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I have to brag (if only for an hour). "Begotten With Love" is on Amazon's Best Seller list. We are celebrating my birthday this weekend with our first, FREE eBook event. Please join us and tell your friends to come along!

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6 TIPS for "ROAD TRIP" RESEARCH

My husband and I love to travel and if the opportunity presents itself, I like to research family ties along the way. If you've read "Begotten With Love," you already know I didn't learn my true identity until I was thirty-five years old. That was the beginning of a thirty year hunt that took us coast-to-coast and border-to-border.

In the beginning, we muddled our way through the research part of the trip and just looked at it as an adventure, which it was. But as we began to find more and more of the puzzle pieces, it was necessary to organize and make the most of the time we had on the road. Following are some pointers we learned the hard way: 

PRE-PLANNING - Many Places that House Records are Closed on Weekends . . . Call Ahead

1.     Read the history of the town or city during the time period your ancestors called it home before you visit. It may help clarify the choices they made. Why'd they settle there? Were they active in the community? Often times, news articles from years-gone-bye make finding birth and death notices, wedding announcements, and articles about special events easy to access.

2.     Contact the sextant of the local cemetery before the trip. They may be able to provide burial location records. Relatives, especially in older cemeteries, may be buried in a cemetery's family plot, on a family farm, or in church yards.

Prior to our trip to Alabama, I found an article about the death of my great-grandparents' infant daughter in their local newspaper that included this sweet poem:

Shed not for her the bitter tear

Nor give the heart to vain regret,

'Tis but the casket that lies there

The gem that filled it sparkles yet. 

Because this occurred in the late 1800s and the engraving on the baby's headstone was so worn, if we had not taken time to research before we left, we would have returned home with more questions than answers.

There is more to this story. Right after I finished writing this post, it nagged me that I did not know who wrote this beautiful poem. So, I googled it. It turns out it's the epitaph for Myra Belle Shirley who is buried in a long forgotten grave in Oklahoma. The epitaph was penned by her daughter, Pearl. Myra was an educated woman and an accomplished pianist who wore velvet skirts and plumed hats. She was also a notorious American outlaw and horse thief. You may recognize her, if I told you her name was "Belle Starr."

It seems the obituary journalist lifted the poem from a horse thief. Historical irony.

3.     Contact the local historical society, the genealogical society, and the library. If they know you're coming, they may be able to provide you with documents or stories you never expected.

ON LOCATION - Bring Plenty of Batteries (and an extra charger) for the Camera 

4. There is nothing more disheartening than having equipment failure on a once-in-a-lifetime trip. It's well worth it to spend the extra money for another battery charger and an extra battery than to try to commit Hallmark moments to memory.

5. Bring duplicate copies of genealogy pages as well as blank pages. It makes it so much easier to scribble field notes on a copy and later transfer it to your records. I also like to use index cards (stored in a small box) to keep contact information, new leads, and miscellaneous information.

6. Talk to everyone! Having lunch in a charming, old building? Ask about it's history. Tell the owner why you're in town. You never know where the next gem of information will come.

Whatever you do, however you plan, take time to enjoy the moment. There is such a strong, familial bond in walking the streets that your ancestors called home. Look toward the horizon and know a generation past gazed at the same landscape . . . and wondered about you. 

I wish you a safe and memorable journey.

IN OTHER NEWS:

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MAY 29 - JUN 4 

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"Begotten With Love" 

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MANNERS

GENEALOGY - Part V

SOCIETY TOOK ETIQUETTE SERIOUSLY in the 1900s. WHERE ARE WE NOW? After reading the Youth's Educator for Home and Society 1896 by Mrs. Anna R. White and Manners for Women Part One - As A Single Woman by Michelle J. Hoppe, I found a great deal of wisdom that is as pertinent today as it was during the Victorian Era.

It was my intent to find charming and out-dated customs of a generation now long gone and some of the oppressive rules that infringed on the freedoms of young women who "just wanted to have fun" to give us something to smile about.

It's true, rules change as society modernizes. It's no longer necessary for a woman to accept a hand up from a man to mount her horse (except in certain recreational situations); and she can dance with a stranger for more than three dances; but some etiquette rules are common sense and stand the test of time, such as: never walk alone on a street after dark. I admit, I've done it but all it took was one scary incident with a man walking behind me (uncomfortably close and pacing my steps) to make me reconsider my sanity. I know he was convinced I had lost it when I turned on him yelling at the top of my lungs with arms flailing. He literally ran across the street. That was 40 years ago. He may still be running! I laugh now but it was enough for me to change my habits.

Some of the rules of etiquette took physical exercise into account and the affect it would have on the body. Even Great Grandma was "self" conscious. She knew a lady rode side saddle  and alternated sides each day "so as not to develop an overly enhanced buttock on one side." Straddle mount was considered vulgar for a woman.

One rule of etiquette some have kicked to the curb in this day and age is: "A lady never uses vulgarities, flippancy, coarseness, triviality or provocation in speech (and might I add, behavior)." We have taken rudeness and crudeness to a rarefied orbit of coolness in this generation. The next time you're tempted to "twerk," ask yourself if that's something you really want to add to your legacy. 
Personally, I think Grandma's era may have been right when her peers believed "A lady is identified by her behavior."
What do you think . . . does that still hold true in today's society?

Jo Ann V. Glim is a 40 year veteran of  freelance writing and author of the Book "Begotten With Love." To learn more:

FOLLOW/Like: on Facebook or

VISIT: www.BEGOTTENtheBook.com or

BUY ON: Amazon.com/author/joannglim

 

  

FINAL DAYS BEFORE LAUNCH!

I invited all of you to take this crazy publishing journey with me and I can't imagine being on this wild and wacky ride without you. Thank you for standing by me! Your encouragement, humor and support has meant more than words can convey.

There have been weeks when I questioned if this loop of proofing would ever end. If the goal to publish would ever be met. Well, it did and it will be. There were weeks of slogging back and forth to the store because of an ailing computer that's now been replaced. There were missed deadlines for a number of legitimate reasons (all of them good) but the best excuse was the birth of a beautiful baby boy (to our designer and his wife). Noah decided to be born 3 months early. Of course, medical complications ensued and put the book's publication date behind by months (a chance indie authors take when relying on the talents of independent contractors). However, those who have worked with me in the past know that as far as priorities go, it's always family first. Everything else will fall into place.

There were weeks spent in classes trying to grasp the concept of social media and hours of conversation with author friends about marketing ideas. It took time to design a web site and begin a blog. There were conferences, events, and Author Review book signings and besides all that, there were administrative and financial obligations to fulfill if we wanted to be taken seriously and that we do.

I've had a chance to view the book on a Kindle, I-Pad and I-Phone. I love the printed word and the feel of a book in my hands but this new technology? All I can say is, WOW what a concept!

So, here we are . . . standing on the edge of the publishing diving board with toes curled and heart racing, scared to look to see if there's water in the pool before jumping in but smart enough to know that not looking would hurt . . . a lot! I can guarantee that when I press the PUBLISH button on Amazon, BEGOTTEN With Love will be at the very bottom of the list with thousands of titles above it. The only way things will change is if you help me spread the word. Visit the BEGOTTEN With Love Fan Page to find out how.

We are counting down to the eBook's debut next week but . . .

I CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER to start the celebration. Even though it's not launch day, there's no reason why it can't be . . . giddy time!  YIPEE!  YAHOO!  HOOORAY!  Okay . . . Alright . . . Breathing deep . . . Better now . . . I'm soooooo dizzy! 

It's been a long time coming and now that it's almost here I can say, it's been so worth the wait.

A special thank you to A&A Printing for selecting BEGOTTEN With Love to be the Spotlight of the Month highlight on your website. It's truly an honor. Your timing could not have been more perfect.
                                                                            # # #    

Jo Ann V. Glim is a 40 year veteran of  freelance writing and author of Begotten With Love. To learn more:
FOLLOW/Like on Facebook or
visit www.BEGOTTENtheBook.com
NOW AVAILABLE on Amazon.com/author/joannglim