The Ancestral Pen

Tag: #HistoricalFictionWriting #GenealogyToStory #FamilyHistoryWriters #WritingFromThePast #AncestralStories

  • When the Words Made Me Cry

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    amygennut
    in

      I sat down at my desk this week to write the final chapter of my Patriot book, and I had to stop. Not because the words wouldn’t come, but because they poured out of me, literally. The kind that make your hands hover over the keyboard while you wait to see the words on…

  • Book One of Pack Saddle Ranch Done. What Next?

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    amygennut
    in

      Hello, dear readers! I’m thrilled to share that Book One of the Pack Saddle Ranch series is now available in paperback-link below! If you haven’t grabbed your copy yet, now’s the perfect time. What’s Next? I’m finalizing the outline for Book Two and will begin writing within the next couple of days. My goal is to have it…

  • The Beauty of Fall

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    amygennut
    in

      Hi everyone! I’m writing to you from my favorite spot—my chaise lounge by the big window, looking out at beautiful fall colors. It’s too foggy to see much today, but a few days ago I caught a glimpse of snow on Switzer Mountain peaks. Winter is just around the corner! The seasonal preserving is…

  • The Art of Finishing Strong

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    amygennut
    in

      Grab your coffee. It’s newsletter time, and I’m elbow-deep in apples. This morning I’m starting the final preserve of the season—apple cider. My mom’s farm blessed me with another harvest, and I’ve spent weeks transforming those apples into butter, sauce, and fermented goodness. But cider? Cider is the grand finale. I’ll cut up every…

  • Why I Write Like I’ve Lived It (Because I Have)

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    amygennut
    in

      And no, I’m not talking about a ghost story or other forms of woo-woo. I’m writing this newsletter on my laptop while jars of applesauce, apple butter, and fermented apples cool on the counter. My daughter just came in from collecting eggs, warning me that Butt Head (yes, that’s really his name) is being…

  • Banjo Roads and Dynamite Dreams: Inspiration in the Wild

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    amygennut
    in

      Banjo Roads and Dynamite Dreams: Inspiration in the Wild Last week, I shared that I was writing a new trilogy, Pack Saddle Ranch. This week I have exciting news! You can now grab your copy of Until We Meet Again (link below in Button), the prequel, to tide you over until I finish Healing the Rancher’s Heart.…

  • Stories the Live Within Us Newsletter

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    amygennut
    in

      My Motivation This makes all the hard work so worth it. It was made even sweeter because my husband’s 90-something-year-old aunt took the time to sit and write this to me. She loves my Woolsey Saga books, which I’m already thinking of adding another book to that set before our country celebrates its 250th…

  • New Adventures and Contest Submissions!

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    amygennut
    in

      Dear Readers, I have some exciting updates to share with you about my writing journey! First, I want to let you know that the Woolsey Saga is now complete, particularly in regard to the father-son story of Richard and William. If you haven’t grabbed your copies yet, now’s the time! While the saga has…

  • How to Decide What Story to Tell in Historical Fiction or Genealogical Storytelling

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    by

    amygennut
    in

    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…