Trace Your Roots with @mvnortham

 

Today I am thrilled to host my old friend, Maureen Vincent-Northam, who is here to tell us about her excellent genealogy book, Trace your Roots.

Trace your Roots is released as an e-book on 19th June 2015, an exciting day for me. I’ve even been allowed to change my shift day at work so that I can be around on Facebook all day for the launch party. Why not come and join in the fun? https://www.facebook.com/events/859146140799078/

 

Trace your Roots will be my first book with Crooked Cat Publishing and their first English language non-fiction title. Previously published with another house, this is a completely revised and updated version with a spanking new, and quite quirky, cover image, which I love.

The idea for the book came about several years ago when I was a family history researcher, working for clients worldwide whose ancestors originated from Herefordshire, where I live. There were plenty of good books around on genealogy but far fewer for those who came up against a brick wall, as often happens when researching family history.

Through trial and error I found certain things worked very well for me – a case of thinking outside the box sometimes – and which helped to successfully move the research along, and these are the tips I wanted to share.

Although genealogy is a serious subject, with some people dedicating many years to researching their family tree, I wanted a book that was accessible to everyone. Trace your Roots offers hundreds of tips in an easy to follow way. As well as the serious stuff, I’ve injected a little light-heartedness into Trace your Roots because a hobby should be fun too. I hope this will encourage more people to discover their own roots.

Please join me on my genealogy blog, I’m always happy to post other people’s stories: http://trace-your-roots.blogspot.co.uk/

Maureen’s wonderful book is available on Amazon worldwide by following this link: Trace your Roots

Author bio

Maureen Vincent-Northam has written seriously ever since Father Christmas left her a Petite typewriter. Author of Trace your Roots, she also wrote the children’s novel, Black Dog’s Treasure, and co-authored The Writer’s ABC Checklist.

An editor with Crooked Cat Publishing, her work has appeared in newspapers, magazines, anthologies and online. She has tutored workshops, judged online writing contests and was winner of The Writers’ Advice Centre for Children’s Books competition.

Maureen works part time in a residential home, is rubbish at cooking and, when not burning dinner, can usually be found surrounded by empty chocolate wrappers.

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Getting to know … Maureen Vincent-Northam

What genre would you say your novels fall into, or do they defy classification?

My writing may defy classification but I love writing for children from ages five up.

What made you choose that genre?

I believe you have to enjoy reading in your chosen genre. Children’s books make me laugh, make me think and the artwork in many books for the very young is stunning.

How long does it take you to write a book?

This is so embarrassing. One of my uncompleted children’s books has left two young lads trapped in a castle dungeon for several years now. So long, in fact, they’ve probably started shaving. Another, a psychological thriller aimed at YA readers (fantastic story, this one) has also been ‘in progress’ since Noah was a lad. Other, more successful, stories (the ones I’ve finished) often don’t take too long once I get going.

What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

I’m meant to have a schedule? I have to fit in writing between my other work – I’m a freelance copy editor, an editor with Crooked Cat Publishing, write short story critiques for Writers’ Forum magazine and also work in a residential care home.

Where do you get your ideas for your books?

Certain names will jump into my head. Betsy Fudge and the Big Silence won The Writers’ Advice Centre for Children’s Books competition a few years back and Betsy arrived in my head fully formed. Ideas for the stories generally come from the characters; the books I enjoy reading most are character led. I enjoy mysteries too, so like to include that element when I can.

 
When did you write your first book and how old were you?

I was about ten and it was before I’d heard the term plagiarism. I wrote something Enid Blyton would have been proud to put her name to. Don’t remember the title but it probably included the word ‘adventure’.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

Mostly I read, listen to music, or visit somewhere peaceful.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

That writing for children isn’t as easy as it looks.

How many books have you written?

I’ve begun about a twenty but completed around half that.

Which is your favourite and why?

I have a great fondness for Betsy Fudge and so would like to include her in other stories.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

I wanted to be Enid Blyton. Either that or be married to Billy Fury.

What are you working on now?

Two books. One involves two young boys trapped in a castle dungeon. The other is a YA psychological thriller (fantastic story) for young adults.

Bio

Maureen Vincent-Northam has written seriously ever since Father Christmas left her a Petite typewriter. An editor with Crooked Cat Publishing, her work has appeared in newspapers, magazines, anthologies and online. She’s tutored workshops and judged online writing contests.  Rubbish at cooking, Maureen works from her home office when not burning dinner, and can usually be found surrounded by empty chocolate wrappers.

Website

www.maureen-vincent-northam.co.uk

Writers blog

http://writerschecklist.blogspot.co.uk/

Genealogy blog

http://trace-your-roots.blogspot.co.uk/

Amazon

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Maureen-Vincent-Northam/e/B00325GU54/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/MaureenVincentNortham

Twitter

https://twitter.com/mvnortham

The Writer’s ABC Checklist

Trace your Roots

Black Dog’s Treasure

Critique Service for Writers
Flash 500 Home Page: Flash Fiction, Humour Verse
and Novel Opening Chapter and Synopsis Competitions

Trace your Roots

Today marks the launch of one of the best books you'll ever find on researching your family tree. Trace your Roots comes from the pen of Maureen Vincent-Northam, co-author of The Writer’s ABC Checklist, colleague and very good friend. Trace your Roots is a superbly researched book on a serious subject, leavened with Maureen's inimitable brand of humour. To tell us more about it, Maureen has kindly answered some questions.

How did you come to write Trace your Roots?

This is a much-updated version of a previously published book and I wrote it to sort of redress the balance. At one time, the only genealogy books available were those of a seriously academic ilk, but all sorts of people want to trace their family tree and many appreciate a lighter tone. With Trace your Roots I had this firmly in mind while still taking the subject seriously.

Tell us a little about the book.

The book is set out as hundreds of tips with each of the 10 main chapters covering a key topic area. For example, parish records, civil sources, archival, and modern records. These tips are effective because, very often with family history research, you really do need to think outside the box. It’s easy to hit a brick wall so I suggest alternative ways of looking at things as well as recommending some lesser-known resources, many of which I’ve used in the past with positive results. I even give lessons on pidgin Latin!

How did you first become interested in genealogy?

I started out, many moons ago, by working on historical projects for other writers. I undertook some research for a local government department and then opened shop as a family history researcher. I don’t do much of that now, concentrating more on writing and editing, but I’ve always enjoyed delving into the past, and love mystery stories, and of course, genealogy involves both.

Any there interesting characters in your own family?

There are a couple of family stories: Winston Churchill was supposed to have been very impressed with, and congratulated my grandfather on, his building skills – this being one of Churchill’s own leisure pursuits – though I have difficulty picturing Mr C with a spirit level and trowel. I’ve also heard a half-formed family tale of a bare-knuckle fighter, possibly called Ruben – very tantalising and I’m not altogether sure I should be as excited by this as I am.

You mention researching connections to famous people in your book: can you tell us more?

I’ve been involved in researching the 13th century de Bohun family who were Earls of Hereford and the ancestors of Daniel Boone, the American pioneer. And I once had a client with connections to a branch of the royal Tudors.

What's your next writing project?

I have so many and, as you know, quite a few half-written ones! At the moment I’m looking for interest in a memoir-writing idea.

MaureenVincent-Northam is the author of Trace your Roots and co-author of TheWriter’s ABC Checklist. She’s judged online writing contests, contributes regularly to markets aimed at writers, and wrote and tutored an online workshop that centred on researching and writing family histories.

www.maureen-vincent-northam.co.uk

http://trace-your-roots.blogspot.co.uk/



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