Genealogists who struggle with just getting started to write their family history can perhaps look to Montreal lawyer and executive coach Helen Antoniou for inspiration.
It took Ms. Antoniou five years to write her first book — a story about her father-in-law and his family. She conducted exhaustive research, all while continuing with her day job, and taking a brief time off for the birth of her third child.
Ms. Antoniou told Montreal Gazette columnist Bill Brownstein, “I never considered myself a writer and I didn’t start this with the idea of getting a book published. It was really about trying to help Eric (her father-in-law) come back from a very serious operation and start talking.”
Her book, published by McGill-Queen’s University Press, was launched last week at a “who’s who of corporate and political players as well as Eric’s immediate family” at the Sun Life headquarters of her husband’s public relations firm.
So, who is her father-in-law? He is Eric Molson, former head of the legendary family-run beer company.
The title of her book is Back to Beer … and Hockey: The Story of Eric Molson.
While Ms. Antonious probably lives in a much bigger house than most family historians and she likely has plenty of domestic help, her achievement is still worth our applause and admiration.
Read more on the “warts and all” story about the Molsons in the Gazette article, No Shortage of Intrigue in Book About Molson Boss.
