MEET THE AUTHOR! A conversation with Sharon Beth, author of “Autumn Leaves: A DNA Memoir”

Originally posted on February 27, 2026 on Reader Views Author Interviews

Autumn Leaves: A DNA Memoir

Sharon Beth

Independently Published (2025)

ISBN: 979-8999660305

Sharon Beth is a first-time author who resides in Danville, California, with her husband and two teenagers. A 2005 college graduate, Sharon holds two teaching credentials and is a certified handwriting specialist. She dedicated many years to the field of education, most recently serving her local community, where she was able to combine her passions for teaching and storytelling. In addition to writing, Sharon enjoys sewing, gardening, and genealogical research. She is a member of the San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society, where she connects with others who share her interest in genealogy. Through her writing, Sharon blends her love of family and life experiences with her desire to inspire and engage her readers.

Sharon’s book, Autumn Leaves is a deeply personal project that captures her journey throughout the highs and lows of her DNA discovery. She decided to share this struggle in hopes of helping others who carry a similar burden, reassuring them that they are not alone.​

Welcome to Reader Views, Sharon. We’re excited to talk with you about your memoir.

What is Autumn Leaves: A DNA Memoir about, and when did you realize this journey was meant to become a book?

Autumn Leaves is a nonfiction narrative that tells the emotional highs and lows that followed my unexpected DNA results and the journey I took to uncover the truth about my identity and the identity of someone very close to me. It’s told through many layers: a blend of family history, personal reflections, family interviews, photographs, DNA data, and recovered artifacts… All of this pieced a past together, that I never knew existed.

I knew it was meant to become a book when I realized how many others were uncovering similar discoveries. As time went on, what started as conversations around the dinner table, evolved into something far more significant. Suddenly, writing my story became necessary. I had to make sense of what had happened and most of all I needed to let others navigating similar discoveries know that they are not alone.

The memoir opens with you watching old family film reels. What did that moment stir in you that a DNA test result alone could not?

Watching the films stirs up so much… The DNA results were just facts on a screen, but the films reveal the living dynamics within my family… I can see the feelings—the smiles, the laughs, the hugs and even the disagreements. While the DNA data is a key component, I had to uncover the story behind it and re-watching all the films gave me a fresh perspective.

When your results revealed 25 percent Southern Italian ancestry and no Syrian heritage, what was your first reaction?

As noted in the book, I wasn’t panicking, but it didn’t add up compared to what I thought I knew about my heritage and my family. Then the widespread confusion kicked in as well as a touch of curiosity and I had to know more.

When the foundation of your family story shifted, what part of yourself felt most unsettled?

My heart was very unsettled because a big part of my family, which I had always known to be true, was now in question. Then, it completely broke me when I suddenly realized how this newfound truth was going to affect my family member (whom we’ll keep private so not to give spoilers)… But, I knew the pain that was to come with this revelation, and I felt completely powerless because there was nothing I could do. All I did was weep. I felt so much guilt and sorrow during that time, it wrecked my heart.

Did anyone in your family resist the findings or question the results, and how did that affect your search?

Believe it or not, I was the only one who resisted the truth. It was such a hard reality to accept! I was completely convinced & persuaded by my own false belief that “the data had to be incorrect somehow.” For weeks, I denied the tests authenticity which only stirred up my desire to search for answers.

Conversations with older relatives play an important role in your search. Which interaction changed your understanding of your family history the most?

I would say, my cousin, Bernice. She unlocked a lot of historical information for us. Her insight and eyewitness evidence helped connect a lot of missing dots as more details began to surface during my research… I must point out, the simple fact that she didn’t hesitate to tell us everything she knew was tremendous. I grew up around her. She knew the truth would sting but she also knew the value of being honest. Not many people have the courage to be truthful, but Bernice did. Words can’t express how thankful I am today for her insights. Bernice just passed away a few weeks ago and I’ll always appreciate how she helped us comprehend the past.

DNA databases connected you with relatives you had never known. What was it like to reach out to people who shared your DNA but not your lived history?

It wasn’t hard to reach out through email but having honest conversations over the phone with “strangers” was a different story. As told in my book, it was an emotional minefield. Although we got through it very well, my new family members and I were very cautious with one another in the beginning until we built more trust.  

Photographs, letters, and saved memorabilia become powerful evidence in your story. What do tangible artifacts reveal about family truth that data alone cannot?

Going back to question #2, the artifacts provided us with so much more than just “data” or simple facts. We were now bearing witness to the evident love in those artifacts. It gave us a deep understanding and confirmation of the love story that took place. Plus, we were able to build a timeline of the relationship. I’m still amazed at how these artifacts were found and that they made full circle back to my family. I still can’t believe it.

You grew up confident in your Ukrainian, Ashkenazi Jewish, Syrian, German, and French heritage. When the Italian connection surfaced, how did that shift your sense of cultural identity and faith?

Once all the smoke cleared and healing took place, it honestly didn’t shift anything for me. To me, family, whether biological or not, will always include my maternal family who are Syrian. Now I just have a “bonus” family and I think it’s awesome! It just adds to my heritage.

How did these discoveries affect your relationships within your immediate family over time?

It didn’t negatively affect any relationships, thankfully.

As you were writing, how did you navigate protecting family members while remaining truthful to your experience?

While I was writing, I was very intentional about the boundaries. Luckily, my family was overjoyed to be a part of this book and they gave me their blessing to include their names and perspectives. There is one uncle who is not named but the conversation with him was essential to the story and to our understanding at the time… Protecting his privacy was just as important as telling the truth about what happened. Ultimately, it came down to ethical storytelling.

Many people take DNA tests out of curiosity. What surprised you most about the emotional cost of truly getting answers?

The profound heartache that came with getting real answers. Before testing, I hadn’t fully considered the emotional weight of the “what ifs” so, confronting those possibilities turned out to be far more overwhelming than I expected.

Readers often describe this memoir as both tender and suspenseful. Where did the tension come from for you as the story unfolded in real time?

I would say it was that phone conversation when everything came out. It was the hardest part of my whole journey. I still read it and get emotional.

After surrendering your pain and choosing acceptance, how would you describe your sense of belonging now?

Surrendering my pain to God allowed me to embrace the truth freely with love instead of pain, anger, and regret. Instead of feeling shattered, I feel whole. I’ve had a deep sense of peace ever since. The emotional turmoil that once accompanied my discovery, was now replaced by gratitude and love. I may not understand all of it but I trust God’s plans for my family and this was part of His plan.

Now that you’ve traced these unexpected branches of your family tree, what feels unfinished, and where might this journey lead you next?

It was tough figuring out when to finally wrap up this story and allow myself to rest from it. This was also something I had to surrender. Still, I’m very intrigued by my aunt Paula’s career (aka Rusty Lane)… maybe a sequel could be on the horizon. I also have a work of fiction that I’ve started, so I’ll have to see where God leads me next.

Until then… :)

CONNECT WITH SHARON BETH!

Website: www.sharonbeth.net

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorsharonbeth/