Thankful Thursday: Family History Expo's M. Bridget Cook

Today, I’m grateful to have attended the AZ Family History Expo last weekend. As usual, it was well organized with awesome presenters, vendors, and amazing people who were there to have a good time and to learn a lot.

I appreciate being asked to be a Blogger of Honor and met some wonderful fellow bloggers—some of whom may become life-long friends.

I especially appreciated coming to know M. Bridget Cook, who delivered the Distinguished Keynote Presentation at the Friday Night Banquet. She is the mother of three who loves “discovering and sharing the dynamic possibilities of each human soul”. Since my focus on helping and healing family lines is similar to hers, I was very interested in her topic for the ‘Friday night presentation: “Handling and Healing the Skeletons in Your Genealogical Closet”. Her words helped those present realize how our personal stories can help family members survive and thrive. Even those whose history is horrific, can choose to change their lives for the better and become a powerful influence for good.

This is what the Family History Expos site says about Bridget and her books:
“Always curious and awed by the extremes of human behavior, Bridget Cook authored national best-selling Shattered Silence, the Untold Story of a Serial Killer’s Daughter (Sweetwater Books, Cedar Fort 2009) with Melissa G. Moore, daughter of the infamous Happy Face serial murderer. Despite its title, this book has been inspiring millions of people and has been featured on Oprah, Dr. Phil, Good Morning America, 20/20, People Magazine, E! Animal Planet, In Touch Magazine and in other prominent news leaders throughout the world.


Also the author of Skinhead Confessions: From Hate to Hope (Sweetwater Books, Cedar Fort 2008) with former high-ranking, neo-Nazi skinhead leader TJ Leyden, the book and its message now turn thousands away from gangs as TJ works together with universities, law enforcement and military to educate youth and adults alike on the dangers of gang activity and extremist groups. TJ and their book, Skinhead Confessions has recently appeared on Dr. Phil, The History Channel’s Gangland Series, and CNN. TJ often makes regular appearances on CNN and NPR as a national pundit for tolerance and peace activism.

Currently working on Holocaust survivor stories, Bridget continues to delve into the inner workings of families who have suffered tremendously horrifying situations, and yet have triumphed over their circumstances. In addition to her motivational speeches and workshops, Bridget is also a dynamic business leader and entrepreneur. Her incredible energy has led her on a diverse path of business, publishing, humanitarian, genealogy, and even social work as a tracker and mentor for troubled and gang-related youth in Colorado. Having an authentic interest and flair for writing family histories and conducting research, Cook has also been a staff member on Everton’s Genealogical Helper and also The Handybook for Genealogists (Tenth Edition) and currently owns three businesses.”

I enjoyed two of Bridget’s classes about writing personal and family histories at the Expo. I’m grateful for her newfound influence in my life.

Watch Bridget's inspirational video

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Disclosure of material connection: I was a Blogger of Honor at Family History Expos and received free admission and a free dinner and admission to the Friday night event. I am an affiliate of Amazon.com.  Links in this blog are affiliate links.