Merlene Byars is no stranger to preserving history. As an artist, publisher and writer, all that she creates reflects in some way her love for the state of South Carolina. Merlene belongs to several literary societies associated with the University of South Carolina. Her fascination with history and genealogy goes back to the time she was twelve years old. She has since traced her family back to Adam and Eve through Royal families in Europe and the Middle East. Merlene has lived in South Carolina most of her life and received her education in Accounting and Journalism. She has published five history books and produced a drama during the Columbia Bicentennial. She has shown her artwork, books and genealogy at Oxford University and Cambridge University, England, New Orleans, LA and Lisbon, Portugal.