Quick Start Writing Your Ancestor's Stories with Kathy Lynne Marshall

Research at the National Archives and Beyond

Are you worried that you’ve been collecting ancestral information for years but haven’t done anything with it? In 2016, Kathy Lynne Marshall, 60, felt the mandate from her ancestors to write their stories NOW. She finally figured out a quick-start method for taking the hints and tips from African American genealogists, family lore, and DNA results to write three books in three years, winning three book awards in the process. She will share her method for determining which book to write, how to get started, and how to finish strong, to leave a written legacy for your family. Encouraging others bring their family stories into the American historical record has become her passion. Each chapter in Marshall’s first book, The Ancestors are Smiling!, was written from the point of view of different descendants of her great-great-grandfather, Otho Williams. Her second book, Finding Otho: The Search for Our Enslaved Williams Ancestors, described her research process and included an interesting interplay with her ancestors. Marshall's latest book, Finding Daisy: From the Deep South to the Promised Land, investigated why her grandmother lied about her birthplace. Finding Otho and Finding Daisy both have a “Solving Your Mystery” chapter that describe Marshall’s quick-start process to plan, outline, research, write, and print or publish family history books. Marshall was a 36-year researcher, analyst and technical writer for the California Highway Patrol. She is also an artist (www.KanikaMarshall.com) and has published in the AAHGS Quarterly Newsletters and two Anthologies. Opening Music - Sweet Mellow Spice by AK Productions