I’ve been hunting for a photo of Permelia for 20 years. My grandfather was an enigma and his mother even…
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Using Genealogy to Write a Novel
Three of the four books I’ve written have been “on assignment.” I was given circumstances (Log Cabins, Christmas, Texas, Pioneers,…
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Hardheadeds and the Lincoln Connection
We’re just in from seeing Steven Spielberg’s magnificent Lincoln. It may be the only movie we’ve seen in 2012, but…
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Five Steps in Writing Research: Recognizing When Enough is Enough
“Stop the research and start writing!” My patron of the arts had heard enough whining, even if he had been…
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The Moment Life Spun Away
Can you pinpoint a moment in your life when everything changed? You wouldn’t have recognized it at the time. But…
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Slaves in the Family
I didn’t know any people whose ancestors owned slaves when I grew up. Growing up in Southern California, the only…
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