Nearly 20 years ago, while working on my master’s degree, I was taking a course about Native tribes in North America. One of the papers I was required to write focused on a Native American war of my choice. In the textbook we were using, there was a long list of options. As I scanned through them, I noticed a war that took place in the 1600s in what is now New York. I was intrigued. I actually had no idea any people had settled in that part of the East Coast besides the pilgrims. Since I had no knowledge of this place, I started researching and found that it was a Dutch settlement called New Netherland. 

I purchased a book about the colony and began reading, just to get a background about this place that existed centuries ago. It didn’t take long before I was hooked. I learned that New Netherland was extremely different from the others, in good ways, and I quickly devoured the entire book. After finishing the written assignment, I couldn’t stop thinking about New Netherland. I still had questions and wanted to learn more. So I bought another book, and another, and became obsessed with everything Dutch.

Another interest I found from my studies was a woman named Catalyntje Trico, who lived in the Dutch Colony of New Netherland. She was concealed here and there among the pages of many of the books I’d been reading. I soon had a lot of questions about her, which led to another search to find all I could about this woman from 400 years ago. I discovered her in old records, maps, land grants, court cases, and church records. Following the hidden trail of her life was a fascinating journey.

Because I chose to learn about the Dutch, New Netherland, and Catalyntje, my life took an interesting turn, far beyond anything I’d ever imagined. My interest in Catalyntje did not wane, and the more I learned about her, the more I felt that people needed to know about her inspiring life. So I decided to write a history book about Catalyntje. I began the book while still researching to find more facts about what she had done, where she had lived, and who she had been associated with. In the middle of this project, the New Netherland Institute in Albany, New York, announced the theme for its upcoming fall conference. It was Women in New Netherland. When I read that, I instantly thought I should try to be a presenter there because of what I had discovered about Catalyntje. I submitted my proposal, and I was selected as one of the presenters! It was an exciting and terrifying invitation, and I spent the next few months preparing for the event so I could confidently tell Catalyntje’s story. 

Spending time in New York, at the New Netherland Conference, was a life-changing experience for me. My husband and I visited all three locations where Catalyntje had lived 400 years ago. Walking where she had walked and being where she’d spent most of her life. My presentation went extremely well, and I gained many friends there who I have continued to stay in touch with. I was able to meet people who were experts on all things New Netherland, and some whom I never would have dreamed of having the chance to talk with. I also understood Catalyntje more by being where she had been, and she became more real to me. So, as I left New York that week, I had the idea to change the direction of my book from a history book to a historical novel. 

Seven years after beginning my novel about Catalyntje, I’d finally reached the point where I needed to edit it. I’d read through it a few times and knew I needed someone to help me. I reached out to the New Netherland Institute, told them I’d finished my book, and asked if they knew of someone who would be willing to help me edit. After a few weeks, they told me of a woman named Elisabeth who was interested. It was an extraordinary experience working with her. Elisabeth grew up in the Netherlands during World War II, earned a PhD in English, and now lives in New York. Her knowledge and life experiences are impressive, and we have spent hours together on Zoom calls, discussing a wide range of topics. It is a friendship I couldn’t have had in any other way.

With Elisabeth’s invaluable assistance, I was able to polish my book for publication. I spent hours figuring out book covers, ISBNs, and formatting documents. There were so many steps in this process, but I kept working at it, and I now have a published historical novel, “Catalyntje Trico: A Life in New Amsterdam.” I consistently sell copies both online and in person, and I’ve been asked to give presentations to book clubs, museums, libraries, New York tour guides, and history groups. I am amazed by the people I have met and the attention I’ve received because of this novel. Through this process, I’ve realized that I love to write and have now started writing two more books. 

For the past fifteen years, while researching and writing my novel, I’ve also spent much of my time looking at photos of paintings created by the Dutch Masters, studying the architecture of Amsterdam Canal Houses, and reading tales of courageous voyages in the North Sea. I’ve also memorized areas of Amsterdam’s famous canals because that is where Catalyntje spent some of her life. A few months ago, my husband suggested that we visit the Netherlands since I had spent so much time researching it. So, we booked our flights and accommodations and spent sixteen unforgettable days there; it was an unbelievable experience. 

While we were in the Netherlands, we went to the church where Catalyntje and Joris were married. We walked down the street where she lived and where the two of them met, in the middle of Amsterdam. I continue to study the photos we took, carefully zooming into each one and rereading the journal I kept while we were there. Everything I had learned about the Dutch was true, and I am left musing on the experiences we had there.

All of these unimaginable adventures came to me because, nearly twenty years ago, I focused on a relatively unknown settlement from the 1600s. So, be careful what you focus on. It may lead you to an incredible life more remarkable than you could ever imagine, one filled with learning, accomplishment, and experiences you never thought could happen to you.