I Have a Knack for Making a Short Story Very Long
I have a knack for making a short story very long. That’s usually the answer I give when people ask what drew me into storytelling.
This week, that knack brought me to the National Genealogical Society Family History Conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where Legacy Lore is exhibiting for the very first time! What an incredible experience it has already been.
As someone attending their first genealogy conference, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. What I found was an incredibly welcoming community filled with researchers, storytellers, historians, and people deeply passionate about preserving the lives behind the records.
Tuesday, I attended a forensic investigative genetic genealogy course that followed a case I was already somewhat familiar with from my time working within the court system. The session explored how genetic genealogy helped provide investigators with leads that ultimately resulted in identifying, arresting, and convicting the individual responsible years after the crime occurred. It was fascinating to see the intersection of genealogy, historical research, and the justice system working together in such a meaningful way.
Today, I had the opportunity to attend a narrative storytelling class, something that felt especially aligned with the heart of this podcast. One of the most common questions people have asked me throughout the conference is:
“How do I actually tell the story once I’ve done the research?”
That question has honestly stayed with me.
Legacy Lore has always been about taking genealogy beyond names, dates, and records and asking: who were these people? What did their lives look like? What happened to them? How do we preserve their stories in meaningful ways?
Hearing that question repeatedly sparked a lot of ideas for me, and I’m incredibly excited to begin creating resources focused on narrative storytelling and how to turn historical and family research into compelling nonfiction stories rooted in real records.
I’ve also been thrilled by the response to the bookmarks I created for the podcast seasons. As someone who is definitely not a graphic designer, hearing attendees describe them as beautiful and visually striking has been both surprising and deeply encouraging.
The conference is still ongoing, and I’m genuinely looking forward to the rest of the week.
If you’re attending the National Genealogical Society Family History Conference, stop by Booth 306 to say hello, pick up a bookmark, browse research notes from Season One, and sign up for The Lorekeepers Ledger. I’m also excited to begin sharing future resources on starting your research and exploring narrative storytelling through genealogy and historical records.
Most importantly, thank you to everyone who has already stopped by the booth, shared stories, asked questions, and shown excitement about Legacy Lore.
xoxo,
Sammy Jo
