Amy's Weekly Newsletter: Setbacks, Surprises, and a Title Reveal!
Writing a novel is a bit like genealogy—just when you think you’ve got everything figured out, a new detail pops up and changes everything!
After weeks of brainstorming, last-minute research, outlining, and writing, I’m thrilled to share that I’ve completed four chapters of my novel and have officially settled on a title: His Greatest Regret. This book follows A Mother’s Last Gift and brings to life the incredible (and sometimes heartbreaking) journey of Richard Woolsey—a real person, my third great-grandfather, whose life was shaped by both ambition and loss.
For those new to my journey, His Greatest Regret is the first full-length novel in The Woolsey Saga, a series based on my real ancestors. Of course, since time travel isn’t an option (yet!), I don’t have every word-for-word conversation, but I do have the historical highlights—and I’m filling in the rest with the best research, storytelling, and a little imagination.
The Setback That Had Me Backtracking
I was on a roll, making it all the way to Chapter 7—twice!—before realizing I had made a critical mistake. I’d carefully mapped out Richard’s life, but I forgot to fully incorporate the overlapping timelines of his children. That meant some of my scenes just didn’t line up historically.
The first time, I had to scrap two chapters. The second time? Three more chapters gone, plus rewrites to another, and a complete overhaul of my outline for four chapters.
Painful? Yes. A learning experience? Absolutely.
This process is teaching me how to build a better system for writing historical fiction—one that keeps every detail in check so I don’t run into these issues again. Like I tell my team at work, "Read, read, read—it’s the little details that make all the difference." Whether it’s a legal document, a family tree, or a novel, those tiny details can make or break the whole story.
Where Things Stand Now
Right now, I’m cleaning up Chapter 4 and refining my outline through Chapter 8. Before I move on to Chapter 9, I’ll be double-checking every family member’s whereabouts and major life events—because I’d rather catch these issues now than rewrite another five chapters down the road!
Let’s Make This Fun—Ask Me Anything!
I want to make this space enjoyable and interactive, and that means engaging with you! Some of you may already know a little about me and my passion for genealogy, but many don’t—so let’s change that.
What would you like to know next? It could be about the book, my research process, genealogy, or even a little about me. Feel free to drop a comment or send me a message. I won’t promise to answer every question (some things don’t have answers, and others might be a bit too personal!), but I do welcome all your curiosity and conversation.
I’d love to hear from you!
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