April Bell - Personal Historian: I possess 18 years of experience in Production Graphics within the publishing industry as well as in freelance graphics. Additionally, I've earned a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. I have a keen ability to not only listen to people intently, but to also draw out their stories and then put those stories together in a professional and compelling Multi-Media Video Biographic DVD. I am a proud member of the Association of Personal Historians.

In my previous professional experiences, I learned through my own natural curiosity how fascinated I am in the lives of others, their individual paths, accomplishments, setbacks and triumphs. This fascination has moved me to work within my true passion as a Personal Historian.

In my own experience, I recently had three grandparents pass away in a four year period – and then the fourth, shortly there after, had a stroke which took away her speech capabilities - this is a woman who is a WONDERFUL story teller, and who has some fascinating stories to tell! I constantly find myself wondering what gems of information are forever lost with the passing of these people, and also am perturbed that the stories they DID tell were not documented, as now no one can go back and ask them to repeat the story again. We all hear the stories - a hundred times - but somehow, once the person is gone, the details fade and stories which we once thought we could lip-synch along with become a distant and faded memory.

I feel, as part of the process of coming to know ourselves, we need to be more aware of our own history, where we came from and in so doing, appreciate and honor the life experiences of our elders. Some things "about us" appear to be culturally engrained - programmed within us based on our ancestry. There are big "A-HA" moments which occur at times in learning of those we came from. "That's why I'm like that!!" It is such a gift to not only document this information, but to also show our elders that their life is of worth and interest to us and of great value to our decedents as well; children and grand-children and so on. What a contribution to our kids, to show them who was before them, what those people did, how life was lived and experienced in their time. And of particular interest, a person can sometimes identify with a specific relative, and it assists them in commencing upon their own journey of success and fulfillment.

Lastly, I believe ALL stories and histories have a worth and value to document. Not only those of our elders, but how a successful business was born, built and created, or how a charitable foundation started with just an idea and became an empire, or at the least, an irreplaceable gift to those it helps. The rising path and accomplishments of an Athlete. The life of a beloved pet. There are so many individual heroes and true stars that never make it to the "BIG TIME" and those stories deserve to be told and documented and shared with others to offer inspiration and guidance. We are all amazing creatures in one way or another.

These are the things that give me passion for my work and help me in assisting you to tell your story - whatever it may be……