The beginning of my adventure

This book started out being about a nameless family from Ireland that settled in the Gulf coast of Texas around 1840.

When my mother brought the binder over containing information on my Irish ancestors I had no idea just how obsessive I would become with everything Irish and the life of John May and his wife Mary Riley May.

After six months of wasting my time searching geneology records incorrectly I finally settled down and put my mind in first gear for I was motivated!

I want to share the research because I truly believe for a Historical fiction novel to be believable and compelling you must get the research right.

The Irish culture faccinated this spoiled, pop culture brain soaked slug to the point that I felt I had to share it with any one that cared to read.

The first thing that captured my heart and mind so strongly was the passenger ships.

The voyage to America could last 63 horrific days or more.

I cannot imagine being on a ship for 63 minutes much less 63 days.

Many immigrants died during the travel to the land of hope.

Children were born on these " Death Ships" as they were so eloquently called.

So many people looking for a better life and risking their lives to make it happen.

As I searched through the many passenger lists from the 1800s a few
interesting facts stood out to me.

A young single girl from 12 years old or older would be called a spinster.

Many of the records will show the husband and not even name the wife by her given name, instead she is listed as wife.

A man without enough money or goods on board was written in as a laborer.

I once read in a book somewhere can't remember who said it but its so true.

" You cannot know who you are until you uncover where you came from"
Here are a few links that I found quite helpful in my search.

http://www.cyndislist.com/ships.htm Cyndies list.com
ttp://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ote/ships/ The Olive Tree Geneology
http://www.slpl.org/slpl/gateways/article240117840.asp St. Louis Public Library

Research for dummies

As I dive head first into the second year of research for my book
I have stopped to ponder my position in life as a writer.
I have been researching for this book with no name for over a year.
The research began when my mother brought a binder to my house.
This binder was chock full of information about my ancestors.
A relative had begun the research in the eighties and now I had it in my hands.
I knew from my mother that my Great,Great,Great grandfather John May was the founder of Yoakum Texas.

Quite frankly I never thought twice about that aspect of my lineage. Maybe it is my age or the fact that I have one grown son and step son that made me wonder about who I am and where I come from and what my heritage means to me.

In the year of research I learned an unbelievable amount about the Irish race.
Of course I learned some valuable things about John May
but more importantly I learned that he and other immigrants from Ireland paved the way for all my cousins and relatives to live with little or no discrimination.
Sadly discrimination is something that he and other immigrants experienced the entire time they lived in the country they fondly referred to as "Amerikay"