Certain holidays during the year may leave you feeling nostalgic, emotional, or prompt you to think back on the past. As we approach Father’s Day, Canadian author Natalie Ross saw the importance of interviewing her father, Alden Sharpe, about his upcoming book, recording his memories, and the importance of preserving his own stories. The interview begins with Ross questioning her father about the importance of his new project and then shifting gears as she reflects on her own book and thoughts about why the past is so important.
Interview:
Interviewer: You’ve been working on a book about your life. What inspired you to write it?
Dad: Part of the inspiration came from watching my daughter write. Seeing her dedication to storytelling and reading her novel, The Willow House: From Shadows to Light, made me think about the importance of preserving our own stories. It reminded me that every life contains experiences and lessons worth sharing. I began to realize that if I didn’t record my memories, much of my personal history could be lost. Writing this book became a way to preserve those stories and leave a legacy for my children, grandchildren, and future descendants.
Interviewer: What do you hope your descendants will gain from reading it?
Dad: I hope they’ll gain perspective. Every generation faces its own challenges, but certain lessons remain timeless—perseverance, integrity, gratitude, faith, and the importance of family. My life hasn’t been perfect, and I don’t claim to have all the answers. But I’ve learned some things that have meaning to me, and I hope those lessons can help guide future generations.
Interviewer: Was it difficult to write about your own life?
Dad: At times, yes. Writing honestly means revisiting both successes and failures. Some memories bring pride, while others bring humility. But that’s what makes a personal history valuable. It’s not just a record of events; it’s a record of growth, resilience, and the lessons learned through experience.
Interviewer: What does it mean to know that your family will be able to read your story for years to come?
Dad: It means everything to me. We often inherit photographs, names, and family heirlooms, but we don’t always inherit the stories behind them. This book is my way of sharing those stories. I want future generations to understand not only what happened in my life but what mattered to me and why.
Interviewer: I’d like to bring your daughter into the conversation. How do you feel about your father writing this book?
Me: I think it’s one of the most meaningful projects he could undertake. Every family has stories worth preserving, but too often they’re lost because no one records them. His book ensures that future generations will be able to hear his voice, understand his experiences, and learn from the wisdom he’s gained throughout his life. As his daughter, I feel grateful that he’s taking the time to leave that legacy.
Interviewer: Why do you think preserving family stories is so important?
Me: Family stories help us understand who we are and where we come from. They connect generations. When stories disappear, we lose more than facts—we lose values, experiences, and lessons that can help guide us. Preserving those stories creates a bridge between the past and the future.
Interviewer: You’re also a writer. Tell us about your books.
Me: My first novel is The Willow House: From Shadows to Light, a mystery that explores the importance of preserving memories and personal histories. In the story, the mystery is ultimately solved because one of the characters took the time to preserve her life story using a Guardian’s Gift Time Capsule. The memories, stories, photographs, and records she left behind provide the clues needed to uncover the truth years later.
The idea behind the story was inspired by the mission of The Guardian’s Gift, which encourages people to preserve their life stories, family histories, photographs, values, and experiences so that future generations can benefit from them. I was fascinated by the thought that something we preserve today could become an invaluable gift to someone decades from now.
Interviewer: How has that influenced your current writing project?
Me: I’m currently writing a sequel to The Willow House: From Shadows to Light. While it features a new mystery, it continues exploring the power of preserving the past. This time, the key to solving the mystery lies in family stories themselves. The characters discover that answers can often be found in the memories, experiences, and histories passed down through generations.
The novel explores how family stories shape identity, strengthen connections, and sometimes reveal truths that might otherwise be lost forever. It asks readers to consider what happens when stories are forgotten—and what can be gained when they are preserved.
Interviewer: It sounds as though your father’s book and your novels share a common purpose.
Me: They do. My father’s memoir, my first novel, and the sequel all point to the same truth: our stories matter. Whether they are shared through a personal history, a time capsule, a photograph, a journal, or a family story passed from one generation to the next, they have the power to teach, inspire, and connect us.
My father’s book is a real-life example of the very thing my novels celebrate. He’s preserving his experiences, memories, values, and lessons so they won’t be lost. Future generations of our family will have the opportunity to know not only what he did, but who he was and what mattered to him.
Interviewer: Has watching your father write his personal history influenced your own writing?
Me: Absolutely. Seeing him commit his experiences to paper has reinforced my belief that every person’s story matters. Not everyone writes a novel, but everyone has a story worth preserving. His example has deepened my appreciation for the role family histories play in helping us understand ourselves and one another.
Interviewer: If each of you could leave readers with one final thought, what would it be?
Dad: Don’t underestimate the value of your own story. What seems ordinary to you may become a priceless treasure to future generations.
Me: Preserve your stories while you can. The memories, experiences, photographs, and lessons we save today become the gifts we leave for tomorrow. Sometimes they provide comfort. Sometimes they inspire. And sometimes they even hold the answers to mysteries that future generations have yet to discover.
Final Thoughts
As you can see from both parties during this interview, there is significant value in your own story. Yes, everyone, even you, has a story to tell about their childhood, growing up, lessons you’ve learned throughout adulthood, and what message you would like to portray to future generations. Oftentimes when contemplating the past and preparing for the future we know what needs to be done, but getting started can be overwhelming.
The Guardian’s Gift Time Capsule is here to help “commit your experiences to paper” as Ross and her father have done. You don’t have to be a published author to record your stories and leave a legacy. Taking the first step with The Guardian’s Gift starts a journey of unfolding your memories, with prompts as you go, to help you capture every detail along your journey. The finished product is a time capsule that you can be proud to leave your family, friends and loved ones. Find out more about how to get started today.
