Writing An Autobiography: Should You Name Real People In Your Book?

All of us are a living a story, a novel, a drama, an intriguing tale that others would sit and read about if it were written in a book. Some of us have actually chosen to write a book based on our lives, some are in the process of writing autobiographical "tell all"  books, while others have chosen to turn their lives into a fiction novel, loosely based on their experiences. When writing an autobiography, what are the rules when it comes to naming real people in your life? Do you change the names?  Do you say the name, particularly when it is a famous or already well known person? What about family members? What about when you are telling a shameful family secret, such as an act of rape or molestation by a parent or family elder, or an incestuous episode with a relative, or a secret pregnancy? What happens if the family gets angry at you after the book is published? Asadah, author of the book "Beating Black Kids" is today's guest, to tell us about the upcoming Soulful Chicago Book Fair this Spring and the Timuel D. Black Chicago History Essay Contest. We'll talk about the choices authors must make when choosing to put their lives on the pages of a book.