Fictional Genealogy
Posted Friday, 05/24/24
There are many complicated family tree software programs available online, but I rely on Famtree. It's been around for ages, yet it is still the best genealogy application I've ever used (even better than Ancestry.Com and Roots Magic). It is currently compatible with Windows 7, 8, 8.1, and 10.
(Above): Worksheet page of Famtree, depicting the Larkin-Sullivan families. Click on image to view larger size in a new window.
Famtree has been essential to me in building and tracking the fictional Larkin and Sullivan families in relation to the Collective Obsessions Saga. I cannot sing high enough praise to the program and its creator, Phil Sapiro.
(Above): Individual data in Famtree, depicting John Larkin's information. Click on image to view larger size in a new window.
Without it, I wouldn't have been able to create the Larkin-Sullivan Family Tree. The software, along with a text spreadsheet, helped me organize and keep consistent technical relationships between fictional characters through the generations, along with images, historical notations, birthdates, marriage and divorce dates, death dates and other pertinent information. The most handy tool in the software was the "find relationship with" feature, which allowed me to click on one name in the family tree and find his/her relationship with any other name on the list in an instant.
(Above): Traditional family tree in Famtree, depicting how the Larkin and Sullivan families are entwined. Click on image to view larger size in a new window.
At one time, I attempted to create a real family tree using data from the O'Toole and McMillan clans (of which me and my family are all a part of). However, I had a difficult time getting family members to respond to my requests for information, so I simply gave up.
