NOTE: This post has also been cross-posted to my author blog: https://deborahsholman.com/ I didn’t set out to write about a con artist. I wasn’t even researching criminals. I was trying to get the facts straight about my husband’s great-grandmother, known in the family as Catherine C. Fitzallen. I was scrolling through an Ancestry message board, […]
Read MoreOn Saturday, October 4, I had the pleasure of being a vendor at Family History Day, sponsored by the Connecticut Society of Genealogists. I always enjoy chatting with people who love family history, and inevitably, someone asks how I choose which ancestor to write about. For my first novel, Nothing Really Bad Will Happen, the […]
Read MoreI’ve been stalling for a few days, deciding on a photograph on which to base my first blog post for the Geneabloggers Fab 40 challenge. And then today, Randy Seaver posted this prompt for his weekly Saturday Night Genealogy Fun—Do you recall the layout of one of your family homes? Can you estimate the size […]
Read MoreAfter publishing two blog posts with the details of my week at the 45th IAJGS conference, I’ve been reflecting on the bigger picture—the conference as a whole. Organization and Atmosphere First and foremost: this was one of the best-organized conferences I’ve ever attended. From my first interaction with the committee when I submitted my speaking […]
Read MoreCheryl spent most of today at the Family History Library, making solid progress tracking down documents for her Mayflower Society application. Meanwhile, all the excitement from the past week—plus the whirlwind of family events before I even made it to Salt Lake City—finally caught up with me. I took things slow, working on marketing for […]
Read MoreWe woke to a gray snowy scene outside our window. Thankfully our hotel is just a minute walk away. Before I head to the first session let me tell you something…I’ve got a secret. Which I’ll be divulging tomorrow. For now, let’s just say I’ve had to embrace my second “career.” So, this session was […]
Read MoreAs I look back on 2024, I am filled with gratitude for the experiences that have enriched my life. This year has been a tapestry of storytelling, family connections, and personal achievements. Each project and experience has been deeply connected to my passions, and I’m profoundly grateful for the journey this year has taken me […]
Read MoreNote: This is cross-posted to both my blogs! Some of my best stories are inspired by things I do when I am bored… also known as “What can I do when I want to procrastinate?” Recently, I had the following inspired conversation with ChatGPT. I hope you enjoy it! Me: What can you tell me […]
Read MoreThe phone rang in the apartment at Silbergasse 43. Paul answered it, speaking in hushed tones. His six-year-old daughter, Doris, strained to hear, but couldn’t make out the words. She heard the apartment door open and listened intently as the sound of footsteps down the two flights of stairs faded into silence. It would be […]
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Who We Are and How We Got This Way 