I had a conversation recently with someone who said they didn’t know who their grandparents were and asked why I bothered doing all the research. My immediate response was, for their stories. Finding out about our ancestors and learning…
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Genealogy
Books Genealogy Latest News Lifestyle Vicky's Musings
The Shocking Truth About Women and Children in Victorian Census Records
Earlier blogs talked about the historical characters of Sarah and Martha and the tragedy of them losing so many children, and the difficulties women faced when they lost their husbands. But then women – and children – were considered,…
Books Genealogy Lifestyle Vicky's Musings
Irish Family History: The Remarkable Women Who Survived Against All Odds
Editor’s note: Martha’s story is coming in 2027. Sign up to my newsletter to be the first to know. Happy St Patrick’s day to you all… and especially to those with Irish heritage. It’s such a fascinating history. Did…
Books Genealogy Lifestyle Vicky's Musings
How English Census Records Unlocked the Story Behind Sarah’s Destiny
Editor’s Note: Sarah’s Destiny was released in 2025 Tuesday 7 March 2023, is census day. For me, and every other genealogist a census a crucial link to the past and the way we trace our histories and discover those…
As many of you know, I delve into the past quite a lot. I’m always looking for a story – an anchor for my next character to get involved with – and found myself fascinating by the late 19th…
Books Genealogy History Reviews Vicky's Musings
How one reviewer couldn’t stop turning just one more page
Editor’s Note: This post has been updated from the original in October 2019. I’m delighted to find Crissouli has written a review of my novel, ‘Brigid The Girl from County Clare.’ Chris captures exactly what I always hoped readers…
Books Genealogy History Latest News Vicky's Musings
Characters Who Rise Above: Why I Write About Ordinary Women in Extraordinary Times
In the late 1800s, just four or five decades after New Zealand became a British colony in 1840, life was harsh for most of its inhabitants. Men and women had fled Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and England seeking a better…
Books Genealogy History Interviews Vicky's Musings
New Zealand’s Founding History: A Historical Fiction Author’s Perspective — Interview with Wayne Turmel
Editor’s note: This interview was first published in 2016 and has been lightly updated. Since this conversation, several of the novels discussed have been published and are available here. Wayne Turmel – author of ‘The Count of Sahara’ recently…