The Royle Sisters Trilogy

The Royle Sisters series was inspired by a Q-tip and ended with a prince. No kidding.

I took part in the National Geographic genome project. The project tested DNA from people all over the world to track their ancestors' migration from their origin -- Africa, for everyone -- to where ever they ended up -- or when their genes stopped mutating.

To collect the DNA sample, I had to swab the inside of my cheek and pop the special Q-tip into a test tube (think CSI ). After the DNA was processed, I was told that the specific "haplo group" I belonged to was so rare that one of the world's leading geneticists -- in China -- wanted more DNA overnighted for extensive testing. I said sure -- more cheek swabbing.

My grandmother has always been involved in genealogy, and honestly, I had to admit, this little mystery of the rarity of my genes was sort of cool. In the end, I learned that my genes point to Northern Russia. My family tree sweeps Scotland, Ireland, Sweden, Germany and Russia, so no real shocker there.

Then ding, ding, ding -- story idea: What if my heroine discovered something about her lineage that was a complete shock? Since my stories are always set during the Regency period, I started thinking about what revelation would put a common Regency miss into a complete tailspin. Then it came to me.

I wanted to write a story about three sisters whose lives are turned upside down when their father dies and they learn that they know nothing about their family, and who they really are. Everything they thought they knew about themselves was a lie.

Because they may actually be the secret daughters of the Prince of Wales and his illegal, Catholic first wife, Maria Fitzherbert.

How is that for a leap? Isn’t it amazing what one Q-tip can do?

Coming soon, a synopsis of the Featherton series