I offer several resources to help you write your veteran stories and books. First, explore the webinars, books, and other resources available at the Ancestral Souls Wisdom School, my online course website. Next, explore the ways we can work together to publish your veteran book.
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. Our mission is to guide you through the process of unearthing and documenting your family’s rich history, while also providing a supportive environment to explore and heal from generational and war trauma. Depending on the type of writing project you choose, we have PDF guides to help you stay on track. Have questions? Email me at jennifer@ancestralsouls.com to ask.
Writing & Publishing Services Include
Ghost Writing
Want to publish your veteran or family member’s story but you’re not a writer? Let me help you! I ghost write book content for people. Your name appears as the author on your published book.
Veteran Chronicles
Pay tribute to the brave men and women who served their country by capturing their invaluable experiences. We specialize in collecting family accounts, photographs, and genealogical and military records to create comprehensive narratives that honor their sacrifices. By sharing their stories, we ensure their bravery and resilience will forever be remembered.
Family Storytelling and Memoir
Unlock the hidden chapters of your story or your family’s past as skilled genealogists, military researchers, and storytellers work diligently to piece together the puzzle of your ancestry. Through meticulous research, personal interviews, genealogical tools, and archival exploration, we’ll reveal the untold stories and forgotten details, connecting you to your roots and heritage.
Trauma Integration
Generational and war trauma can have a profound impact on individuals and families. We are here to guide you through the process of identifying, understanding, and healing from these deep wounds. By incorporating trauma-informed approaches into the storytelling process, we strive to create a safe space for exploration, reflection, and growth.
Publishing Services
Once your family story or veteran chronicle is complete, we offer a range of publishing services to help you bring your narratives to life. From editing and book design to printing and distribution, our experienced publishing team will assist you at every step. We’ll ensure your family’s stories receive the recognition they deserve.
Developmental Editing
Developmental editing is a comprehensive and collaborative process designed to enhance the overall structure, content, and impact of your manuscript. You can expect a meticulous examination of your manuscript. We will delve deep into the heart of your story, analyzing its strengths and weaknesses. We focus on big-picture elements such as plot, character development, pacing, tone, and thematic consistency, ensuring your story resonates with your target audience. We provide valuable insights and suggestions to help you strengthen your manuscript.
Client Projects Completed
Jennifer has been writing and publishing since 2010, more than 20 of her own books and countless private client books. Read research, teaching, and writing testimonials.
Military History family book. After completing genealogical & military research, I have written military biographies which have then been compiled in a book for a client. This is not limited to World War II research and writing. One such book contained a client’s veteran’s stories and photographs from the Civil War, World War I, and World War II. I’m currently ghost writing a book about a famed WWII Fighter Pilot and another on a Japanese POW who survived the war.
I served as researcher, developmental editor, and book designer/publisher for Doug Hall’s book Legacy of the Skies published in 2025.
Ancestor family history books from the present to the 1600s. These books feature information on the direct ancestors and their children, of an individual. They included genealogical and military information, photos, stories, and recipes.
Developmental editor on several World War II books including an Amazon best seller: Letters from Uncle Dave: The 73-year Journey to Find a Missing-In-Action World War II Paratrooper. I’m currently the developmental editor and doing book layout for a WWI/WWII Aviator book which will be available to the public in early 2025. I was also an editor on several private client books that were not published for public purchase.
Descendant family history books from the 1600s to the present for all family lines. These books feature all information gathered on a client’s family moving from past to present.
From 2011 – 2021, I created numerous volumes of family history books each year for an Italian-American client whose family came from Ricigliano, Italy. Books ranged from one volume of 100+ pages, to a multi-volume set of 800+ pages per volume. The final set I created was three volumes moving from past to present (descendant books) with two of those being almost 800 pages each. I also completed volumes on his late wife’s family from Italy and Sicily each year.
Customized family history books for a client to give specific family members. These are typically ancestor family history books with the start person being the specific family member as requested by the client.
Biography books. I write biographies on individuals for clients and compile them into a family book.
Photo books. I worked for 11 years for a Chicagoland Italian-American client. Over those years, I completed annual photo books. This required scanning thousands of photos and documents over 11 years and organizing the photos into archival boxes before creating photo books. Each volume was specific to one side of the family and contained not only photos but family history I had researched, stories, and recipes.
Memoirs. I help clients write their memoirs to preserve as part of their family’s history. For one client I was a developmental editor and content creator for part of his memoir and biography series of books. The volumes covered his life, his late wife, their son, and assorted family stories.
Cookbooks. I completed a family cookbook incorporating recipes from family members whose ancestors were from Italy and Sicily. The cookbook also contained family stories and memories of meals, family photos and food photos.
View Jennifer’s published books.
Have questions? Email me at jennifer@ancestralsouls.com
Testimonials
Doug Hall
As a writer and researcher of a family biography, I have used Ms. Holik’s expertise in military research, editing, organization and drafting skills now for several years. Jennifer has the ability to take a body of work, in any stage of development, and evaluate the contents and direct an action plan that moves the project forward in a superior way, on all fronts. I have depended on her professional insight into my family biography that is both complicated with multiple time periods and source material also requiring the insight to understand how to engage the reader. The finished product will in no small way reflect her dedication and professional research, guidance, suggestions, edits and actions. I can, without reservation, recommend her military and publication research services for any personal or commercial publication project.
Doug Hall Freelance writer, Boston, MA, 2024.
Purchase Doug’s Book, Legacy of the Skies. Published 2025.
Rachel & Bill Riley
My son had been asking me for many years to consider writing a book about my uncle, Captain William Bruce Overstreet, Jr. Uncle Bill, as we both called him, was just my uncle. A golf-playing, summertime fishing, certified public accounting, and part of an entertaining-loving couple known as “BillandNita”, which must be spoken as all one word because they were one thing.
After my grandparents passed away, we rotated venues for Christmas observances. One Christmas held at the Overstreets’ home in Roanoke, Virginia, Nita posed a question to those dining which changed my life. She asked, “Did you know your Uncle Bill was a war hero?” I had to answer “no”, but it was lame and embarrassing to speak.
I vowed then and there to learn and become involved in this part of his life. My son, William Bruce, and I, Rachel Bruce, (see a pattern here?) have studied, questioned, and collected over the years. I joined a local genealogical society when Jennifer Holik showed up as our speaker one day to teach us about writing about our ancestors who had military service. I attached myself to Jennifer and have not let go.
We scheduled a conference call for the three of us and have not looked back. The book is under development. We could not be happier. Jennifer has technical knowledge, but what sets her apart is her insight and judgment. We have adopted her into our family as an honorary member. I would recommend Jennifer to anyone who needs research, writing, advice, or projections about projects. She will know what to do.
Rachel Bruce Meiselman Riley, December 11, 2024, Alexandria, Virginia
Read all writing and publishing testimonials
Have questions? Email me at jennifer@ancestralsouls.com to schedule a free consult to discuss your project.