Author: amygennut
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How to Decide What Story to Tell in Historical Fiction or Genealogical Storytelling
When you’re writing historical fiction based on real people—especially your own ancestors—it’s tempting to start at birth and tell everything. After all, you’ve done the research. You’ve tracked down the census records, military registrations, and newspaper articles. You know when they were born, who they married, how many children they had, and where they ended…
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52 Ancestors: Alden Williamson
Alden Williamson was born in 1750 in New Kent, New Kent County, Virginia. As we approach Memorial Day, it seems fitting to honor this patriot ancestor who served his country in its earliest days. Family Life Alden married Isabel Thompson in 1778 in Virginia. With Isabel, he had at least two sons: John Williamson (born…
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From Chaos to Calm: A Mother’s Day Adventure
It was last Sunday. I was feeling pretty good about all I had accomplished for the week with social media and blog posts for both The Ancestral Pen and the DAR. My book proof had arrived on Saturday and I was pleased, so I hit the publish button on it Sunday morning. I still…
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Creating Character Profiles from Ancestral Records: A Guide for Writers and Genealogists
When writing historical fiction or simply trying to visualize our ancestors, we often face a challenge: how do we create a vivid character when we don’t have photographs? This guide will show you how to extract rich character details from historical records and transform them into both literary character profiles and AI art prompts. Records…
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52 Ancestors: Thomas Miller Hoard – A Life Across America’s Heartland
Thomas and Martha with their three oldest boys. Like a wheel in motion, my 2x great-grandfather Thomas Miller Hoard’s life was characterized by constant movement across America’s heartland as he sought better opportunities for his family. Throughout his 69 years, Thomas’s journey would take him through multiple states – from Missouri to Nebraska, Arkansas…
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52 Ancestors: Martha Ellen (McCombs) Hoard: A Life Across Three States (1870-1946)
211 N Pettit Ave, Hominy, OK as it appears today For this week’s #52Ancestros challenge, I’m taking a different approach. Instead of “At the Library,” I’m sharing the story of my ancestor Martha Ellen (McCombs) Hoard, whose life journey took her through Arkansas, Kansas, and Oklahoma during a transformative period in American history. Early Years…
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Historical World Building: Bring Your Story to Life
Family history research often yields a collection of dates, places, and basic facts that, while valuable, can feel lifeless on their own. In this post, I’ll show you how to transform those dry ancestral details into vivid historical narratives that can enhance WikiTree profiles, blog posts, short stories, or even books. Let’s use an example…
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Creating Historical Context for Your Novel’s Characters: A Step-by-Step Guide
As a historical fiction writer, I’ve discovered that creating authentic, three-dimensional characters requires more than just developing their personalities and motivations. It demands placing them firmly within the historical context of their times. Today, I want to share my process for building a historically rich timeline that has transformed my approach to character development.…