The method behind the mystery
The Evidence System
Truth first. Mystery second. Beautiful writing third. Every significant claim in this project is held at one of five confidence levels while it’s being researched — and none of them are allowed to quietly climb to a cleaner one just because the story would read better that way.
Directly supported by documents, photographs, original writings, certificates, or other verified sources.
A strong factual basis, even without a single formal document behind it.
Something remembered or reported by family members — held as memory, not as proven fact.
A plausible interpretation that has not been proven.
Something for which there is currently no reliable answer.
The rule that matters most
A family memory never silently becomes an established fact. A hypothesis never silently becomes proof. Where something is genuinely unknown, the book says so plainly — mystery is allowed here. Fabrication is not.