Breaking my silence.

As you know, if you follow me on facebook, twitter, or this blog, I have been unusually quiet lately. Being quiet isn't one of my strong suites you know. I have thought of it as a kind of drum roll leading up to a new product we are just about to launch. We have been ultra busy getting something really exciting ready for you. And we have a second FamilySearch certification under our belts as of last week. But it isn't quite ready yet. So keep your eyes glued and I'll have some wonderful things to show you shortly.

But in the meantime I have to break my silence on two things. First, I was featured in an exciting new publication. Mormon Entrepreneur Magazine http://www.mormonentrepreneur.net/. Mark Mugleston was a delight to talk to and I quite enjoyed our interview, but I wasn't really thinking about what would be in the rest of the issue. This month's issue is all interviews with some of the leading company founders in genealogy. It was THE MOST fascinating read. I clicked to give it a quick glance and got totally engrossed tonight. I'm sitting in Mesa, about to show off our new product tomorrow at the Family History Expo, finishing things up, haven't been to bed before 2 am for way way way too many days, and I completely couldn't stop reading. I finally tore myself away because I have several hours more work to do tonight. But I can't wait to get back to it tomorrow night after the conference. Congratulations Mark on tapping into the core of the family history industry and helping us all learn from some of the leaders out there. I'm so so honored to be included.

Second, I've been really remiss in not sharing with you the press release sent to me by Lisa Louise Cooke. She and I are real kindred spirits and I so enjoy her work. So in case there is someone who hasn't heard already, I add my endorsement to her new iphone app. I'm so excited for her to be breaking into this new territory. Congratulations Lisa. You are an inspiration as usual. I hope it is really successful for you.

Press Release:

SAN RAMON, Calif. – January 4, 2009 - The Genealogy Gems Podcast, the #1 podcast in the genealogy category in iTunes has launched the first ever genealogy podcast app for iPhone and iTouch (in partnership with Wizzard Media). The Genealogy Gems Podcast app provides users with streaming genealogy audio and video on the go, and exclusive Bonus Content.

A free “online genealogy radio show,” The Genealogy Gems Podcast has provided innovative research strategies, family history expert and celebrity interviews, and genealogy news since 2007. These “gems” of genealogical information inspire family history researchers of all experience levels and helps them make the most of their valuable research time. The new app provides one more way for the popular podcast to reach it’s worldwide audience.

“Mobile technology is the wave of the future,” says Producer and Creator Lisa Louise Cooke. “At Genealogy Gems we strive to be out in front bringing the highest quality genealogy education to those seeking to enrich their lives through family history research. The app makes this possible on a whole new level.”

The app streams all the episodes (including show notes!), and new episodes are downloaded automatically. Bonus content on the new app includes exclusive material such as audio files and custom genealogy themed wallpaper, as well as Cooke’s 20 page pdf e-book 5 Fabulous Google Research Strategies for the Family Historian. New bonus content will be added as episodes are published. Cooke says users have much to look forward to, “There’s always something new coming to your iPhone and iTouch with the Genealogy Gems Podcast app!

About Genealogy Gems

Genealogy Gems is one of the leading producers of online quality genealogy-related media. Also found at the Genealogy Gems Web site http://www.GenealogyGems.TV , recognized as one of the 101 Best Web Sites for Family History 2009: The Family History: Genealogy Made Easy Podcast, the Genealogy Gems TV Channel at YouTube, the Genealogy Gems News Blog, Genealogy Gems Premium Membership including exclusive podcasts and videos, and The Genealogy Gems Podcast Toolbar.

Lisa Louise Cooke is the author of Genealogy Gems: Ultimate Research Strategies, and national genealogy speaker. She also produces and hosts The Family Tree Magazine Podcast, teaches online webinars, and writes and produces videos for the magazine.

Media Contacts:

Genealogy Gems

Lisa Louise Cooke, Producer and Creator

Phone: (925) 272-4021

Email: genealogygemspodcast@gmail.com

Website: http://www.GenealogyGems.TV

One of our greatest successes this last year.

We received this email over the holidays from a lady whose sister was working on some charts for their family. She gave us permission to share it with you.

As you know...when one positive action is set into motion, there are always ripples that no one can imagine. I want to share one of them.

I good description of who I am is: Lemony Snicket and the Series of Unfortunate Events, Katrina, and a Tsunami all rolled into one. When they say "your life can change on a dime" that is me. I have lost everything. My faith sustains me...and a sense of humor! I have many blessings and having an amazing family and friends has made all the difference in surviving vs. thriving.

The miracle I want to share with you...in this season of miracles...is this: my sister said you wanted a picture of my family. It makes me incredibly sad to think that I do not have one of the four of us...they were all destroyed. [Her husband and died previously and there were no pictures of them all together] I kept thinking about it and how my family has no photo history. One day I was cleaning out one of my mother's cupboards...unrelated to all this.... but being pushed by a force greater than me, when I found an 8X10 frame with a picture of ALL four of us! I was ecstatic and called my sister right away to make sure that my family could be represented with a photo on the chart. I also thought this would be a great Christmas gift for my two adult children...I was so happy to be able to give them a piece of their history! When I removed the original photo, there were TWO more at different stages of our family's growth...this was more than I could have asked for...it was a miracle...created by you. I want you to know that by initiating this mission, you have provided my family, not only with their roots, but a present day gift that continues to make us all smile.

My sister and I have a very strong connection and I know she was a part of this discovery. This miracle has brought me a sense of peace unlike any I have felt for a very long time...and I know in her good & kind heart, my sister wishes this for me too.

Again, we love working in family history and we are so excited to help you share your family history with your family. It is just a miraculous place to be.