Seeking the Past in the Present

So I’ve restarted a hobby, which is not a surprise for those who know me. I like to be well-rounded and change things up sometimes.

Well anyway onto this renewed pastime. I’ve always had an avid interest in history, especially my family heritage, so this recent “undertaking” involves genealogy. And I found out that it is quite overwhelming. With the Internet as a tool, there are so many directions to go.


I started with my living relatives and I’d advise anyone starting genealogy to go to relatives first to glean all the information you can. And make sure you write down even the littlest tidbits. You never know when it will come in handy.


My great-grandmother (right) in 1929

I have one set of grandparents living, so I obviously went to them first to gather what they know about their ancestors. “Listing the family tree” is not my grandfather’s favorite activity, so he was not exactly thrilled with all the questions and bringing up a bunch of memories at once.

But mostly he knew he has given me our family tree several times since I was a kid for school projects and I have misplaced the info every time. I promised this time I wouldn’t lose it. I contacted a great aunt for information as well as talking to my parents, uncles, aunts and cousins.

I’ve only been back on the genealogy trek for the past two months and thanks to the help of more Internet research and several genealogists I’ve met via the Internet and in my surrounding area I have found a lot of helpful information.

When all this began though I discovered a very helpful Web site right off the bat that has been a major tool so far for finding out dates and information about relatives, www.findagrave.com. It’s free to sign up, so I did. Yes… I am a member of findagrave.com. Interesting, I know. J There are probably not many people in their 20s who set out to construct their family trees, but I love a good mystery and I’m a research nerd, so I’d say the shoe fits pretty nicely.



My g-g-g grandfather's grave

Looking on the site, I was pleasantly surprised to quickly come across a photo of my great-great-great grandfather’s tombstone in Alabama. It was just really neat to see and to even know who he was, when a few weeks before I had no idea who he was until a relative told me.

Now I know where he lived and died, whom he married and whom his children were as well as where his son (my great-great grandfather) is buried. I’ve also found distant cousins and have contacted the people who posted their tombstone photos and information. I’ve started emailing a few of them to share genealogy information and ask for their info, which has been great. There have been some great responses and knowledgeable people to send info and give advice.

But not only can you discover your own family graves on the site though, you can assist other genealogy seekers in finding their ancestors’ graves. As a site member, I accessed the volunteer photo task page to see if there were any photos needed in this area. There were quite a few, so I thought I’d try my hand at tombstone photography and after my first postings, a woman sent me a message to thank me and tell me it means a lot to have the pictures, especially since they are her mother’s immediate family members and her mother had just recently passed away. Though I’ve never been a fan of visiting graveyards and apparently have a phobia of accidentally walking over them, I’ve visited dozens now and I know I’ll be in many others in the future.

For still amateur genealogists like me, we need advice for starting out, so I spoke with a friend who had done genealogy for years. She advised that the first step is to interview family members and gather all the information you can about your ancestors from them, even guesses about locations, death and birth dates, etc. She said an estimate can lead to a much needed lead.

My g-g-g grandfather (seated center) with his family

She also said information can then be looked up at parish/county courthouses and libraries as well as Internet sites such as deadfred.com, ancestry.com or heritagequest.com, to name a few. Several libraries in each state offer access to these Internet sites, which usually have a membership fee but is free for anyone to use at the library. To organize the information, a family tree can be constructed either by paper or digital and ancestry.com offers free access to create a digital family tree after registering a username. It’s easy to do and a great way to always have your family tree info online when you need it.

I am enjoying the hunt for family history and through the digging, I knew I was bound to hit a few seemingly dead ends as well as finding the skeletons in the closet sort of thing and my family’s no exception. As family legends go, two of my great-great grandfathers lost a lot of money and their land through gambling, another was a drunkard and yet another tale tells of my great-great grandmother on another side who accidentally was shot and killed by her own husband. Talk about those skeletons and the closet… whoa. But it’s history. My history. What can I say.

There have also been good things too like hearing about my great grandfathers and their strong faith in Jesus Christ and service as preachers. I actually got a copy of my great-grandparents’ Christian testimonies of their salvation, which was published in a 1947 church newsletter. My great-grandpa was saved at a tent revival near his home after my great-grandmother and great uncle were saved and begged him each day to go with them until he finally agreed. He was called to be a preacher not long after he was saved. That’s the kind of family history I want to hear to inspire and encourage me.

Being a historical novelist, you can only imagine the loads of information I've stored away for book ideas and scenes. Genealogy is just another form of research for me and it's a fun one. You never know what will turn up.

At my family history quest’s beginning, my uncle had informed me that I may want to reconsider it, because I might find a branch of my family tree I wish wasn’t there. Despite his being right to an extent, I can’t change my history whether I want to or not…cause after all, it’s all in the family.

Morgan Tarpley 
 

Morgan Tarpley is an award-winning newspaper reporter and photographer in Louisiana. She is also a historical novelist currently seeking representation. Besides writing and traveling to over a dozen countries, her interests include acting in her local theater, photography, historical re-enactment and singing.

For more information about Morgan, visit her website (www.morgantarpley.com) and blog (www.pensonaworldmap.com). You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Goodreads.

Interview with Aussie author Carol Preston and book giveaway

I’m delighted to be able to welcome my friend Carol Preston, an Australian historical romance author, to our blog today.

Jo-Anne: Carol, how long have you been writing? What originally inspired you?

Carol: My interest in writing historical novels began when my children started school and I took up family history research. While I wondered if I might find some English aristocracy or perhaps a famous explorer in my background, instead I found seven generations of Australians, mostly of British and Irish convict heritage, stretching back to the First Fleet on my mother’s side. So, having come to terms with originating from a long line of petty criminals, I became intrigued with the daily challenges, struggles, losses and achievements of my ancestors. I wanted to write those stories in a way that not only my children and grandchildren could learn from and enjoy but also in ways other people could find interesting and inspiring.

Jo-Anne: Has any aspect of your previous occupation helped you as an author?

Carol: I think being a psychologist and listening to my clients share their own stories of loss and betrayal, the struggle to forgive, to overcome tragedy, to relate in healthy and meaningful ways, has really helped me to imagine the interactions and personal, daily journeys of my ancestors because I believe these personal and relational battles are common to human beings in every generation, everywhere.

Jo-Anne: Earlier this year, I really enjoyed reading your fifth novel Mary’s Guardian. What would you like readers to take away with them from this book?

Carol: The most inspiring aspect of Mary’s Guardian for me as is that lives which seem doomed to utter despair and hopelessness can be restored and healed through the most unexpected circumstances; that something good, even wonderful, can come from the most dreadful situations with God’s help.

Jo-Anne: What other books have you had published already and where are they available?

Carol: My first three novels were a trilogy – Suzannah’s Gold, Rebecca’s Dream and The Price of Peace. These are a saga of the Oakes family, one line of my ancestors, and are available from Zeus Publications www.zeuspublications.com, First Edition books www.firsteditionbooks.com.au or directly through my website www.carolpreston.com.au. My fourth novel, The Face of Forgiveness, is available through Light the Dark www.lightthedark.com.au or Even Before Publishing www.evenbeforepublishing.com or also through my website. Mary’s Guardian, my fifth novel, is available through Light the Dark or Even Before Publishing and also through Amazon www.amazon.com or Koorong Books www.koorong.com.

Jo-Anne: And you have a sixth novel, Charlotte’s Angel, due for release in October this year. What inspired you to write this one?

Carol: Charlotte’s Angel is the sequel to Mary’s Guardian and continues the story of the Douglass family. Charlotte is one of my favourite characters in my novels. I think she has a great story to tell which will inspire hope in readers.

Jo-Anne: You have obviously done many hours of research for your novels. Do you have any tips in this regard?

Carol: I think if you have a natural interest in history or in your own genealogy, the research is nearly as much fun as the writing! There is so much material available now online as well as in history books that the problem for me becomes when to stop researching. I have to remind myself that every detail of what I’ve discovered can’t possibly be put into the novel. If research is a battle for writers, however, they probably need to write straight from their imagination and avoid the need for so much research.

Jo-Anne: Do you have any further novels in mind?

Carol: Oh, yes. I have plenty more family history to draw on, and with every story there’s a rich source of inspiration and life lessons to share – so many aspects of faith to explore in so many situations. As soon as I’m finished one novel, my mind starts plotting another ancestor’s journey.

Jo-Anne: What has been the most memorable event of your writing journey so far?

Carol: I don’t think one particular event stands out but the most gratifying moments are when someone tells me they have been inspired or challenged by my stories. My desire is that readers will not only identify with the journeys of my characters but will also meet God in them or through them. It’s a thrill to hear about, but I’m also aware I may never know when a person is touched by these stories. It’s enough to leave that in God’s hands – something I must keep remembering.

Jo-Anne: Thanks, Carol, for sharing something of your writing journey with us.

By commenting below on this interview, you will be eligible to win a copy of Mary’s Guardian from Carol. A winner will be chosen on Friday 15 July and announced on Sunday 17 July. Please leave an email address [ ] at [ ] dot [ ] where you can be reached.
“Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.”

To find out more about Carol, please visit her website, www.carolpreston.com.au.

Jo-Anne Berthelsen grew up in Brisbane and holds an Arts degree from Queensland University. She has also studied education and theology and has worked as a high school teacher and editor, as well as in local church ministry. Jo-Anne loves communicating through both the spoken and written word and currently has five published novels - Helena, All the Days of My Life, Laura, Jenna, and Helena's Legacy. For more information about Jo-Anne, please visit her website, www.jo-anneberthelsen.com.