Saturday, June 13, 2015

I'm a Viking?

Ancestry and genetics have always fascinated me. My daughter may have inherited that trait since she’s been researching our family tree for years.

Recently she told me she was going to send her DNA to AncestryDNA (an offshoot of Ancestry.com) to find out more about her ethic background. I thought that sounded interesting since her father’s family claims they're quite the melting pot. Irish, German, French, Polish, and Native American.

Me? I was told I was half German and half English. Guess what? It’s not true!

I only did the testing so she could try to separate out what she got from which parent. We were both surprised when we saw her analysis, since it seemed her father’s family must have been confused or misinformed. We would have expected more German since it was on both sides. Uh uh. Her chart showed that about 72% of her DNA was from Great Britain.

Now that I’ve seen my results, I have to say I’m in shock. Either I’m adopted…(My brother always said so, because I was the only blonde in the family) or my family was quite mistaken too!  

My highest percentage is Scandinavian followed by Irish!  What the whaaaa????

My mind is blown.
As a member of Ancestry.com my daughter is notified when a close relative shows up in the DNA database...so people can share family tree info. She reassured me that we were confirmed as parent and child. Well, that’s a relief. I was beginning to worry that I had picked up the wrong kid from the hospital!

So, now that I know I’m this whole different person—someone with a majority of Scandinavian and Irish ancestry, what am I gonna do about it?

Other than asking some of my cousins if they’d like to test their DNA, I don’t know what I can do. My parents and siblings have all passed away. I know one of my cousins is very interested in this stuff--almost as much as my daughter is, so I’m pretty sure he’ll jump into the DNA pool with both feet.   

I’m just guessing that my Midwestern relatives may carry the Scandinavian DNA. I’ll have to chase a few of them down and see if we can’t get a test from that side too. This could really snowball. Kudos to Ancestry.com for coming up with this! It’s got to be one of the best viral marketing ploys ever.

If only I could sell my books like that. Or is that what ‘word of mouth’ advertising is? Hmmm…I can see the similarities. Hopefully, those who read my books will recommend them to their relatives and friends, and so on, and so on, and so on…
Coming very, very soon! The Cupcake Coven!


“Entertainment abounds when a coven of witches whip up a few spells to help their friend hold onto her bakery while losing her heart. Can a long distance romance work between a cowboy and a baker if they believe in magic?”

—Dorine Linnen, Romance Junkies Reviews

*    *    *    *    *

Pretty Wiccan Rebecca Colby borrowed money from her father to start a bakery, and now he’s calling the loan due. When she learns he fell off the gambling wagon and owes big money to some scary people, she has to start making a profit—and fast—before the loan shark takes a bite out of her.

Hot Cowboy Dru Tanner is looking for his missing sister who left Texas to explore their New England Wiccan roots. She’s the only family he has left, and he’s desperate to find her. Dru has to hide the fact that he’s not a Wiccan long enough to infiltrate a coven in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It’s the only lead he has.

Dru needs a job and a place to stay while he searches for his sister. Rebecca needs cheap help so she can work some baking magic. Dru makes Rebecca an offer she can’t refuse—if only lust doesn’t drive them crazy first.

2 comments:

Dalton Diaz said...

You know, this doesn't surprise me! You love to travel, are blonde and beautiful, and you are driven. It fits!

Hot Ash Romance Novels said...

And I have that famous Irish temper and a tendency to rape and pillage. LOL