I like to research for books. But not the every day stuff like facts and statistics. That I usually try to ask around and get that info. No. I like the odd facts that may not take up an overwhelming portion of the story but add color, flavor and depth to it.


I have been recently called Anal-retentive (and completely owned up to it) and I think this is proof positive of that!

I will research whether a car came in a certain color in a particular year - then may look up the accessories that went with that model. Most people would say who cares - I say it's the details that make a bland story BAM!

Actors will immerse themselves in roles before their movie starts. You hear about ride along with the police or boot camp with a platoon. As a writer, your research can accomplish much the same - mental boot camp. Your heroine is a pet photographer - you research cameras and processing - and troll the pet shops. Your hero is a dyslexic musician you research people who were as well - you'd be very surprised (did you know John Lennon...?)!

I mentioned on Marybeth's blog a while back, that I tend to get carried away with my research and forget there is a story that it is to be plugged into - you have to be careful.

I was born in Alaska (my dad was in the Air Force and before you ask, I was almost 1 when we moved so other than the bazillion photos of Alaskan license plates to prove we were there and me bundle up to my nose in in front of a white background that I presume is acres of snow - I know nothing of the time) so when I decided to set a book there, I looked up Alaskan tourist info. I like to add things that seem obscure - did you know the locals call Mt McKinney Denali - I didn't, but my heroine darn sure does.

It is so much fun!

If you have ever read Nora Roberts, she puts her books all over the world and at one of the RWA conferences someone asked her if she has gone to all the places - that range from Qatar to Ireland to England (and many other countries - but am having a brain fart right now and cannot think of any other - the woman has 150+ book - I can only do so much) to just about every state in the contiguous and non-contiguous US (I could have left it just plain US but I like the word "contiguous" =) sorry) - she laughed and said, "I wish." She immerses herself in research and through the minute details you are transported there to.