Writers are notorious for having crazy search histories. And to be fair, we aren’t the only ones whose search history can be somewhat alarming.
When I posted on social media about searches I’ve done for my work-in-progress, a friend who’s studying to be a lawyer said her search history is looking shady these days because of research for a paper.
For past books, I’ve researched everything from gunshot wounds to tractor stunts to Maine vacation homes. (Actually, come to think of it, all of those were for To Believe In You.)
On the whole, though, my search history isn’t as incriminating as you might find if you dove into a suspense or mystery writer’s online activity.
Still, search history can be revealing, can’t it?
Today, I’m pulling back the curtain on my search history as it relates to my upcoming release, Now or Never.
If you’ve read my Rhythms of Redemption Romances, you’ve encountered the hero, Tim before.
If you’re new to my stories, this novella is a great place to start, because it kicks off The Many Oaks Romances, a brand new series set in a new town (a whole new state, actually).
To make this a little more fun, I’ve included some of my non-writing-related searches as well. Can you tell which is which before reading the explanations?
- How old are students when they start 6th grade
- Define gossamer
- What to add to cookies to make them chewy
- The wind goes where it pleases
- Do raised hackles keep dogs warm in winter
- Do you need a degree to be a flight attendant
- Spiced cake donuts maple frosting
- Do people still use face powder
- Apple flower perfume
- Playground tiles
- Word for circle of light
- Pika
- Osage beach average snowfall
- What are the flags in bull fighting called
- What genre music is post teen pop
- Catahoula leopard dog
The Answers and Explanations
- How old are students when they start 6th grade – For the story. I was setting up characters who would appear in future novels, so though Tim and Gabby are both in their 50’s with adult daughters, I needed to make sure I had the age right for a future heroine’s kid sister.
- Define gossamer – For the story. Nothing spoils a kiss like a misused word, right? The word (and the kiss) made the final cut and are still in the story.
- What to add to cookies to make them chewy – For myself. I do some gluten-free baking, but one beloved recipe doesn’t translate well, even when I use my favorite gluten free flour blend. I was looking for an extra ingredient to help keep the cookies from being brittle and crumbly. An extra egg helped.
- The wind goes where it pleases – For the story. When I’m writing, phrases of Scripture often come back to me, but I rarely know the chapter and verse (and sometimes not even the book…), so I search the phrase to find context and other details I need to accurately explore faith themes.
- Do raised hackles keep dogs warm in winter – For me. Or, more accurately, my dog. He had been coming in with a distinct line of raised fur on his back. At first, I thought something outside must’ve startled or left him feeling threatened. Turns out, yes, they do raise their hackles in the cold. (I live in Wisconsin.)
- Do you need a degree to be a flight attendant – For the story. Gabby, the heroine has wanderlust inspired by her aunt, who was a flight attendant in the 70’s. I researched what path young Gabby might’ve taken if she’d hoped to pursue the same career. She would not have needed the degree, but her parents insisted she get one. She went to college, fell in love, and abandoned the original plan. Now that she’s turning 50, though, that wanderlust is back. The question is, what’s she going to do about it?
- Spiced cake donuts maple frosting – For me. We had some amazing spiced maple donuts on a trip and I wanted to make some at home. The recipe I found didn’t compare though. If you have a baked maple donut recipe you love, please share in comments!
- Do people still use face powder – For me. Ha! I noticed it was getting harder to find at the store, so I searched it. The answer is, yes, some people do. Myself included.
- Apple flower perfume – For the story. These two scents are combined in Gabby’s perfume. When I paired them up, I wanted to make sure that was a real thing. It is.
- Playground tiles – For the story. A special scene takes place on a playground, and I was determined to get the details right. Not only did I search things online, I also took my husband to a playground so we could test out my idea.
- Word for circle of light – For the story. Proof that sometimes simple words go poof. The word I was looking for: halo.
- Pika – For me. This is a small rodent we saw on a commercial but that I was also pretty sure we’d seen on one of our road trips. In the opposite circumstance as #11, the word just kind of popped into my mind. I searched it, and sure enough, it was exactly what I thought. They’re super cute!
- Osage beach average snowfall – I often search things like this to get my settings right, but this was for me. When we took a weekend trip to Missouri in late fall, we expected warmer temperatures than we had in Wisconsin. Instead, it was a few degrees colder with some snow flurries to boot!
- What are the flags in bull fighting called – For the story. I was trying to find a creative way to describe a character’s red shirt. I switched it up a bit and went with: Leave it to a theater guy to wear a shirt that could double as a matador’s cape.
- What genre music is post teen pop – For the story. The hero of the story, Tim, is a band manager scouting out new talent. I knew he’d be specific in how he described a potential client’s sound, so I researched the kind of music I had in mind and came across the genre “post teen pop.” I searched it to make sure it included the type of music I wanted.
- Catahoula leopard dog – For me. We met one while out hiking. But they’re cool dogs, so maybe one will work his or her way into a future story!
I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know me and Now or Never through this! If the story sounds interesting (or you just want a more straight-forward description of it), you can find it from various online retailers. Here are the links to it on Amazon in ebook and paperback.
Tomorrow’s my birthday. Pre-orders would make a nice gift ;)
What sorts of things do you search? Any stories of research projects that made you hesitate before typing in you query in fear of how it might look?
Emily Conrad writes contemporary Christian romance that explores life’s relevant questions. Though she likes to think some of her characters are pretty great, the ultimate hero of her stories (including the one she’s living) is Jesus. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and their energetic coonhound rescue. Learn more about her and her books at emilyconradauthor.com.
Happy Birthday for tomorrow.
I guessed the food ones were for you.
My search history can be completly random. a couple years ago I searched how do you get a cat to use a cat door. the next day was how do I stop a cat busting though a locked cat door.
this past week was what is the best mouse trap (after 2 failed ones the 3 one finally worked).
Happy Birthday Emily. March is a great month for a birthday. Two of my sons have March birthdays. Being 70 plus years old, I have always enjoyed research. In the “old days” it was reading the encyclopedias and searching the card catalog at the local or school library. Now the possibilities are endless. The love for research as not died with age. In March I researched The Berlin Airlift, the Candy Bomber Gail Halverson, German Easter traditions, dolphins in Florida, Wolfgang’s – a Grand Rapids Breakfast Restaurant, and today Gloria Vanderbilt. So much to learn, so little time. Enjoy your birthday week. Best wishes. Spring is in the Midwest air.
Happy Birthday! Thank you for the insight on your search history.
This was so fun to read! When I research flight times to and from exotic places for my characters, all these great “deals” start showing up in my feed…as if I could travel like that!
Having lived in Missouri for 20 years, I’m not surprised at your experience. You pretty much have to be prepared for all four seasons on any given day.
Have a blessed birthday!
Happy birthday! My search history can be very random and I’m not even a writer. I resell shoes as part of my business so sometimes there are a bunch of strange queries relating to that in my history.
Sounds like there have been some real adventures in your house! Sounds like you love your cat very much. Too bad he or she doesn’t help out with the mouse issue! Ha!
Happy birthday to your sons! I agree, March is a great time for a birthday :)
Sounds like you’re keeping busy with all that research. With a little curiosity, there’s a world of things to learn about!
Thanks, Bonnie! Glad you enjoyed the post.
Just once wouldn’t you love to click on one of those deals and just go for it?? :) I found a resort called Conrad in the Maldives, once, I think, as I was researching for a rock star’s vacation. Looks like a fantastic place to visit, but, alas, I don’t have my character’s money. ;)
And yes, lesson learned about Missouri’s weather!
I worked in a call center Footlocker.com for years, so I’ve had a little glimpse into the world of sneakerheads and shoe sales. I’m sure there’s lots to look up!
welcome today. thanks for the information. I love to research at times. Like the history of thread, when store bought clothes started, civil war quilts, when quilts started selling in stores, the history of different quilt patterns, etc.
Happy Birthday to you :) Have a great time.
Happy Birthday!! I’m definitely going to be reading the book!! Even at 50, the characters are just a tad younger than me, but I love older characters in books!!! I have googled a few things that might make people wonder, but I’ve also called my local PD to ask questions! lol!! I had to make sure one of the authors I proof/edit for had some details right! For my motorcycle questions for her book I went to my “expert” cousin to get answers!
Happy Birthday!! I usually research medical conditions, how to do something, and recipes for low carb. I enjoyed reading about your research histories.
Happy Birthday, Emily!!! Your post was very interesting. I guessed a few of the searches as yours. It sounds like a lot of work goes into writing a story, much more that getting an idea and sitting down at your computer to type it out. It really made me appreciate more what you, as an author, do. Thank you for that imsight.
“Happy Birthday!” May you have a day full of Blessings. Have a Beautiful day! I research all sorts of different things, thank goodness for internet. Thank you for sharing what you research, I have learned alot of things by researching. Have a great day.
Happy Birthday! I usually end up frantically searching stuff to do with my kids like ‘how do you know if a toddler has a broken finger’, ‘foods to help four year old poop’ or ‘how to remove marker from wall paint’ (answer was hairspray, it did work!)
Sounds like you’re an avid seamstress! It can be so interesting to learn the history of some of our favorite hobbies and treasures.
I hope you enjoy the story, Trudy! Wow, you called the police? Ha, as an introvert, that sounds so intimidating. Good for you, going for it! I had some motorcycle questions for one of my books, too. Thankfully, one of my brothers has one and was able to help me out.
Thanks, Kathleen! Yes, I’ve researched many of those things too. It’s never good when you have to pull out Google for a medical question, but I have had it suggest possibilities that turned out to be correct when I later went to the doctor, so it has its place for sure.
Aw, I’m glad it was interesting, Bonnie! Isn’t it funny how important facts are in writing fiction? But, it’s a way for readers and writers alike to experience new situations, etc, and for that to work right, those facts are important.
Thank you so much, Alicia! Yes, I’m grateful we have a powerful tool like the internet available to us!
Haha, I did once search “how to know if a dog has a broken tail,” so I feel like we’re pretty similar! If I had kids, I can only imagine what the searches would look like :) Glad you found the right trick to clean up your walls. Never would’ve guessed hairspray!
I have one of each and they do “help” with the cat issue. Henry brings them in and if Libby see it she will normally get it but Henry loses them and thats my problem. The neighbours say we haven’t seen any mice and I go no they are in my place! i have seen them bring them over the fence. The other day looking for a trap someone said looks like the cats are not doing their job I said they are the problem they brought them in.
I do love them but at times they drive me batty. Last night Libby starts on the bed then goes behind the blind back on me and so it goes on. Neither of us got a good sleep.
I’m smack in the middle of introvert/extrovert! I was a little nervous calling them, but it was the non-emergency number. The cop I spoke with was really nice. I will admit, I got one of those calls about a problem with my computer, and I told them that the person who had the computer really did need their help, and I’d give them the number they needed to call. It was the non-emergency number for my local PD. I’d have loved to hear that call! Yeah, I’m bad.
Happy Birthday! My mom and Grandma were also born in March, so I agree that March is a great month for birthdays. We have 2 with celiac disease here, so we also google GF recipes. Other than that, I google random stuff that I’ve heard and want to check out because I’m nosy :)
Happy birthday! Thank you so much for sharing. I usually Google how to spell a word, or a question that might be asked in Facebook. Sometimes I may Google to check out an author’s website. God bless you.
I think you’re in good company with wondering about random stuff! I can’t imagine all the queries Google gets!
Thank you! Google is great for spelling questions. I also use it as a thesaurus when I’m working on a story.
Now that’s creative! I wonder what they do with calls like that!
fun info
Oh no! My parents’ cat once brought in and dropped a live mouse, too, so I can see how that would be an issue! Good thing you found a good trap :)
You can find in my search from santeria and voudou to Renaissance fencing manuals, how to man the ship guns in 1700s, wedding traditions or funeral traditions in various cultures, how to take out a bullet without going to the hospital… And many more, all for my stories…
I had a feeling even before I read to the end of your comment that you were a writer! Sounds like lots of adventures for your characters!