Hi, Reader, RootsTech 2026 has wrapped, and I hope you were able to participate and spend some focused time on your genealogy. If you've been following along, you know this event brings a lot of announcements, new tools, and plenty of conversation about where genealogy technology is heading. Some of it will be immediately useful for researchers. Some of it will take time before we see how it fits into everyday research. As always, what interests me most is the practical side: what will...
2 days ago • 1 min read
areyoumycousinmarch26 Gain deeper insights into the lives that shaped yours We’re excited to share an exclusive offer for Are You My Cousin? members: 50% off MyHeritage’s most popular subscription! This offer is valid from March 5th through March 11th. Join now and save 50% Make your family tree bloom Give your tree unlimited space to grow, and add new information with Smart Matches™ and Instant Discoveries™. Access BILLIONS of historical records Explore our huge database of 37 billion...
7 days ago • 1 min read
Hi, Reader, RootsTech is coming up, and even though I'll be participating virtually this year, I'll be watching it closely — so you don't have to sort through all of it on your own. Here's the thing: a conference like this can feel overwhelming, even from your couch. There are sessions, announcements, new tools, and enough information to make your head spin. And with so much happening, it can be hard to know where to focus — especially when your main goal is finding your people. So consider...
9 days ago • 1 min read
Hi, Reader, One of the advantages of doing genealogy for a long time is that you start to see the same problems show up again and again — even when the records, tools, and technology change. Most research stalls not because records are missing, but because something important gets skipped early on. What’s usually skipped isn’t effort. You work hard. You gather records, build timelines, and follow leads. The gap shows up elsewhere — in how evidence is weighed, how assumptions creep in, and how...
15 days ago • 1 min read
Hi, Reader, A very (very!) belated Happy New Year! I hope your 2026 got off to a fabulous start. You may have noticed, I have not been in your inbox for a while. The last couple of months of been quite full of travel and family. Coupled with 2 years of big life events, I decided to take time off to simply rest. I hadn't realized quite how much I needed it. But I'm back in your inbox and ready to talk genealogy! Lately, I’ve been thinking about how we approach our research. When we’re...
29 days ago • 1 min read
Welcome to the Are You My Cousin? newsletter! Each week, I share practical family history advice - whether you're solving genealogy mysteries or capturing the stories that make your family unique. Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe so you never miss an issue. Hi Reader, Last week I talked about capturing family stories during December gatherings. This week is about what comes next: finding the records that bring those stories to life. Your aunt remembers that great-grandmother worked...
3 months ago • 3 min read
Welcome to the Are You My Cousin? newsletter! Each week, I share practical family history advice - whether you're solving genealogy mysteries or capturing the stories that make your family unique. Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe so you never miss an issue. Hi Reader, December genealogy is different. Not because the records change or the databases improve. But because your relatives are actually in the same room together—or at least answering the phone when you call. The stories...
3 months ago • 4 min read
Welcome to the Are You My Cousin? newsletter! Each week, I share practical family history advice - whether you're solving genealogy mysteries or capturing the stories that make your family unique. Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe so you never miss an issue. Hi Reader, Tomorrow is 🦃Thanksgiving, which means two things for genealogists: family stories within reach, and Black Friday genealogy deals right around the corner. Let's tackle both before you dive into turkey and chaos. 📖...
4 months ago • 2 min read
Welcome to the Are You My Cousin? newsletter! Each week, I share practical family history advice - whether you're solving genealogy mysteries or capturing the stories that make your family unique. Did someone forward this to you? Subscribe so you never miss an issue. Hi Reader, Let's talk about Black Friday—the REAL genealogy shopping season. Before the inbox chaos hits next week, let me share what's actually on my shopping list and how I think about Black Friday genealogy deals. 📹 Coming...
4 months ago • 2 min read