Here the latest communication from my pal, Sharon Sergeant, forensic geneaologist. This one is an introduction for writers who are interested in looking into forensic geneaology while researching a story. So far on the blog, we have been looking at forensic geneaology and false memoirs. Here, Sharon tells us a little bit more. She promises that there's more to come.
Michael,
The fraudulent memoir patterns do affect the credibility of all publishers and writers. However, forensic genealogy provides an opportunity for writers of any genre. It can be a doorway into many unexplored issues for story and character development, as well as psychological patterns.I have had several conversations about these issues with my forensic genealogy mentor, Dr. Colleen Fitzpatrick of Huntington Beach. Colleen will soon be presenting an overview to several mystery writers groups.
There are lessons to be learned from Colleen's work with real mysteries. Her recent work in the Titanic baby re-identification and the 1948 Alaskan plane crash "Hand in the Snow" combined DNA and fingerprint technology advancements with Colleen's knack for finding living descendants of the ancestors - all over the world.DNA and photograph analysis components of forensic genealogy capture a lot of public interest. A photo time line was certainly a divining rod and a rudder in the Defonseca case, and a great visual when I give lectures.The learning opportunity for all writers is not just the solution of a mystery. The core of forensic genealogy is a journey into a previously unknown world, fertile territory for fresh and intriguing stories. Prospecting for writer's gold occurs naturally by following clues and turning data into a compelling story.
Colleen and I have encountered incredibly interesting worlds in our forensic genealogy cases. Byproducts of these journeys include subjects as diverse as Taiwan in the 1980s, the Irish in New Orleans and South America, popular theatre in the 19th century transitioning into silent films and animation, or the connection between the Salem witch trials and a French community that became infertile for a decade.
Forensic genealogy is also a tool for creating characters with true voices in fiction, a mysterious process that frustrates many writers.
More later,
Sharon
