by Diane Capri
Eventually, substantial royalties that had been accumulating were paid out to my friend, her sister, and her son. They will continue to receive royalties for years into the future. What a happy ending!
Thus my research for Blood Trails began. What I learned along the way forms the foundation for this story and my new Heir Hunter series featuring Michael Flint.
A real-life heir hunter is a forensic genealogist, someone who researches ancestry by means of standard records and more, for profit. It was the “and more, for profit” piece that I’ve used to create the Michael Flint novels. The “and more, for profit” opens all sorts of story possibilities, doesn’t it? My writer’s mind went to work, furiously plotting.
For Blood Trails, my research revealed that billions of dollars in unpaid oil and gas royalties rest in state coffers. That money will become the property of the states if the rightful owners do not claim it. Those rightful owners often don’t know the money exists. Many states have dormant mineral rights laws that provide a process for finding missing heirs and settling their claims. Land men attempt to find those owners and collect a finder’s fee when they succeed.
Like my friend, we could all be unlocated heirs. Who knew?
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Every book is created with the help of experts, readers, editors, and friends. This one is no exception. My undying appreciation goes to Thomas & Mercer, who believed in this project and helped me bring it to you. With special thanks to Jill Marsal, Anh Schluep, Kjersti Egerdahl, Jacqueline Ben-Zekry, and Kevin Smith.
Finally, Michael Flint would not exist in his current form without the support of my friends who call themselves Capristers. For weeks, they helped me search for precisely the right name and had a lot of fun doing it. Capristers are the best readers in the world. I love you guys!
—Diane Capri
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Diane Capri is the New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon bestselling author of numerous series, including the Hunt for Justice and Hunt for Jack Reacher series and the Jess Kimball Thrillers. A former lawyer, she now divides her time between Florida and Michigan. Capri has been nominated for several awards, including the International Thriller Award, and she won the Silver award for Best Thriller e-Book from the Independent Publishers Association. She is currently at work on her next novel.