Welcome to my first newsletter! It’s taken a little longer than I had planned to get it out, but here it is!

Book 4 in the Forensic Genealogist series

Well, I’m pleased to say that the fourth full-length book in the series is progressing very well. I’m approaching the half-way point and I’m very pleased with it, so far! I think the main character in the past narrative is one of my favourites—I hope you will like her, too. This book has taken a lot more detailed research than any of the other books, much of which is still ongoing. Next week I shall be visiting The Keep—hopefully Miss Latimer won’t be on duty! You should be able to guess the period of the next book by piecing together various past Facebook posts… It doesn’t have a title, yet but, when it does, I will reveal it exclusively here, first! On the subject of exclusives… 

Future projects

I will leave you to wonder about the content, but following on from book 4 there will be another novella in a similar vein to that of The Orange Lillies. That’

s all the information you’re going to get!

Interviews

I have been interviewed a few times recently. The subject of one was The Orange Lilies, where I gave my thoughts and perspectives on the novella that explores some of Morton’s family history: http://goo.gl/xH8uPC

Back in December I also did my first live radio interview, with A Savoury Spotlight, part of LA Talk Radio. A bit scary and I haven’t listened to it back, so I apologise if I sound like I don’t know what I’m talking about!

http://goo.gl/wMLZaV

I have another interview lined up, which I shall tell you about next time.

There have been some lovely customer reviews, podcasts and magazine reviews of The America Ground. If you’re one of my reviewers, thank you very much! This month’s Family Tree magazine said: ‘Packed once more with glorious detail of records familiar to family historians—and full of local history and old Sussex dialect—The America Ground is a delightfully pacey read that will especially appeal to the genealogy community, but could equally be picked up and enjoyed by the uninitiated.’ 

Writer’s Cabin

My writer’s cabin is coming along nicely! There’s still quite a lot to do, but, as you can see, it’s taking shape. I can’t wait to get out there and use it, especially now that the weather is trying to warm up. The section on the right is my son's treehouse!

Skiing

In February I took a break from writing and enjoyed a lovely few days on the slopes of the Montafon and Brandnertal in Austria. Such a lovely part of the world! Even when I’m on holiday, though, Morton never leaves me alone! I seem to come up with plot lines and ideas whilst heading down the slopes, which is fine, except I’ve sometimes forgotten them by the time I reach the bottom of the run! 

Family History

I wish I had more time for my own genealogy. There are so many new and exciting records being added to all the big websites every week but there aren’t enough hours in the day to explore them! I’m looking forward to getting my teeth into the 1939 ID card register, which is now part of the subscription package at FindmyPast. I did take a look for my grandfather, Albert Leslie Goodwin and my grandmother, Joyce Avis Gingell, but have so far failed to find them.

Having had my DNA tested several times, I began to become perturbed that I seem to share no links with any other male Goodwins! You can imagine what was going through my mind… Anyway, I paid for another male Goodwin to be DNA-tested through Family Tree DNA. On paper, we are related, our common ancestor being my great, great, great grandfather, Charles Goodwin. I’m pleased to say that there were no paternal ‘adventures’ along the way as the results came back that we are closely related. Phew…

Website

I’m always looking to improve the website and I’m thinking about including a FAQs page – do you have any burning questions that you would like answered? If so, please contact me via the website and your question might well appear! Is there anything else you would like to see on the website? I’m wondering about putting up some kind of interactive map of the locations used in the books—would it be of interest to see where Morton enjoys his lattes / gets kidnapped?

Competition!

This competition is exclusively for you lovely newsletter subscribers! Simply email me your own family history mystery. In no more than 500 words, describe some exciting event that has occurred in your research and I will pick out the 3 best entries and post them in the next newsletter. The winners will receive a signed copy of any one of my books. Good luck!

That’s all the news for my desk at the moment. See you again, soon!

Best wishes,

Nathan