RECENT DISPATCHES
Finding Abraham Hyman, Sr.: The Silence of the Ledger
Originally published as a two-part series, “The Will of Thomas Hyman,” in July 2015 on the blog In Black and White: Cross-Cultural Genealogy; revised and expanded in 2026. In 2015, I was deeply immersed in a period of intentional skill-building, specifically researching Abraham Hyman, Sr. My goal was clear: I was preparing to “go on the clock” to assemble my portfolio…
The Architecture of a Life: Mapping Personae Through Historical Layers
Move beyond names and dates. This four-layer framework uses primary sources to ground character interiority in the historical record. Discover how participating in the 10-Month “Ink Masters” Program alerted me to my novel’s Kryptonite, and learn the specific research techniques you can use to bridge the gap between archival data and human experience.
The Hyphen and the Entity: Bridging a Century in Park Street Cemetery
A gravestone records a name, two dates, and a hyphen—but that hyphen comprises a whole lifetime. Separated by a century, two women encounter the same watchful presence in the northeast corner of Florence’s Park Street Cemetery. One story began in 1890; the other in 1990. Both are about to converge.
The Researcher’s Playbook for Personae Profiles
Learn how to bridge the gap between cold archival data and the living breath of a character. By applying psychological frameworks to fragments found in court records and legal bonds, we can reverse-engineer distinctive personalities and transform 19th-century skeletons into three-dimensional historical personae.
IN-DEPTH CHRONICLES
Finding Abraham Hyman, Sr.: The Silence of the Ledger
Originally published as a two-part series, “The Will of Thomas Hyman,” in July 2015 on the blog In Black and White:…
The Architecture of a Life: Mapping Personae Through Historical Layers
Move beyond names and dates. This four-layer framework uses primary sources to ground character interiority in the historical record. Discover how participating in the 10-Month “Ink Masters” Program alerted me to my novel’s Kryptonite, and learn the specific research techniques you can use to bridge the gap between archival data and human experience.