“It seems to me we should all know where we come from, who we are a part of,” Janet Hartman, author of the new memoir “Journey Into Poland,” said in a recent interview. “I don’t live on a farm, but I know it’s in my genes because I’m happiest when I’m digging in my garden.”

Hartman, who grew up and still resides in Pawtuxet Village, has spent the last few decades in search of her familial roots, tracing her ancestors back to the small town of Kolbuszowa, Poland and her maternal grandfather Marcin Zosa’s family farm.

As a second generation American, Hartman couldn’t identify any Polish community growing up and her interest in that part of her heritage grew.

“I was always curious about my polish heritage,” she said, “the history there always seemed more mysterious.”

Then in the 1970s Hartman made her first trip “behind the Iron Curtain,” quickly falling in love with the country and its people. She was initially struck by her likeness to everyone there, how each individual she passed looked like herself, or an aunt, a grandparent.

“It was startling. The place hit me just right and there’s no explaining it. I felt like I had come home for the first time and that feeling has never left me,” Hartman said.

Hartman continued to visit Poland, having traveled to the country a total of six times.

Throughout each journey she would keep a journal, writing each morning anything that came to mind. Over the years these journals, her genealogic research as well as emails from friends and family began piling up. One day her friend asked when she was going to write a book.

Over the next two years Hartman would compile her information, writing the story of her struggle to reconnect with her heritage. As a self-declared storyteller, Hartman wanted to make sure her book was one that could be enjoyed by all and easy to understand.

Finally, last October she made another trip to Poland planning out the last chapter on the farm of her ancestors.

Her finished memoir, “Journey Into Poland,” follows Hartman’s family back as far as the late 1700s, but despite being complete; Hartman says the journey itself is not.

She has continued making connections with friends and family all over the world with roots in Poland and Kolbuszowa.

“The story keeps going. I’m getting emails every day. People are reaching out every day,” Hartman said. “This could go on forever. I still have family coming out of the woodwork. It makes my head spin.”

Hartman hasn’t just made connections for herself, but in researching her own genealogy she has been be able to help others do the same.

Hartman said that readers of her memoir have been inspired to not only to continue their own research, but for others to start.

When Hartman began her look into her ancestors, the Internet wasn’t popular and there wasn’t anything like Ancestry.com. Rather, she would take trips to D.C., Massachusetts and Chicago to go straight to the source for information.

“I knew my struggle and my search could resonate with people. I started out with only a few scraps of paper. I started with the wrong name,” Hartman said. “My struggle was worthwhile. People are making connections because of this book and I felt good about that.”

Similarly, through her travels Hartman has become very active on VirtualTourist.com, writing reviews and informational pages on all of the cities she has visited.

She hosted a book launch on Oct. 18 at the Aspray Boat House with a slideshow of pictures from her travels to Poland, as well as Polish music and food.

The “Journey Into Poland,” was self-published and is available on Amazon.com.

For more information visit, www.journeyintopoland.com.

AUTHOR: Janet Hartman recently self-published “Journey Into Poland,” her first memoir following her struggle and research into her roots. The book took two years to write, but Hartman has been researching her family for decades.