The Anchor-July 2026


The Anchor

July 2026

๐Ÿ“œ From My Desk

Welcome to the very first issue of The Anchor.

If you're reading this, thank you for being here at the beginning.

The truth is, I didn't start writing because I had a plan. I started writing because I needed somewhere to put everything I couldn't control.

For a year and a half, my husband searched for work. We celebrated interviews, held our breath through promising opportunities, and endured disappointment after disappointment. Last fall, after making it through twelve interviews for one position, to make it to the final two, only to receive another rejection, I realized I needed somewhere to put all the worry, frustration, and uncertainty that had quietly built over those months.

Writing became that place.

What began as a memoir about faith, family, and resilience soon became something much larger. I'd always enjoyed genealogy and had spent decades casually tracing my family's roots, but last fall I began digging deeper than ever before. The deeper I dug, the more incredible stories I discovered, stories of courage, sacrifice, perseverance, and ordinary people whose lives deserve to be remembered. Those are the stories I hope to share with you.

The past few months have been a whirlwind. Between launching my author website, celebrating my son's wedding after months of planning, continuing to refine my memoir, and beginning to share the historical fiction series that grew out of this journey, life has been wonderfully full.

I'm grateful you've decided to come along for the journey.

Now, let's look back at everything that happened in June.

๐Ÿ“œ This Month on Beyond the Anchor

The Deep History Behind Viking Sunstone Navigation

Discover the remarkable crystal that may have helped Viking sailors navigate the North Atlantic centuries before the compass.

Cape Disappointment Is Anything But

One breathtaking Washington destination reveals why history and beauty often meet in the most unexpected places.

Albert Buran: The Man Who Stayed

Meet one of the men whose quiet perseverance helped shape my family's story, and inspired a central character in The Sunstone Path.

The Wedding You Picture vs. The One That Actually Happens

A lighthearted look at the perfectly imperfect moments that make family weddings unforgettable.

A New Story Begins at Jamestown

Why one discovery led me to begin my historical fiction series at the very beginning of America's story.

๐Ÿงญ Looking Ahead

July will be an exciting month as we continue celebrating America's 250th anniversary with new blog posts, history reels, and a deeper look at the people and places that inspired my upcoming historical fiction series.

I'll also be continuing the final edits on The Unbreakable Anchor as it moves closer to its fall release while sharing more behind-the-scenes glimpses into the research that brings these stories to life.

Thank you for being part of this journey. I'll see you again on August 1 with the next issue of The Anchor.

Keep exploring. Keep asking questions. And never stop chasing the stories that shaped us.

โ€” TJ Nilsdatter

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TJ Nilsdatter

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