2026: Following the Thread — Stories of DNA, History, and Purpose

What Am I Sharing in 2026?

My writing this year will continue to focus on practical, insightful, and easy-to-understand stories rooted in genealogy, DNA, history, and personal experience. These stories will be reflective and sometimes challenging, but always human, always honest, and often fun.

More than anything, I want this space to be welcoming. Whether you’re deeply experienced in family research or just beginning to ask questions about who you are and where you come from, or where you belong here.

This year’s work centers on four intertwined journeys.

1. Following My DNA: Y-DNA and the Questions It Answers

One of the most meaningful paths I’m continuing in 2026 is my in-depth exploration of Y-DNA, both my own and that of my maternal grandfather’s paternal line.

Y-DNA is unique. It doesn’t shuffle each generation as autosomal DNA does. Instead, it travels almost unchanged from father to son, quietly carrying history forward, sometimes across centuries.

This year, I’ll be sharing:

• What Y-DNA can and cannot tell you
  

• How I’m using it to explore identity and lineage
  

• What surprises, confirmations, and unanswered questions have emerged
  

• How this research reshaped what I thought I knew about my family
  

These posts won’t be technical for the sake of being technical. My goal is clarity—breaking down complex ideas so that beginners feel confident, not overwhelmed.

You’ll want to follow this journey.

2. Writing the Book I Never Planned to Write

Another major focus of 2026 is the writing process of my newest book, one I never set out to write.

It’s a story about an unplanned career, the choices that shaped it, the doors that opened and closed, and the long-term results that only make sense in hindsight. This book is not about titles or timelines; it’s about purpose revealed slowly.

This book is as much about identity as it is about work, and I believe many readers will see pieces of their own story reflected in it.

I will also share what I learned from my previous books and how I will use those lessons to improve my writing in the future. I don’t write to make money or for fame; I write to share meaningful stories.

3. A Soldier’s Story: My U.S. Colored Cavalry Relative

History becomes personal when it has a name.

In 2026, I will also continue writing another book centered on my U.S. Colored Cavalry relative's life, his service, and the world he navigated. This project blends genealogy, Civil War history, and archival research into one powerful narrative.

This is not just about the past—it’s about honoring lives that shaped the present.

4. Helpful Tools for Beginners (Because We All Started Somewhere)

No matter how far along I am, I never forget that every genealogist starts with a single question.

This year, I’ll be highlighting:

• Beginner-friendly genealogy and DNA tools
  

• Research habits that actually work
  

• Common mistakes and how to avoid them
  

• How to stay encouraged when answers don’t come quickly
  

Genealogy isn’t about perfection. It’s about persistence.

An Invitation for 2026

If there’s one thing I hope readers take from this year’s writing, it’s this:

You don’t need to have your life figured out to be moving with purpose.

Sometimes, purpose is revealed not through certainty, but through curiosity. Through asking better questions. Through honoring where you’ve been while staying open to where you’re going.

In 2026, I invite you to:

• Follow the thread
  

• Ask the questions you’ve been avoiding
  

• Stay open to discovery
  

• And allow your story, past, present, and future to speak

There is more ahead. And I’m glad you’re here for it.