What Is Your Calling?

Earlier this month I traveled to California. The reason for my trip was twofold: first, I headed to Berkeley for a retreat to kick off my doctoral studies in Religion & Philosophy with the Women’s Spirituality program at the California Institute of Integral Studies; then I went to Palo Alto to visit a client who had invited me to give a talk at her retirement community. Both experiences were greatly rewarding, giving me encouragement and inspiration as I embark on PhD coursework.

At the retreat, I met the professors and classmates with whom I will study in online courses all year. Outings to the Mazzariello Labyrinth in the Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve and the Berkeley waterfront provided community-building opportunities, and various academic and informational sessions oriented me to program structure and expectations, as well as the (eventual, years-from-now) process of dissertation work.

After the retreat, my visit to repeat client Elizabeth Tsai (who has published three books with Modern Memoirs, while her husband, Tom, has published two) was an absolute delight! After working so closely with her over the years, it was wonderful to finally meet her in person. She arranged several meals for me to enjoy with other members of her retirement community, and we had a good turnout for the talk I gave, linked here: “Reading Picture Books with Children and Publishing Beautiful Books with Clients.” In my talk, I discussed the expanded 10th-anniversary edition of my book Reading Picture Books with Children (Charlesbridge 2015, 2025), connecting the dots between my prior academic career and my current role at Modern Memoirs. “Please give another book talk when you come back,” Elizabeth graciously wrote to me after my return to Massachusetts. “We have so much to learn from you. It’s your calling.”

Elizabeth didn’t know this when she wrote to me, but one of the courses I am taking this semester is called Vocation, Passion, Action, and it is aimed at helping students align their career paths with their sense of calling or purpose. An initial assignment prompted us to come up with a two- or three-word phrase that could articulate our calling. At first, I thought the word “books” would factor into my phrase, but ultimately I arrived at “Story Sharer.”

Listening and talking. Reading and writing. Revising and editing. Wondering, what comes next? Or, how did that happen? Savoring the delicious moment of realizing, I’ve never thought of it that way! Or, How amazing to witness this person’s creativity or passion or spirit! In every phase of my career, in my personal relationships, and in even in how I prefer to spend free time, sharing stories with other people—whether they are fictional, true, historical, speculative, personal, sacred, or something else entirely—is what makes my heart beat.

What about you? What makes your heart beat? What is your calling? Can you come up with a short phrase to define it? Can we at Modern Memoirs help you share your story? Reach out today! We’re here to help.

Warmly,

Megan St. Marie

President

Bring Modern Memoirs

to Your Community!

by Megan St. Marie

Modern Memoirs repeat client Elizabeth Tsai (2nd from left) and Megan St. Marie (3rd from left) with two of Tsai’s friends, after Megan’s presentation in Palo Alto, California, September 2025

In addition to the talk described in my opening piece in this newsletter, my staff and I are also available to lead programs on genealogy research, writing memoirs, and writing (advance) obituaries.

Whether you hope for an in-person program, online program, or you would like to explore hosting a series of workshops, we would be delighted to speak with you about possibilities.

Find out more at the link below, or reach out today to speak with President Megan St. Marie or Genealogist Liz Sonnenberg.

Find out more about Modern Memoirs Programs

Megan St. Marie (left) with 5-time client Elizabeth Tsai, Palo Alto, September 2025

Reading Picture Books with Children: How to Shake Up Storytime and Get Kids Talking About What They See
Expanded 10th-Anniversary Edition

by Megan St. Marie

This month, Charlesbridge issued an expanded edition of Reading Picture Books with Children that includes three sample Whole Book Approach storytime plans. (These plans are from a book I self-published here under the White Poppy Press imprint of Modern Memoirs, Read It Again: 70 Whole Book Approach Plans to Help You Shake Up Storytime .) If you’d like to hear me speak about my book on a panel with other children’s book authors, click on this link for a video hosted by School Library Journal, the Horn Book and Library Journal.

My love of book design and illustration is at the heart of how I describe engaging children with the picture book as an art form, and although my main professional focus is no longer in the field of children’s literature, this background richly informs my work at Modern Memoirs today.

Buy your copy today!

Featured Blog Posts by Our Staff

Genealogy Errors: Are Your Genealogy Records Accurate?

By Genealogist Liz Sonnenberg

While doing his own family-history research, a client of ours logged onto Ancestry.com and found the 1900 U.S. census record for his great-grandfather. He contacted me, puzzled over how the census listed his forebear’s occupation. “It says he was a ‘capitalist bender,’ whatever that is!” he told me…

Read the Full Post

Reflections from Repeat Client
Margaret Marcus, Part I

Interview by Genealogist Liz Sonnenberg

I was very lucky to have some of my mother’s journals, the remarkable scrapbooks she kept during university days, letters written by or about her during important times in her life, and wonderful photographs. For years all of this was stored away in my brother’s house and then in mine, and it wasn’t until I determined to write a memoir about her that I investigated these materials…

Read the Full Post

Beauty and Blessing: Art and Poetry Inspired by the Jewish Year
by June Shatken, artist, and Tamar Stern, poet (2012)

Finding Beauty

By Director of Publishing Ali de Groot

The cover is mesmerizing, the title, an invitation. I cannot say much more! This gorgeous book by June Shatken, artist, and Tamar Stern, poet, holds 18 watercolors and 18 poems. Although it was published over a decade ago, I still often pull it off the shelf to admire the images and re-read the poems.

Perhaps it is time for you to create a little, or big, book of poems, journal writings, and artwork—a book, a soul bejeweled, timeless and precious. As William Wordsworth urged: “Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.”

May our voices rise

And stop any hand that seeks

To slay the sunlight.

May we pledge to guard the pulse of the ocean,

The whisper of the wind,

The solace of shade,

The beating of a heart.

—excerpted from “Akedat Olam”

“Akedat Olam” by Tamar Stern (left) and painting by June Shatken (right)

* * *

Memory Lane Stroll

We’d love to hear your brief personal reflections on the question of the month. Write your response for a chance to be featured in the next edition of our e-newsletter!

September Question: In just a few words, how would you describe your calling, whether or not it is related to any paid work you do or have done?

Write Your Response Here

Staff responses:

Megan St. Marie: Story Sharer

Sean St. Marie: Family First

Ali de Groot: Moment in Movement

Liz Sonnenberg: Questing

Nicole Miller: Creative Empath