Dear All I have been publishing via black & white print and mail out and recently also colour PDF my little family history journal Genetree since 1976 - usually about 20 pages, but this December 2010 issue only 16 - must be slowing down, eh? :-|. Anyway, it has always gone out about three times per year to family and friends, about 85 copies, generally 3000kb PDF which downloads on broadband in a few seconds - much slower on dial up, natch. Anyway, I thought, why keep this to myself and the close family? There is nothing commercial in this, simply a private journal or newsletter which has been going on all these years which I originally thought would run out within a couple of years given limited research facilities, but no, it keeps on. Amazing that - research never seems to stop no matter how many brick walls are out there. The only reason -- apart from trying not to be selfish -- I am putting this on the list is so that others may get the bug and perhaps do the same for their own family history. It is a real thrill to see your own publication finally printed off or sent online to rels and other interested parties. I always keep copies and master copies printed off and also ensure that CD/DVD copies are kept as well. Genetree also goes to a few libraries around the world, so it's history with photos shall be kept safe and secure. So, if you are a little creative and have some spare time why not do the same? Why not surprise your relatives and other close folk with a little publication of your own. All you need is a desk top publishing programme or you can use Microsoft Works or Microsoft Publisher if you have the funds to extend to that. MS Word may be all you need although some other products give you further ease of publication. And there is lots of help out there on the internet showing you how to design and print off your publication. For me it is thrilling, hope so for you too if you get the bug to do it. A little warning. It is some work and you may find it taking up more of your time than you expected, but in my mind it is well worth it in terms of satisfaction. Try it out. You have nothing to lose except some of your missing brick wall ancestors! Email me OFF-LIST for a recent copy of Genetree. Good luck Graham Melbourne Oz