The biography of Charles Homer Martin and Ann Forrester, with separate chapters on their twelve children, is now fully drafted. If you'd like to understand why oblique comments such as 'It's the Martin in him' have passed down the generations, then this is the book for you.

The picture shows the land near Wilberforce, NSW, where Charles & Ann lived with their children for six decades from 1828. To jog your memories, the Martin children were:

• Jane Martin, who married Frederick Nicholls
• Elizabeth Ann Martin, who married Philip Devine
• Isabella Jane Martin, who married William John Dolley
• Margaret Martin, who married Alfred Bushell
• Lucy Martin, who married James Graham
• Mary Ann Martin, who married John Daley
• Charles Robert Martin, who married Anne Hill
• William John Martin, who married Mary Becroft
• Susannah Martin, who married William Norris
• Martha Martin, who died young
• Emma Maria Martin, who married George Greentree
• Henry Edward Martin, who was unmarried

Even when you think your research is complete and your story line is clear, the time required for completion of family histories always takes longer than expected. Maps need to be redrawn, old photos enhanced and copyright permissions obtained, not to mention the burden of indexing. I'm still hoping to hear from descendants of William & Susannah Norris, and George & Emma Maria Greentree, in the hopes of locating photos of Susannah and Emma.

The book was meant to be ready in time for Christmas but a long visit to my daughter overseas and a month of illness put paid to that idea.  Rather than rush into print, I'd like to put the book aside for a period and digest its contents, so March 2012 is now a more realistic launch date. The book is of similar length and should be similar in price to the Forrester and Bushell books, which cost $35.

If you'd like to join the waiting list for the Martin book, please ring me, or send me an email. Everyone on the waiting list will receive notification to place their orders (at a discounted price) when the book reaches its pre-publication stage. As with the Forrester and Bushell books, once the book has been published, the full recommended retail price will apply.

I very much look forward to hearing from all descendants of Charles & Ann Martin.