Goldenford goes out and about and Tainted Tree gets a good review

Have I been missed? Alas, my computer has been out of commission. I have been forced to resort to book-keeping, since there was nothing else I could usefully do.

Just before the computer crashed for the final time, before the engineer took it away for a good cleanup, I got a lovely email from Julie Goucher, who had bought a copy of Tainted Tree, and whose website and blogs detail her interest in genealogy. She says that she’s posted a review of TT on Amazon and on her Live Journal & Blog, as well as at Book Crossing.

I’ve set out part of her review below and her final comments.

"I came across this book purely by chance and am so glad that I did. I was looking on Google to see what books were set in Guildford and noticed that this one was and available from a local publisher. It appealed to my
genealogical mind, so I ordered it and it arrived on Monday just in time for a business trip. I devoured the book during my 6 hours travelling yesterday.

Addie inherits a lovely house in Guildford from someone she does not know, but she understands that the deceased has links to her mother, who died in childbirth with Addie, in America. The people that Addie's mother
was living with write to advise the would be grandparents of the death of their daughter to find that they do not want to accept responsibility for the child, and after a period of time, Addie is adopted by the couple. Addie
has a happy and loved childhood, but finds that she has questions of her heritage and wants to "know" her deceased Mother, and she has no idea who her father is.....Inheriting the house is a catalyst for discovering the
answers.

The link is that Addie's mother was god daughter to James, and it is his house that she has inherited. Addie sets out on a journey of discovery, and as with most genealogical type searches Addie soon finds that she has more
questions than answers, and that she has to live with the decisions that her ancestors made.

The author has done obvious research into genealogical searches and mentions the huge references of birth, marriage and death records at St Catherine's House. Of course they are no longer available in the search room but that has occurred since the book was published earlier in the year, and the reference to it in the book reminded me of days lifting those heavy books and battling for space with other researchers. Also the use of the surname of Daborn a very Surrey name!

The genealogical search is just like a jigsaw, gathering the facts and placing what you know into the mix to build the picture, and that was done as we read of Addie's search.

Quite simply I loved this book, not just for the subject matter, but the way the story unfolds and evolves. I was there, within the pages."

Feel free to use the review if you wish.

Need I say more, I loved it!’,

What a lovely review. Thank you so much Julie. She is right of course, that you can no longer visit St Catherine’s House for Marriage, Birth and Death records, but TT is set in 1991, when you could do so.

Having had a quiet week, except for visits from the computer engineer, next week is going to be hectic. On Saturday afternoon, we are holding the launch party for Jay Margrave’s historical novel, Luther’s Ambassadors, which has already attracted the attention of Hever Castle, who have a particular interest in the heroine, Anne Boleyn, and who have placed a substantial order.

On Tuesday, 21st October, we (Guildford Writers) have a Guildford Festival event at the Guildford Institute, when Adrienne Dines will be giving a talk. Read all about it at the festival programme on line.

On Wednesday, we the Goldenford girls will be giving a presentation at Arts Alive - the Mole Valley Arts Festival at the Green Room in Leatherhead, and on Friday, 24^th October, 7.30 p.m., we will be at Guildford Museum for the Guildford Book Festival – see above programme. It should all be great fun, so do come along to all or any of the above if you are in the area.

Normal service will be resumed the following week.