I hate research

Posted by Jessa Slade
Currently working on: Last (praise be) edits for my November 2009 release
SEDUCED BY SHADOWS
Mood: Chilled ~ I'm at my day job & the AC here is set to 4th Level of Hell (which is where snowballs do stand a chance)

There, I've said it. I hate research. I don't do it well; I'm easily led astray into worlds of info I don't need; and when I do find something I was actually looking for, invariably it directly contradicts what I'm trying to accomplish.

When I wrote my first manuscript (which, like most first manuscripts, is locked in an iron-bound chest in the attic lest it escape and wreak havoc upon the world), I vaguely envisioned a Regency romp -- with the heroine in a medieval leather jerkin, riding a train, with a kinky reference to elastic that I won't bore you with here. Yeah, not for nothing is my Yahoo ID "noparticulartimeperiod." So I'm not saying research isn't useful -- I'm just saying I try not to do it.

But I do return to some sites regularly for info dumps I can't live (or write) without:

For the craft of writing, Alicia Rasley's site is invaluable.

For gossip about writing, Smart Bitches Trashy Books is my current amusement.

This up-and-coming paranormal romance community, Fangs Fur & Fey has great conversation about new books and writing.

Dear Author is more reader oriented and still keeps timely sidebar articles on industry news.

Set your egg timer before you visit any of these sites. And when your time is up, GO BACK TO WRITING!

RESEARCHING WHAT'S IN A NAME

posted by Genene Valleau

Currently working on edits for my February 2009 release 

and promotion for SONGS 

OF THE HEART

Mood: Sleepy -- it's past 1:00 a.m.!

There are advantages and disadvantages of being one of the last people to post on a blog when we keep the same theme each month.

The disadvantage is that everyone before me has listed almost the same research methods I use. The advantage is that everyone before me has listed almost the same research methods I use -- so I have to think harder to come up with a different slant on research.

The Internet, the local library, my own books accumulated over the years, visiting the setting of my book, interviewing people with the same career as my hero/heroine -- I've used all of these for research.

I also research the names of characters. If my hero and heroine don't insist on a specific name, I usually dig out a name-the-baby book. I like names that are a bit out of the ordinary but not totally off the wall. Then I check the meaning of the name to be sure it doesn't mean "wimp" in Greek or something unhero-like! I use pretty much the same process with other major characters.

However, I have the most fun with the names of minor characters. Usually, I pick out one of their main characteristics or their occupation; say, farming. Then I pull up the online thesaurus and plug in the word farm. Synonyms include field and meadow. The last name of Fields or Meadows would be OK.

It's even more interesting to dig deeper. I have a great book called a "Word Menu." It's a combination dictionary, thesaurus, almanac and more. Under agriculture, it lists words that are connected with farming, including the word "Swidden," which is a tract of land cleared for planting by burning vegetation on it. Hmm. I'd never heard of that word, so my farmer might get "Swidden" for a last name, especially if he was obsessed with fire or burning things or charged with arson.

If all that fails to generate a name that suits a character, there's always the phone book, switching the first letter of a name (Laurie becomes Taurie), using the name of someone you admire, or just making up a name.

Is there a story behind your characters' names?

Romance through the ages

Posted by: Lisa Hendrix

Currently working on: Immortal Outlaw/Getting out the door for conference

Mood: Harried

The month has gotten away from me. I'd planned to be all organized and have this post ready to go a week ago, then let Blogger post it on schedule, but here I am on Wednesday night, with this due on Friday, and I'm traveling all day tomorrow. So I'm in panic mode, and you're getting the quick and dirty version of research, Hendrix style.

Since my current series, The Immortal Brotherhood, will consist of nine books spanning a period of nearly a thousand years, research is going to be a huge part of my life for quite some time to come. Except for the last two books, each of the tales will take place in a different century. Also, I believe in over-researching. I find that the more I internalize the time/place/clothing/social mores of my characters, the more likely I am to incorporate the details in a natural way and avoid the kind of data dumps that stop a story dead.  This means I'll have a ton of details to gather in a relatively short period of time.  It's all about approach.

Inevitably, the first place I go is the library and the local used book store to find general history books on my era. These give me the overview I need of the time period, so I can narrow things down and pick a specific location and year. I don't like writing in generalities, so establishing a firm time and place is critical to me (i.e., medieval England must narrow down to 1096 in Alnwick, Northumberland). During this phase I frequently find some historical incident upon which to hang the story, or which I can at least include in the background. At a minimum, I must know what would be occupying my characters' thoughts and conversations. (a war, the king's death, those new windmills from Normandy, or whatever).

Once I've got the time period and location narrowed down, I go hunting for specifics. I use the library again, but I also hit the Internet, looking for timelines specific to my locale. For instance, for Immortal Warrior is set in Northumberland, and there is a terrific website, the Northeast England History Pages which has a timeline that I referenced quite a bit. This site was a real treasure trove, because it also has dialect, songs, place name histories, and famous people. (I haven't found any single site quite as useful for Immortal Outlaw, but I'm still hunting and hoping.) Then I start filling in with details: clothes (I love you Dover Books!), politics, food, and so on. Since the first two books are medieval era (though 200 years apart), I've been putting in a lot of time on SCA and Regia Anglorum sites and on the Internet Medieval Sourcebook. The latter is very nearly as good as being able to dive directly into a European university library, with the additional benefit of having the source materials already translated.  I buy a good map of the area, usually special ordering through Metsker Maps. (Addendum: not just "a map"—a truly detailed topographic map that you can use to figure out things like how many paces your heroine walked before she fell off a cliff in the dark, like the USGS and British Ordinance Survey maps at 1:50,000 or better).

Another source I find myself going back to over and over is the dictionary: the compact edition of the unabridge OED (thank you Book of the Month Club) and, even more immediately useful, the dictionary program on my Mac, which accesses New Oxford American Dictionary, the Oxford American Writers Thesaurus, and Wikipedia, all at once. I hit them at least 20 times a day for word origins and derivations, word choices, and general knowledge--so often that I frequently default to the Dashboard widget for the Dictionary, to check when a word came into use and what it meant at the time. Excessive, perhaps, but I am that nerdy kid that used to sit and read the Encyclopedia Britannica. It comes naturally.

Of course, I have other sites I use, everything from Google Earth to a site that chronicles the history of British winters, but I found them all using Google, so they're nothing mysterious.  I google multiple times for any given topic, using variations on my basic topic to get a wider range of sites.  Some of what I find gets organized in text docs, where I cluster tidbits of related information (with url references at the bottom of each tidbit) so I can find what I need easily. Other pages get saved in entirety and dropped into a general "Research for [bookname]" file. Not precisely organized, but accessible using search.

One final favorite site is more about pleasure than research. When writing about Vikings, of course you must have Vikings to inspire you. I found plenty of juice for the imagination in the Jomsvikings website. The Jomsvikings are the leading Viking reenactment group, and they have some very nice photo galleries—not to mention the very nice Vikings in their Heroes gallery. Enjoy. I certainly have.

Person Lisa Hendrix

Right click for SmartMenu shortcuts

What's Your Biker Witch Name?

One of my favorite things about writing The Accidental Demon Slayer series is coming up with names and personalities for the geriatric biker witches that inhabit a good portion of the pages. These are hard riding, quirky gals who know how to have a good time. And in honor of them (and because it amused me), I bring you the What's Your Biker Witch Name? quiz. Are you a Mantrap Marcie Lusty Drawers? Is your husband otherwise known as Wino Wally No Brakes? Now's your chance to find out.

Research in contemporary and future worlds

Maggie Jaimeson

Currently working on: A YA paranormal series with kids with special psychic powers
Mood: Very excited as the RWA National convention is only one week away!

I write contemporaries and romantic suspense with a futuristic bent. One would think these two genres don’t require much research, but I always find I need to do some anyway. In my contemporaries I’m often doing research on places. For the most part I write about places I know, like Portland, or places I’ve been. But even when I’ve traveled somewhere I don’t always remember all the details. So, for researching places in contemporary times I use Mapquest, you can even map out international sites. I also go to Chamber of Commerce sites for towns, and for International Travel I always consult the State Department website: It has great overviews of the country, its history and politics, travel alerts, entry and exit requirements, crime, embassy access—just a plethora of information. This is also really helpful for suspense novels too. For example, when I was writing Expendable I needed better information on Afghanistan and Iraq. Though my son has done two tours of duty in the middle east, his knowledge was limited to the areas where he served. I began with the State Department, then went to Mapquest, then looked at a variety of newspaper reports and news film footage of different areas, then looked for specific towns, mountains, and passes.

Clothing is an area where I am very challenged. I know nothing about design and anyone who knows me can attest to that in my personal attire. So, when it’s time to pick clothing for my characters I use catalogs and Internet stores. I’ll find models dressed in something I like or think fits my characters and describe that. I have to keep careful notes though, because I certainly won’t remember it. Oh, and I love watching Project Runway on TV. :)

For my suspense novels I do a lot of research through interviews with people—policemen, firemen, soldiers, etc. I’m fortunate in that I have a husband and two sons who know a lot about guns, the military, law enforcement etc. One of my favorite research books for suspense is The Writer’s Complete Crime Reference Book by Martin Roth. It includes the fundamentals of investigation, criminal motives, escape methods, weapons, rules of evidence, slang used by criminals and police, and much more. It’s a great starting place and then gives me ideas of where else to do research.

Finally, for my futuristic research I primarily do a LOT of reading. I subscribe to Nature, a magazine that gives brief summaries of all types of cutting edge research from which I can extrapolate to the future. I subscribe to a number of journals or go to the library in medicine, physics, and computer science. This is where University libraries are a godsend. I also read the daily newspaper voraciously. Ideas are everywhere!

Research...back in the day

CURRENTLY WORKING ON: My next three book proposal, due September 15th. It is book 3, 4, and 5 of my 5 book School of Gallantry Series.

MOOD: Bloody excited!!! Why? I'm finally heading home to see my hubbie after spending 4 weeks in muggy Chicago and RWA National is just around the corner!!!

No matter what genre an author writes in, it involves research. Some may be more involved than others, but in the end, it's all about the research, baby. Because I'm away from home and won't be getting back onto my computer until late, late tonight, I don't have access to all my wonderful online research sites. But let me say this. As a historical writer, I try to be as authentic as possible by involving details of history that can't be found in regular books. Which is why my research involves old newspapers and the computer. There are SO many wonderful online resources, that sadly, the library as we know it will one day completely disappear. Because the reality is, people can find more information in less time sitting at home than heading off to the library and hunting down books that are either all checked out or no longer available. And with gas prices going up and up...well, nothing can beat sitting at home and doing research. Of course finding the right key words is a whole other thing. There are so many old newspapers that have "disappeared." Their names and the impressions they made upon the society around them have flitted away into the abyss forever. They are priceless artifacts people forget about, artifacts that represent true moments in time (no matter how biased). And the best way to hunt down the names of these old newspaper is by digging up non-fiction books in the era you are most interested in. I write about London 1830. So I went about reading and researching the newspapers of the era.
Several online sources charge you and depending on how you value research and history (as well as how much access you'll be getting) is may be worth the money. But you'd be surprised how much is posted for free. Newspapers back in the day covered so much, that it's simply invaluable to my writing. Events that have long been forgotten were discussed, parties and the rich were gossipped about, various clothing, the styles, who went bankrupt, who died, who got married, and the list just goes on and on. As an example, many books discuss 1830 clothing and many are insightful and wonderful, but in the end, nothing is going to ever beat a description of fashion and style as it was written IN 1830. And that's what I live for!!! Research to me is all about accurate information that will help immerse me in the world I am trying to write about and in turn immerse my reader. Research is what makes everything real. And so I start with what would have been real to my character back in the day. The newspaper.
Until Next time and Cheers,
Delilah Marvelle

Saturday Morning Quiet

Hmm. I had different plans for today with everything revolving around taking my 89 year old mother out for lunch followed by some clothes shopping for her. She lives in an adult foster home so each week I try to get her out and about for awhile. However, my back obviously has other plans. Thank goodness I hadn't told Mother of my plans (she gets very excited so we don't build in a lot of anticipation) Note to self: don't follow shampooing the carpet with some outside painting.
I'm still feeling guilty but since I'm on the downhill slope of a synopsis, (and it's not an erotica for a change) I know how I'm going to spend my day. First, however, comes this blog.
Hopefully it doesn't show, but I'm tripping over my lower lip because I won't be attending the RWA conference this year. I've promised myself it'll be different next year, but that doesn't help my present case of envy. Ah well.
As for what I have in mind for today's blog, I'm stealing from what I wrote on another blog yesterday because I believe the two pieces of information bear repeating. Hopefully you'll agree.

The first news bite comes from a local writer friend. Instead of trying to do justice by what she told me, I’ve copied and pasted and am throwing it out here. Hopefully blog readers will see the poignant message behind it. In brief, yes, bad things sometimes happen to good people. But, and its a big BUT sometimes those people get up, wipe themselves off, and go on with their lives. So without further ado (whatever that is), here’s the news:
“I’m sure you remember me telling everyone about Airleaf Publishers and the owner being prosecuted after ripping off thousands of dollars from trusting authors - well, the woman who spearheaded the investigation into the scams has come up with a plan to help all the authors (over 400 to date!) and she devised a bookselling plan. A number of us sent her start-up money to hire a good web designer. We get one book on the main page and any other books, and their description, on the author’s personal page with linksto the publisher’s site. We each agreed to buy five books during the next year from the authors listed. As more sign up, the money will be used to advertise the site. The site is up and running. Please have a look at www.BooksOfExcellence.com
Second, I belong to Novelists Inc, an organization open to published writers committed to keeping their heads above water in this sometimes storm-tossed career. I pay my dues because the focus is on the business aspects of my career. They have a fab conference, relaxed and intimate and honest which, sob, sob, I didn’t get to attend this year. Recently the members decided to start their own blog. Yes, I know, the Net is filled with blogs and of course The Bradford Bunch is the best, but I’m heartedly inviting writers and readers alike to check out what’s becoming available. The decision was made to stand out from most writer-sponsored blogs by not focusing on self-promoting. Instead, the concentration will be on everything from how-to pieces to interviews with publishing professionals. As an example of what’s coming up—
“Starting next week, we will be having industry guests blog on Wednesdays. We’ll start with Liz Scheier, senior editor, Del Rey. The following week we’ll host agent Emmanuelle Alspaugh of Wendy Sherman Associates. And in coming weeks we’ll hear from Suzanne Beecher, owner of Dear Reader; M. J. Rose, New York Time Bestselling author, publicist and owner of Author Buzz; and agent Jennifer Jackson of Donald Maass Literary Agency.”
Oh, where to check this out, you’re asking. Simple: http://www.ninc.com/blog/
Bye for now, Vonna
www.VonnaHarper.com

My Romance With Research- it’s better than chocolate and less fattening.

Suzanne Macpherson

Working on~ something very special involving plastic flamingos.

Mood: peacefully productive

For me, life seems to be one big research binge. Everywhere I go I take notes and make observations about the tiny details of life. If I weren’t a writer I’d be . . . weird. Research is inspiration. I could wax poetic about research forever.

Yes, historical authors, we contemporary gals do lots of it too. Okay, okay you do more. So much more you can tell the contemporary authors from the historical authors at the summer convention because contemporary authors have tans. (P.S. they are fake- but we at least get out to the store to buy that stuff.)

I’m a stash and dash researcher. As I write I often hit a spot and go spinning into research, then return with the information I needed to proceed with the story.

However--DANGER! : Research is a lovely sink hole that will suck you in up to your eyeballs and make you vanish for hours only to emerge and realize you haven’t written any pages today. LOL I don’t care. I LOVE research.

A few highlights of the thousands of research binges I have been on include: paranormal activity, Elvis, geographic details of Vegas, cars (and I’m talking details like how does the trunk on a 1985 Jag open?) England, Druids, native plants, ways to murder people, police process, courtroom procedure, the insurance industry, the toy manufacturing industry, ice cream, genetics, obscure hair disorders, the psychology of being blonde, song lyrics, twins, handbag trends, how supermarket clerks function, and for every job I’ve ever given a hero or heroine I’ve researched that job in detail if not actually held down the job!

As every modern writer knows the internet descended upon a cloud from heaven directly to our PC’s. Yesterday I ran across a blog about interiors used in the movies of the late thirties. I mean really, I thought I was the only person on the planet obsessed with the curtains in the tragically beautiful “rich dad” bedroom of the daughter in Stella Dallas, or the amazing New York apartment in Sentimental Journey. I personally have found that if you manage to word it correctly you can find A-N-Y-T-H-I-N-G on the internet. Being obsessed with old movies, my favorite source for movie references is The Internet Movie Database. http://www.imdb.com Any actor or film made is usually listed on their site.

As a matter of fact you can find more than you bargained for on the internet- I advise putting that safe search feature to use to avoid startling interpretations of the English language. No, I meant Pastry not Pasty!

That kind of full access to the world of minute detail can get so boring, ha ha. So when it comes to hands on, my favorite research is going to the movies, both live and in my living room. Turner Classic Movies and I have logged enough hours to qualify as a full on love affair. Try film credits for great character names!

Other favorite types of live research I love: antique stores, old hardware stores, new cities and towns, truckloads of books of course, library delving and direct interviews with relevant subjects.

For She Woke Up Married I spent time with Elvis impersonator, Danny Vernon. Sometimes you just need to walk a mile in someone’s Blue Suede Shoes, you know? For The Forever Summer I spent many hours interviewing my local supermarket clerks about the odd details their job entails and the language they used for different items in the store. Who knew the big displays for fruit were called orchard bins? I loved getting a letter from a fan who worked in a supermarket complimenting me on getting the lingo and actions down.

That’s the big payoff--when you do it right. When you do it wrong, they will let you know, too, but forgive them, they at least read your book. What was your favorite research binge of all time? www.suzmac.com

The Stranger with Research Candy

Currently Working On: A Sequel to My Current Proposed Book
Mood: Busy!


With the exception of one contemporary that is sleeping in the vault portion of my hard drive, I've always written historicals. I'm not saying the contemporary didn't require research, but nearly all of my investigative work has been for my historicals. The task has two sides. One holds the threat of getting an author in trouble for sloppy work. The other one is like a stranger offering candy: come here, little writer, get into my magic way-back machine and I'll take you for a ride. Read about wars, soapmaking, home remedies, horses, sewers, pigs running loose in old New York City, furious conflicts, how much a Sears piano cost in 1897. What wonders you'll see . . .

Yes, it's true, all of it. I usually start out looking for information on a single subject and that stranger with the candy doesn't bring me back for two or three hours because of the detours. I'll sit on the floor of my office, research books piled around me, sticky notes stuck, pens (when I can find one), tablets, all sorts of stuff. Once in a while it looks like I might escape, but find that I've only gotten as far as the chair in front of my other research accomplice, the Internet.


There is a wealth of information available now, fascinating worlds to get lost in, gobbled up by distraction. And to go into Powell's City of Books is to run the risk of never being seen again. Of course, while the writer is getting smarter (US History for $600, Alex), I'm not really writing. So there's the conundrum.

Beware the research candy, because oh, the adventures you'll have.

Research

CURRENTLY WORKING ON: Bachelor Gamble, a contemporary romance

MOOD: Quite pleased with myself, though nervous, since I just submitted a novella to my editor.

I went through a phase where I wrote Victorian paranormal. But the second story in one series ended up on perma-hold under an editor's desk somewhere, and the first story in my second series didn't sell as well as I personally liked so I've shelved that for the moment too. When I wrote these stories I had piles of research books slung around my desk so I could look up things like fashion and home styles and the types of servants in upper middle class houses and all that good stuff.

Mostly though, I write contemporary romance or some kind of paranormal whether set in present day or in the future. My best friend and partner in crime is Google. I Google my computer into crash mode. Yes, it happened today when I was double checking a quote from Hesiod. I wasn't happy.

I have been through the questionable joy of a group series, where we had a series bible that grew into a monster that ate most of the joy out of the project. The project manager had a nervous breakdown. I suppose in that case all your research questions can be answered in one place but building the thing was a nightmare. So I prefer Google for all my needs.

Having said that, I think the best research for someone in my position, writing contemporary romance and erotic nearly everything else, is reading. I have to read to keep up with the market. What's okay to write about sexually? What do readers enjoy right now? When you are epublished your stories are quicker to market (usually) so watching market trends can be quite valuable. My best selling story to date was written because I guessed that the subgenre would be getting popular soon and I was right. I barely read in that subgenre because I was so busy getting the story submitted but it still worked. I knew enough to cover the basics and develop my own take on it.

I should be researching my own work. I have this sad habit of dropping intended series after the first two stories. Maybe this is because I don't put together a series bible for myself (shudder).

Okay, everyone, comments should be focused on how to get me in gear so that I can stand to write the third book in a series! How should I organize my past research, materials on key characters and so on?

Reseach for Suspense Writers

Terri Reed
Currently finishing up with my fourteenth book--HER LAST CHANCE
Book 6 of the Without A Trace Continuity series by Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense.

Mood: Frazzled

I love to do research. I do most of it via the internet but occasionally someone will recommend a book and I find that having the book in hand helps tremendously. So I want to share with you some books that I have recently discovered, borrowed or bought and have been using like crazy. I learned about some these books from a crimescene writers loop that I'm on and some from other writer friends.

The first is titled, Police Procedure and Investigation: A guide for writers, by Lee Lofland. This is a terrific, easy to grasp and usable book that brings a realness to the suspense aspect of a story. This book covers not only the procedural aspects of a crime but gives insight in to ways to bring the dry details of a suspense thread to life, from the crime, the investigation to the trial. I highly recommend this book.

The second book I've recently aquired and am now starting to read through is not for the faint at heart. The title, Practical Homicide Investigation: Tactic, Procedures and Forensic Techniques: Fourth Edition by Vernon Geberth, is a no nonsense guide that is used by law enforcement agencies throughout the country. Though not written for writers, this book is easy to follow with detailed analayze for a processing a crime. But a word of caution, there are gruesome pictures and accounts of crimes that made my stomach roll. I thought I was pretty desensitized by TV and movies, but not so.

Another book that I've used for a book that I recently wrote was WITSEC:Inside the Witness Protection Program by Pete Earley and Gerald Shur (the Founder of WITSEC). This book gave a glimpse into the life of the witness which for my purposes was exactly what I need. The book provided the procedural aspects of the US Marshals service that gave my book realism.Of course you can do all the research in the world and have the details spot on, but if the characters aren't believable, then nothing else matters.

Jenna's Going Surfing...

JENNA BAYLEY-BURKE

Currently: Keeping busy with the baby so as not to think about how I haven't heard from my editor about FIRST IMPRESSIONS and getting ideas for a new book. So far I have lawyer jokes, wedding cakes, and Dierks Bentley

Mood: Still daydreaming of sleep...
--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~--~

Writing a book isn't rocket science. Truly, nothing will explode no matter how you mix things up. Since RCRW is look at favorite research websites this month, I think it's time I showed y'all a few of my infamous writing shortcuts.

Point-And-Click Characterisation :: using the internet to create people

The internet is a wealth of information on how to write. So much, that you can read it all and never write anything! Make your websurfing time work for you, instead of against you.

Google :: The Google image search is the perfect way to get an idea of just what your characters look like. Meet Xavier, the hero of the book I should be revising as I type this, Driven to Distraction.

Monster :: Your characters have jobs, right? Look up their occupation on Monster for job descriptions, salary guidelines, and educational qualifications.

The Colors of Sex :: I get to write steamy, so I think it is good to know how my characters would act BEFORE I have them acting. Xavier is RED: People who like red tend to be tigers in the sack. They are easily aroused and enjoy sex in every way imaginable. Once the sexual spark is ignited, it may take hours to extinguish. When two reds get together, the ensuing erotica could make Lady Chatterly blush. Lovers of red tend to be aggressors and weaker colors should be aware.

Hero Archetypes :: This is a great site for heroes & heroines. It helps solidify their character in your mind. Xavier is a CHARMER: fun, irresistible, unreliable, creates a party, smooth operator, playboy, rogue. Leo Dicaprio. (why does Leo keep coming up? Seriously...here, astrology, ennegrams...I need to embrace Xavier's inner Leo!)

Emotional Baggage or Internal Forces Keep Lovers Apart :: Inkalicious has great cheat sheets. This is good for making sure you have a handle on your characters' internal conflict.

Enneagrams :: A lot of writers swear by ennegrams. Xavier is Type Seven: The Enthusiast. However, I use these mainly for motivation. Knowing that sevens "want to maintain their freedom and happiness, to avoid missing out on worthwhile experiences, to keep themselves excited and occupied, to avoid and discharge pain" helps me keep perspective.


After I gather this information online, I turn to two books I can't create characters without. A simple Astrology book. These are great for basic character traits. Grab one on any bookstore clearance table, they are everywhere. Then, there is a modern relationship Astrology book I adore -- He's Just Not In The Stars. It goes deeper into the nuances of each sign, and therefore, deeper into character description.

See how much work you just got done! Congratulations, you deserve a cookie and a chapter in that novel you're reading. Don't let anything scare you. We're all doing this because it is great fun, no matter how frustrated you get along the way!

XOXOXO -- Jenna

DID ROMANS WEAR UNDERWEAR?

Minnette Meador
Working on Starsight II Edits
Mood: Intrigued

I have always been a closet historian, knowing just enough to make me extremely dangerous. Studying Western Civilization in college gave me enough knowledge to become addicted to the subject for life. It came in handy last year when I decided to write two historical romance novels about ancient Roman Britannia. I erroneously thought, “Hey, I’ve been studying this period for years…this should be a breeze!”

Wrong.

The biggest problem I had was not in the history of the time, but in reconstructing the realities of day-to-day living. It was questions like, what kind of plates did they use? Did they use silverware? How were babies delivered? Did they wear gloves in the winter? What was the tack like for the horses? Did they wear underwear? Well, you get the idea. Those questions plagued me. So I sat in my comfy chair, closed my eyes, and concentrated on the story. This, to me, is the best part of writing…shutting out the modern world and putting yourself in another time and place. Imagining what your day would be like as a Roman soldier, a Celtic queen, or a gladiator. Not focusing on what’s on the page, but what's NOT on the page, what happened before and after. Since I write fantasy, as well, the process is the same. Once you are there, you discover what questions to ask and then start your research. One of my best mentors used to tell me, “Research is a double edged sword; too much, and you will get lost and never finish the book; too little, and you betray your readers. Research to your story…find out enough to move it forward, to keep it vibrant. You are a writer, not a historian.” I’ve always taken that advice to heart.

I have been very fortunate to find real historians to help me with my work and to validate the facts. The Frazier Museum and Association of Renaissance Marshal Arts have been invaluable to me. There are countless resources out there; libraries, museums, internet, and universities, just to name a few. Below is a very short list of a few internet sites I have used.

I strongly suggest, whether you are a writer or not, to find a comfortable place, close your eyes, let your mind take you somewhere back in time, and imagine what your day would have been like. I guarantee, you will have a blast doing it! Good reading, good writing, good luck!

http://www.thearma.org/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/
http://www.teacheroz.com/romans.htm
http://www.roman-britain.org/
http://www.larp.com/legioxx/index.html
http://www.wikipedia.org/
http://mp_pollett.tripod.com/idiomexp.htm

Minnette Meador
The Centurion & The Queen
Starsight
www.minnettemeador.com
http://minnettemeador.blogspot.com

But that's not possible… is it?

KAREN DUVALL
Currently working on: Revisions for my agent on my urban fantasy novel, KNIGHT'S CURSE

When you write paranormal and fantasy, research can be a challenge. And just because what you write isn't real doesn't mean facts aren't involved. Lots of the stuff I write is complete make-believe, but a bit of fact-finding research can spark some awesomely bizarre ideas.

I don't have a folder filled with links to favorite research sites. My needs change all the time and favorite websites disappear. The Internet is a very unstable world. So I usually start my research in the same place for every book: Google. And my research isn't complete without throwing in a look at Wikipedia.

What I love about research is where it can lead. A crazy chain of website links help me create a plot and inspire interesting subplots to go with it. Because I write fantasy, my fact-finding must be creative. How many fallen angels do you know? Any thousand-year-old Seljuk Turks hanging out in your neighborhood? Do you keep the mummified remains of a prophetic saint in your closet? No? Welcome to my world.

When I started plotting KNIGHT'S CURSE, I knew I wanted a heroine unlike any other. I thought she could be a descendant of something legendary and powerful, maybe even mythological. A goddess? Been done to death. Amazonian? Meh. But I liked the idea of a warrior. So I started Googling and discovered an order of female knights from the eleventh century called the Order of The Hatchet. Now that's cool. So my heroine became a knight in an order that, in my world, still exists in the 21st century, only instead of fighting soldiers in a medieval Crusade they fight supernatural evil in the city.

I also wanted to stay clear of vampires and were-animals of any sort. Dragons? Too big and bulky. Griffons? Closer. Demons? Too stock for my needs, though I did use one in a small role. A little surfing online got me thinking about gargoyles. Now that had potential. The whole turning to stone thing? Oh, yeah. I was all over it.

The plot began piecing itself together from all the tidbits I'd found in my research, and I had a blast making it work as a story. All these diverse subjects connecting in cool and unusual ways made a mad sort of sense, and the glue was my own dark and twisted imagination.

Could I have written this book without the research? Probably, but it would have been a different book and might have taken me three times as long to write. The resources at my fingertips freed my imagination, even expanded it. And I ended up with enough material to write an entire series. High speed cable and WiFi. I don't know how I ever got along without it.

World's Best Research

DELLE JACOBS
CURRENTLY WORKING ON: New ending for my Medieval Paranormal.
MOOD: Engrossed


Today on my own blog I'm going to write about Ten Ways to Tell It's The 5th of July-- as in, "Cats still haven't come out from under the bed"...

But here, I get to talk about my favorite subject today, my favorite way to research. Yes, I know it was supposed to be about research websites, but all I'm going to say about researching historicals on the web is: whatever it is, it's there. Just search. If you want to know something, email me and I'll help you if I can.

I love research. I'd do it just as quickly as I'd write. With eight tall bookcases full of books, the internet at my fingertips, a stack of old maps, I've always got plenty I can do. But give me a suitcase and I'll be off to exotic places. Because traveling is my favorite research. I write about England because it's There, not Here. I tried to write about Sumatra once, secretly envisioning a research trip. But my agent branded my story "The single most unsellable idea I'd ever had." No matter. There are other places, and if nothing else I can dream about writing about them. And when I go there, it's even more than a travel in space. When I see things I've studied in old engravings, I get an enormous rush of travel in time, to the time and place once sketched a hundred or so years ago. I can see it as it was, as well as as it is now. See if you can get what I mean from my pictures:

In 2004, I finally got my first trip to England. I had to see Haddon Hall, which I swiped and rebuilt to my own purposes. I had developed almost an obsession for the place, even collecting engravings and books about it. I had to see if I got it right. Yep, everything but the horses and carriages.


Then there was Bath, where I'd set Aphrodite's Brew. Beautiful, picturesque, even in the rain. I even pin-pointed exactly the house where my hero lived, and across the circle, the heroine's house, just exactly as I expected it. It's one thing to see them in books and read about them, but it's something else to actually be there, breathe the air, see the ancient streaks of soot on a fireplace and feel beneath your feet the worn-down stone of stairs trodden by unknown feet over so many centuries. It's funny how so many places that seemed so cavernous in my imagination are so small, enclosed- actually cozy.
Being there is the only way to grasp the sense of things like tapestries hanging over doorways (not anymore- they're much too fragile now) to conserve the heat from one central fireplace. Going in rainy September helped me to understand why people wore so much clothing. If I lived there in the early 19th Century, I'd want my neck covered too!

I can't honestly claim I went to Hawaii to research, because I know I'll never write the book I dreamed of there. I'll never find a use for the giant dragonflies that zoomed in and out of the fog at the top of Waimea Canyon. But someday I might have my hero sail into Kealakekua Bay with Captain James Cook.

Nor will I likely write about the reincarnation story that came to me in a dream over thirty years ago, set in the remote jungles of the Yucatan among the Maya. But I studied them in college and have always been fascinated with the Mayan culture. So when I had my chance, I had to see the ancient pyramids and temples swallowed up by jungle and only now being excavated enough to visit extensively.

Now the trip of a lifetime looms in front of me. We planned it barely a month before the gas crunch suddenly exploded into the news. With all our reservations made and paid for, we'll obviously go now or never. I studied Spanish extensively in high school, and Barcelona is our first stop. But it's Italy I've longed to see since my early teens. Yes, I really was an ancient history geek even back then. But will Pompeii, Herculaneum, Rome, Florence, Pisa be so modern I won't recognize the past that fascinates me? Will I find stories to write, even if the market isn't interested in them?


We'll see.

Life Is Research

Susan Lute

Currently working on: A short contemporary romance proposal for Silhouette and a non-fiction book about my garden. Soon to start a contemporary single title romance.

Mood: pleased.

When I first realized we’d be talking about research, the first thing I thought was, “I don’t do internet research! How will I speak intelligently about that?” Okay yes, that’s a hint of panic you’re reading in my words.

My favorite research is to watch and listen to people. I was raised in a military family and I’ve traveled a lot. And, I’m a Nurse. So, when I tell a story, I write about the things I know. Usually, it’s a tribal story about being part of the human family. The women’s fiction novel I just finished is about a doctor who’s faced with a medical condition that could take away the career she loves. At the same time her family is falling apart around her. The proposal for Silhouette is about a Marine who’s on a collision course with a discharge she doesn’t want. The last thing she sees herself as is a civilian. It’s set in the high desert country of Oregon (where I regularly visit). The garden book is about grief and loss and well, set in my garden.

Research, yes I’m getting to that. I love books. New ones, and especially old ones. Specifically, books about pre-recorded history. If I’d been a cave dweller, I would be the one drawing my tribe’s story on the walls. So, when I need to do research, the first thing I do, is get books, many of them, from the library and/or the book store, doesn’t matter, except I love to keep my research books too. I put sticky notes on the pages that interest me. I horde them. I have many books about London, believe me (acquired for my first women’s fiction which is set in London), laying around, tempting me to open them and disappear into the magic of that city. Been there, so I still have a visceral memory that calls to me.

More research? Okay, then I talk to the Marines in my family, the medical providers I work with, I take photographs in my garden. Sometimes, I talk to my soul. And, on very rare occasions when I have no other recourse, I get on the net to find the specific information I want, like the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment for cervical spondylotic myelopathy. To be honest - I’d rather be out in my garden taking pictures.

The biker dogs ride again

FEATURED AUTHOR

Angie Fox

Currently working on: The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers, book 2 in The Accidental Demon Slayer series

Mood: grinning

Before, when I heard authors talk about research, I thought they meant reading books or surfing the internet. Then I decided to write a book about a preschool teacher forced to hit the road with a gang of geriatric biker witches…and research took on a whole new meaning. I found myself on the back of a coal black Harley, behind a guy named Stone, with my helmet on backwards and an Irish Setter in tow. The dog's name was Frankie and I can tell you right now, Frankie knew a lot more about motorcycles than I did.

It was my fault, really. When I sat down to write The Accidental Demon Slayer, I had no notes about dogs on motorcycles. But in the second chapter, when my heroine learns she's a demon slayer and all hell is after her, she takes comfort in her dog. It was a sweet moment. And as I wrote it, I thought, 'How do I throw her off?'

I made Pirate, the dog say something to my heroine. Nothing big. After all, he's only after the fettuccine from last week. And he knows exactly where she can find it (back of the fridge, to the left of the lettuce crisper, behind the mustard). It amused me, so I did it. Thanks to her unholy powers, Lizzie can now understand her smart-mouthed Jack Russell Terrier. I ended up having a ball with it, and I fell in love with Pirate the dog. Then I realized I was writing about motorcycle riding biker witches.

How do you get a dog on a motorcycle?

Well, I went online and learned that there is a nationwide club of Harley bikers who ride with their dogs. So my heroine could have her pink Harley, and her Jack Russell Terrier too.
And of course I had to meet these Harley riding dog lovers. I called up a few of the members of the Biker Dogs Motorcycle Club and the adventure began. They invited me into their homes, introduced me to their dogs and, like my heroine, the bikers hoisted me up on the back of a Harley, with a dog in tow.

Stone, the biker who spent the most time making sure I didn't fall off his hog, showed me how to ride, invited me to some biker rallies (note to self: don't wear pink next time), and helped make The Accidental Demon Slayer as real as it can be (for a book about a somewhat sheltered preschool teacher turned demon slayer).

So just when I thought I was writing fiction, it seemed my made-up characters from The Accidental Demon Slayer weren't so imaginary after all. One of the bikers I met even has a wife who is a biker witch. I'm wondering if she, like my heroine's biker witch grandma, wears a "kiss my asphalt" t-shirt and carries a carpet bag full of Smuckers jars filled with magic. Maybe I'll find out on my next adventure.