal grandparents Clementine and Johannes Dalhaimer came from Mariental, Russia in 1913. Clementine trained Anna’s mother to cook in the German Russian style. To insure that the family recipes would not be lost, Anna wrote the book Value Meals on the Volga: Sharing Our Heritage With New Generations in 2006. More than a cookbook and more than a family history, Value Meals provides step by step instructions and full color photographs to assist the gourmet chef or novice cook to make authentic German Russian meals. Visit Anna at http://valuemeals.blogspot.com/