Who all are a part of your family? How critical are they of your writing?
My father passed away 5 years ago. I adored him and miss him every day. I wish he could have been alive to see me become a published author. He would have loved my first book! My two sisters are big fans of my writing and my only brother is a SUPER fan! My mother is a little critical, mainly in punctuation, but she was an English major in college, so there you have it! My mom is a fantastic help at the end of the editing phase. She's a voracious and fast reader and can spot errors like no one else. I'm grateful for her critical eye!
Why did you decide to earn dual graduate diplomas?
My graduate program was a tough dual-enrollment plan with two separate focuses in genealogy and documentary sciences: research and teaching. I wanted to become a better researcher and I also wanted to teach others how to analyze family history records and build a sound family tree based on collaborated sources. It took me three years to complete both curriculums. It was intense!!
Was history your favorite subject in school? How did your love for history develop?
History was NOT my favorite subject in school, but I always felt a strong pull to the past. Whether it was the overwhelming sensation I felt in a historical building or while holding some artifact of my family's, it's always been there, for as long as I can remember. Now I'm such a history nerd I can't wait to read, watch, or experience in person any book, movie, or place with historical value.
How much do you research to write the true stories in your books?
Extensive research is really important to me. The term in my field of professional genealogy is "exhaustive research." It's vital to leave no stone unturned and to collaborate every source together for the most honest outcome. In my writing, I seek to honor the past by representing the highest level of truth that I can.
From where do you find inspiration to write about family, faith, grief, art, and overcoming obstacles in life?
My inspiration comes from the true stories I unearth in my own family tree as well as my clients’. I've been an artist painting in all mediums since I was a child, and also an admirer of art history and present-day artists. Any opportunity I have to view an art gallery or tour an art museum, I’m there! I've also experienced serious grief in my life. With the death of my sister (by suicide) and then the passing of my father, I know what it’s like to struggle to get out of bed in the morning when grief is that heavy. It took me a long time to find peace with my sister's death in particular, and I mean decades. But my connection to God carried me through. I’ve learned in all of this—and other life challenges—that my burdens are lighter and more manageable when I lean on Him. This is why my writings have a Christian theme throughout. I seek to honor my Source in all I do.
How has been your experience of being a professional Genetic Genealogist?
It's been one of the most satisfying and rewarding experiences of my life. The vast majority of my clients are adoptees or those with unknown parentage. Witnessing the void being filled in a person's being when they meet their biological family for the first time is a surreal and almost holy experience. I wouldn't trade it for anything. At time I’m invited to be present at the first meeting between parent/child/siblings and it’s more than a little gratifying to witness a scene like that.
Since how long have you been a member of the Jerry Jenkins Writer's Guild?
It's been a few years. The guild is a valuable wealth of knowledge shared by Jerry himself, who has published over 190 books. He brings in other experts too, to provide valuable guidance throughout the roller coaster process of writing and getting published.
What challenges did you face while writing the present-day timeline through the eyes of a struggling teenage girl?
The biggest challenge was getting the voices right for both a teenage girl and her best friend--a boy. That took some doing. I asked my kids and many other teenagers (I've been a youth leader for years) if my characters sounded authentic, and if they would say this word or that one. I also read through the journals I kept when I was a teenager to remember what it felt like to be that age.
How did you come up with the story of "Once Upon an Irish Summer"?
The historical timeline is based on a real united states historical figure's epic immigration story. He happens to be my 3rd great uncle as well. I researched his family on location in both Ireland and Fort Wayne Indiana where he became a founding father in the early 1800s. I originally started writing the story with just Allen's history in mind, but I wanted to write the book in a way that would interest teenagers in their own family trees too, so I created a fictional present-day, relatable character for them.
What inspired the character of Allen Hamilton in "Once Upon an Irish Summer"?
He's one of my own ancestors--my very favorite one! I based a lot of his story on the 200-year-old letter collection his parents wrote after he left for America. It spans the years before they were able to join him in the The United States and the letters are full of the family's struggles as well as the history, happenings, and heartbreak in Ireland during that time period.
How did being an award-winning author of professional articles and poems inspire you to turn to novel writing?
I wanted to reach more people and turn their hearts to their own family trees. I believe it can be life-changing to understand who you come from--who paved the way for you to have the life you have today. And some of the most fascinating novels are those of historical fiction because they bring to life and give us a sense of history we just can't get from textbooks.
Being a professional Genetic Genealogist by day, a writer by night, and an artist in between, what is your secret of time management?
It's a daily struggle! But I use a particular planner called the Five Kingdoms Organizer System, created by New York Times best-selling author, Richard Paul Evans. He's become a writing mentor and good friend. He created the system to manage his own time and his literary agent said he should share it with the world, so he has. And it's the best tool I've ever used to master my life because it separates priorities into five kingdoms by importance, and then provides tools to effectively manage those kingdoms. There is no other planner like it in the world. I know, because I’ve searched. It's truly remarkable.
Being a chairman of the advisory board for Century Vital Records based in Bengaluru, India, have you ever visited India? If not, do you plan to visit someday?
I HAVE visited India! Oh my gosh, it's one of my most favorite places in the world! The people are the best I've ever met and the sights are like nothing else I've seen on earth. I can't wait to go back again. I've been to Southern and Central India three times, and I’ve created such close friendships with the owner of Century Vital Records and his kin, they are like my own family! And a huge bonus is that my brother is the Executive of Sales and Director of U.S. Operations for CVR, so I travel with him when I go and we’ve the time of our lives! And if you are in need of genealogical research assistance in India, or imaging and indexing of small or large record groups, this company is highly used for these services by both FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com. You can reach Century Vital Records at http://centuryvitalrecords.com/</p>
What are you currently working on? May we know when we can expect a new book?
I am working on the sequel to Once Upon an Irish Summer. The second book is the continuation of the present-day characters' lives. DNA and Genetic Genealogy play an exciting role this time around. And in the historical chapters, I take readers back in time to when Allen Hamilton left his family to go to American, and this time the story is told through the eyes of his youngest sister, who took on the role to keep her family alive until they could join Allen across the Atlantic. This book is going to be so fantastic, I can't wait to finish it!
How has been your experience of working with AllAuthor?
I've been so impressed! The mock-ups and marketing tools are fantastic. So are the automatic Twitter posts of book reviews and other info. It's the perfect site to connect readers and writers. The book cover contest has been another big plus. Winning top three in May out of nearly 300 books has given my novel a lot of exposure and almost a hundred followers. It’s awesome!
