Richard Sullivan uncovered such an avalanche of information on his previously-unknown ancestors that he has turned their saga into the historical novel trilogy, The First Ward. Garnered from the author's own personal experience in researching over two hundred family members he shares his knowledge here with those who are tracing their family genealogy. Sullivan suggests traditional as well as non-traditional modes and areas of research and provides tips to avoid repetition and frustration that will result in a broader research net being cast. The author provides links and includes a wealth of clever sources, as well as tips and tricks to apply when using online search engines to maximize both the researcher's time and discoveries. His narrative clearly explains how he connected the dots, demonstrating how he utilized one find to lead to another, and then another.