Author: dholman472
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Independent Bookstore Day at the Book Cellar: Stories, History, and a Few Good Laughs
On April 26, I had the pleasure of participating in an author talk hosted by the Friends of the Woodbury Library in celebration of Independent Bookstore Day. The event took place at the Book Cellar, the library’s used bookstore, tucked behind the library. Proceeds from the shop help fund the library’s many excellent programs. I…
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When AI Crosses a Line: A Lesson from a Steerage Scene That Looked All Too Familiar
Posted by Deborah Samuel Holman, Author of Nothing Really Bad Will Happen and the upcoming children’s version inspired by it NOTE: This post also appears on my family history and the book blogs—because it touches all three worlds. When I began adapting my adult novel Nothing Really Bad Will Happen into a version for my…
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Post RootsTech 2025 – Day 2 – Genealogy, Dessert, and a Nap (Not Necessarily in That Order)
Cheryl spent most of today at the Family History Library, making solid progress tracking down documents for her Mayflower Society application. Meanwhile, all the excitement from the past week—plus the whirlwind of family events before I even made it to Salt Lake City—finally caught up with me. I took things slow, working on marketing for…
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Post RootsTech Day 1 – Being a Tourist!
A Sunny Day in Salt Lake City (Despite the Forecast!) We woke up around 9:30 a.m. and headed downstairs to the hotel restaurant for breakfast—always a solid way to start the day. After that, we set out for a nice walk around Salt Lake City, revisiting a few places we’d been to on a previous…
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RootsTech 2025 – Day 3 Recap
RootsTech is always an energizing whirlwind of ideas, connections, and discoveries, and this year was no exception! Today was the last day of classes, but Cheryl and I are staying a couple extra days to make use of the Family Search Library. My first session of the day was Using ChatGPT as Your Personal Writing…
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Rootstech 2025 – Day 2 Recap
We woke to a gray snowy scene outside our window. Thankfully our hotel is just a minute walk away. Before I head to the first session let me tell you something…I’ve got a secret. Which I’ll be divulging tomorrow. For now, let’s just say I’ve had to embrace my second “career.” So, this session was…
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Rootstech 2025 – Day 1 Recap
Mistakes I Have Made: Confessions of a Repentant Genealogist Day 1 of RootsTech was packed with insightful sessions, and I’m kicking things off with one that really resonated with me—because, let’s be honest, we’ve all made mistakes in our genealogical research. Cheri Hudson Passey delivered a fantastic and, at times, painfully relatable session on the…
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March Events: Where I’ll Be This Month
March is shaping up to be a busy month, and I’d love to see you at one of these events! Whether you’re near or far, there’s something for everyone—book talks, a writing workshop, and even a trip to Salt Lake City. Here’s where you can find me: 📍 March 6-8: RootsTech in Salt Lake CityI’ll…
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Creating a Meaningful Writing Workshop with AI
NOTE: This post is a bit longer than usual—about an 12-minute read. If you’re not interested in the writing process or how AI can enhance creativity, feel free to skip it! For those who would enjoy a deep dive into how I developed my writing workshop with some help from AI, read on! Several months…
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Celebrating a Special Recognition for “Nothing Really Bad Will Happen”
I just received the Winter issue of CT Genealogy News, the quarterly publication of the Connecticut Society of Genealogists (CSG). I knew it would feature an article about my being the 2024 recipient of the Richard G. Tomlinson Literary Award for my novel, Nothing Really Bad Will Happen, but I wasn’t expecting such a glowing…
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