You Are Never Too Old to Follow Your Dream
By Beth Farrar
When I was seventeen, my grandfather gave me a heavy, gold signet ring that belonged to his grandmother, and my love of family history was born. Though it had to share a seat with my obsession with reading and writing my own stories.
Having five books on the go at the same time was never a problem for me, and when a school teacher encouraged me to expand a short story into a novel, I promised myself that I would publish a book one day.
One day was decades later, but the dream never died.
Family Links is the sixth book in the Ellie McLellan Genealogy Mystery series. In this story we find our heroine, Ellie, creating the small, cozy town of Percyville, Quebec’s first Historical Society. With her group of genealogy seniors to assist her, they are off discovering decades long questions and solving mysteries.
Genealogy is not just about finding dead ancestors. It’s learning their stories, who they were, where they came from, and what they lived through. The social times created who they were just as much as their genes. And we can say the same for today.
Perhaps one day someone will wonder about you! Who you were and what your hopes and dreams were. As I create my memoir in real life, Ellie teaches her enthusiastic group how to write theirs in my books. No one wants their life story to be told by someone who wasn’t there! Just imagine how events could be altered! And by writing our own stories, we get to have the final say, what to leave in, what to leave out, who to show it to, or perhaps just burn the darn thing when we’re done!
My novels focus on women, old and young, how they band together to help each other, and how they lift each other up when needed. Sharing of knowledge from generation to generation, leaving a trail of who they were and what they accomplished.
Each novel in the series explains different ways to discover information about your ancestors, and yourself, with suggestions at the end on how to do just that. And if you visit my website, bethfarrar.com, you’ll find more information to help you on your journey.
I’ve written all my life, through various mediums, for fun and experience. A newspaper column for 15 years taught me about deadlines, and a superb editor schooled me in cutting unnecessary words (though I still think some of them add to an author’s voice).
Heading out on my adventure to become a published writer was not only exciting, but terrifying. I am not a techie, but have asked many questions of those who are, and studied various YouTube videos for other things.
And finally, let’s talk about age. I’ve been writing since I could hold a crayon. Putting a story on paper and publishing it to the world has been scary. So therein lies the advantage of age. I wrote the story for myself, the story I looked for and could not find. And had a heck of a good time doing it. Ellie and her group are all people I would love to meet, break bread with, and have a good old chin wag.
So, those who tell you that you’re too old to do something, whatever your passion may be, are the ones who would never try—at any age!
Remember – it’s never too late to start. Just ask Shirley!
FAMILY LINKS
Will Ellie unearth the town’s secrets and put a friend’s mind at ease? Or will the past prove too formidable to conquer?
In the quiet town of Percyville, secrets linger like shadows, waiting to be unearthed. As genealogist, Ellie McLellan, takes the helm of the Percyville Historical Society, she unwittingly embarks on a journey that will unravel one of the town’s deepest mysteries.
With her trusty group of senior genealogy enthusiasts by her side, Ellie’s adventures in uncovering the town’s past are just beginning.
But it’s not all dusty archives and forgotten tales.
As Ellie digs deeper, she uncovers a surprising secret about her own family’s history.
Join Ellie on this exciting journey as she unravels the mysteries of Percyville and discovers the hidden treasures of her own past. It’s a tale of friendship, adventure, and the power of uncovering the truth!
BUY HERE
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Category: On Writing
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