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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