You just never know who you’ll meet on the airport shuttle. After returning from Boston, Edna and I boarded the shuttle to the long-term parking lot, and we struck up a conversation with a couple across from us. Wayne Potter operates a podcast in the Portland area called Keeping Kurrent, so he interviewed me about my Chapters of Life business. You can listen to it here:

“Julie is amazing. She is a tornado with a smile on her face. There is no doubt that she loves what she does and has the expertise to do it well. Juie is a writer’s best friend and will have your back, start to finish.

“We have enjoyed every bit of our time working with her and highly recommend her as an editor and publisher.”

Michael Wallace

Son of Bigfoot

December 2, 2025

What a treat I enjoyed this summer when my daughter and I coauthored a book called Chapters of Life in Centralia in honor of the 150th anniversary of the creation of Centerville, which became Centralia, Washington, in 1889. I scrambled to scan 150 years’ worth of photos at the Lewis County Historical Museum and wondered how I could possibly pull together a history book within weeks.

Fortunately, my daughter, Nora Zander, had recently completed the University of Washington’s Editing Certificate after earning a bachelor’s degree in genetics and cell biology from Washington State University. Although she and my son are both excellent writers, they studied math and sciences to earn more money than their parents who both devoted their careers to journalism and writing. Nora decided to improve her editing and writing skills through the certificate program, both to pick up freelance work and to help Mom with projects like these.

Nora pulled together the history of the early years and half of the other chapters so we could finish the book by the August 9th deadline. I never imagined I would co-author my 90th nonfiction book with my daughter. What an unexpected blessing.

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I enjoyed working with Helena Wagner to edit and design her memoir, Shadows of a Mother’s Dream: A Story of Hope, Resilience, and Love, a wonderful story of her life in Korea, her marriage to a U.S. serviceman, embracing the Christian faith, and her life growing in confidence as a wife, mother, and entrepreneur. Pick up a copy of her book here.

This is what Helena had to say about working with Chapters of Life:

“Working with Julie Zander on my memoir, Shadows of a Mother’s Dream, was an affirming experience. Her editorial guidance shaped my story with such feeling, clarity, and care. Julie possesses a true gift for honoring the emotional core of a memoir while enhancing its structure and flow. She listened intently, posed insightful questions, and helped me preserve not only the facts, but also the feelings. Her encouragement throughout the process made the journey feel far less daunting. I’m so grateful for her professionalism, her warmth, and her unwavering support to make stories shine.”

A forgotten diary. A century-old secret. A town still haunted by its past.

When former Navy Seabee Colleen Holmes inherits an old house in Centralia, Washington, she sees it as a chance to escape her own ghosts and start anew. But as she peels back layers of history within the home’s walls, she unearths long-buried secrets tied to a dark chapter in the town’s history.

Hidden behind crumbling plaster, a faded diary and a bundle of love letters unveil the struggles of a soldier trapped in the trenches of France and the heartbreak of those left waiting at home. Yet the diary’s brittle pages hold more than just longing—they bear witness to the explosive events of November 11, 1919, when a parade meant to celebrate peace erupted into violence and bloodshed.

As Colleen pieces together the tragic choices that shattered lives and fractured a town, she realizes history is never truly buried. The wounds of yesterday still shape today, and the past is not done with her yet.

Inspired by true events, Shattered Peace is a gripping time-slip novel of love, loss, and the echoes of history that refuse to fade. Perfect for fans of The Alice Network and The Girl You Left Behind, this haunting tale of resilience, redemption, and the pursuit of truth will linger long after the final page. Buy it here.

Matilda Koontz cherishes her life as a wife and mother on a Missouri farm, but her hardworking husband wants to claim free farmland in the Pacific Northwest. When he suggests selling the farm to trek two thousand miles across the Oregon Trail, she balks.

But in the spring of 1847, Matilda and Nicholas Koontz and their sons embark on a grueling journey westward. Fresh graves testify to dangers of disease, accidents, starvation, and a multitude of hazards threatening her family and her beloved’s dream.

With new struggles at every turn, Matilda wonders how she can protect her sons on such a perilous journey. Will they reach the trail’s end? Will the babe growing inside her womb survive?

When tragedy strikes, the question changes: How can she possibly continue?

This pioneer woman’s journey is inspired by a true story. Buy it here.

“I was nervous to tell my tale. Julie was so easy to talk to, and I really enjoyed our sessions together. She was very non-judgmental, even when I told her my secrets. And when I couldn’t remember basic info about my family history, she was a geneology gem! But best of all, she shaped my story so it wasn’t bor-ing!”

I loved working with Marion Davenport to capture her life story in a beautiful book. What a delight! I also enjoyed working with her adult children, Bill Davenport and Amy Hamdan, as we added photos and designed the book.

From Marion Davenport:

“I was nervous to tell my tale. Julie was so easy to talk to, and I really enjoyed our sessions together. She was very non-judgmental, even when I told her my secrets. And when I couldn’t remember basic info about my family history, she was a genealogy gem! But best of all, she shaped my story so it wasn’t bor-ing!”

From Amy Hamdan:

“It’s a daunting task to chronicle someone’s big, fat, messy life. Julie did it with ease. And let’s just say that our family is not the easiest to please, but Julie handled us with grace and patience. We had her working odd hours to accommodate our schedule, which she did without hesitation. We were delighted with the finished product, and we were delighted with her.”

From Bill Davenport:

“My mother was getting older, and she wanted to leave her life story for future generations. I’m so glad we found Julie. It was such a pleasure to work with her. She did a great deal of research and guided us through step by step. The book looks great, my mother is thrilled, and we all enjoyed every step of the process together.”

A Decade of Knitting Together Family and Friends

By Henry Port Kirk III

“Hank and I were so glad to see you today and to share our excitement about volume 2 of HPK’s memoirs. We both were enriched by our relationship with you as we went through the process from early notes to publication. Without your patience, guidance, and expertise, the journey over the past two years would not have been as productive and fun. Thank you again for your encouragement, interest, and enthusiasm. Yes, we’ve birthed a second “baby.” Without our midwife, Julie, we could not have crossed the finish line.

“Blessings and gratitude abundant,

“Jenny and Hank”

“Julie is a master! My book was formatted for paperback with the utmost of care. She is fast and cares about the quality of work. Although it’s hard to imagine the final product in a book, I was thrilled to open the paperback version after she worked so hard. Julie is more than worth it!”

Julie Bonn Blank, author of Innocent Lives, November 13, 2021