'Seeking Our Eagle' is the perfect, non-fiction companion piece for Karen Charlton's historical novel, 'Catching the Eagle.' It is in itself a remarkable story. Written with honesty and humour, this factual book shows how the Charltons shook their family tree until a Regency convict fell out.
'Seeking Our Eagle' takes us on a fascinating journey back through three hundred years and the turbulent lives of seven generations of their family. Illustrated with poignant photographs, it shows how the Charltons first became interested in genealogy and gradually uncovered their history. The author reveals how she eventually stumbled across the Northumbrian skeleton in their closet, researched his sorry tale of injustice and turned it into a novel.
Illuminating the importance of family in all our lives, 'Seeking our Eagle' is an entertaining and informative read for anyone interested in genealogical research or social history, and for those writing historical fiction.
REVIEW 'Family Tree' genealogy magazine - April 2013
"Karen Charlton has such a great response to her debut novel, 'Catching the Eagle', about her husband’s ancestor Jamie Charlton, who, after some historical detective work, they came to believe was wrongly convicted of burglary in 11809, that she has penned this delightful ’how we did it.’ Here she details her family history and creative writing journey that led to the publication of her novel...
...In this funny, honest account of how she and husband Chris came to breathe new life into Jamie’s story and clear his name, Karen reveals the trials and tribulations of her quest, visiting graveyards and farmsteads with amazingly well-behaved young children in tow! Her methodology is laid bare as she reveals how her fictionalised family story was finally accepted for publication. A refreshing insight into the writing process for wannabe family history authors, readers entertaining similar aspirations can learn much from Karen’s experiences." Karen Clare, 'Family Tree' magazine - April 2013