Google is a writer’s best friend – or at least it seems that way sometimes! I’ve researched everything from bread baking techniques (for Danielle in Summer to Remember) to how to embezzle money from a doctor’s office (Spring Fever).
While we often pull from experience from former jobs, relationships, or current hobbies, sometimes we get to write about something we have no firsthand knowledge of!
I talked to a few of my other InspyRomance authors to hear their craziest Google searches and I uncovered some other unconventional methods authors have undertaken in the name of research and a great book.
Merrillee Whren did a lot of research to determine how chocolate was made for her book, A Place to Find Love. I actually did the same for my short story, Love and Chocolate, that is exclusive to my newsletter subscribers. I also may have used it as an excuse to buy and taste a bunch of chocolate (just to be sure I had the details right, of course!)
Elizabeth Maddrey had to research the US laws for a common-law marriage (for an upcoming release!) and Toni Shiloh had to determine whether a double-proxy wedding was even possible for her novella A Proxy Wedding.
Valerie Comer had to figure out what kind of life-threatening injury a bronco rider could receive! Apparently, broken bones and concussions are common, but deaths are surprisingly rare for such a “dangerous” sport! See what she found by reading The Cowboy’s Reluctant Bride.
Liwen Ho researched “no-kissing” clauses for her character who is an actor in An Extra Spark, and Jaycee Weaver did a great job researching about Air Force life as well as degenerative eye diseases for the characters in her latest release, Whatever Happens Next.
But, sometimes Google can only get you so far and you need firsthand experience!
Angela Ruth Strong had one of my favorite stories. To fully understand what it was like to be stuffed in the trunk of her car, her writing group gave her some first hand experience! You can even see the video on her FB page!
While I haven’t gone quite that far, I have asked my husband to “reenact” a kissing scene to make sure it makes sense! Are you surprised at all that he doesn’t mind? Haha!
Last Christmas, I bought coffee and chatted for a couple hours with an old high school classmate to hear about her experience in the National Guard and multiple deployments. I knew that one of the Bloom Sisters is currently overseas and I want to make sure I have the details accurate when I finally get to tell her story! I even recorded the conversation – I felt very much like a reporter!
For my book Spring Fever, I interviewed a former social worker about the adoption/custody process for a child who suddenly became an orphan and was being adopted by a family member, and I interviewed an old friend about their courthouse wedding ceremony for my upcoming marriage of convenience story, Poppy’s Proposal!
One of the things I have enjoyed most about writing is the challenge of writing characters unlike myself and situations I have never personally experienced.
What is something interesting you have learned from a fictional story?
Or — what career/experience would you love to see featured in a book by our InpsyRomance authors?
Tara Grace Ericson lives in Missouri with her husband and two sons. She studied engineering and worked as an engineer for many years before embracing her creative side to become a full-time author. She loves cooking, crocheting, and reading books by the dozen. Her writing partner is usually her black lab - Ruby - and a good cup of coffee or tea. She loves a good “happily ever after” with an engaging love story. That’s why Tara focuses on writing clean contemporary romance, with an emphasis on Christian faith and living.
I have learned a lot over the years from reading fiction.
I know a family where the husband and wife are both Park Rangers. I have always thought that was fascinating.
I’ve always wanted to work in Antarctica, but the range of occupations is rather limited. I imagine it would take a lot of research and be quite a challenge to set a book there.
Lots. Military lingo, ins and outs about firefighters, history etc
As a kid I was an avid reader of The Baby-Sitters Club books and I was forever picking up little bits and pieces of information that I would then spout back to my mom and it became a running joke between us.
I bet they have some fun stories!
I actually made a friend at the coffee shop I used to write at who worked in Antartica as a researcher for many years. He even has a “mountain” named after him there because he was the first one to trek it back in the seventies.
It would be challenging! How many words for cold are there? Haha!
I love learning about new occupations. I just read Heather Gray’s “Informal Introduction” and I learned so much about ICU nurses!
Did you see they are making a Netflix series based on The Baby-Sitter’s Club books?
I’ve learned different things from CF over the years, and some from non-fiction, too! One of my favorite books of all time is The Gift of Pain by Dr. Paul Brand.
One of my favorite genres is historical fiction. I’ve learned a lot from the books I’ve read because of the extensive research the authors have done. Elizabeth Camden is one of them with her book “A Daring Venture” set in 1908. The heroine Rosalind is a biochemist waging war against waterborne diseases such as cholera in a radical new way using chlorination. It was fascinating to learn how water treatment today got it’s start! I also really loved that Rosalind went against tradition from women back in those days and pursued a career. Not only because it was frowned upon for women in those days to do but also in a scientific field. Most women in those early days were wives & mothers and kept the house. I think it was a turning point in history for women in general :-)
I always love learning new things in fiction. I read quite a bit of suspense too and I bet some of the things authors research on their computers could be flagged by law enforcement as dangerous….lol! I read a meme once that said something like “Ignore my search history, I’m a writer”. I also know of at least one writer who researched a scene for her upcoming book and had to go to a rocky shore and lie down on the rocks while her best friend told her what angle was best so as not to be noticed by a person passing by. She also was locked in a trunk while the same best friend drove around to see if she could tell the police afterwards where they kidnapper took her. Funny, isn’t it?
Thanks for this fun post today! I’m sure you have done some unusual things in the name of research or Googled odd ball things. Just hope you never have your computer confiscated, lol!
What a fun post! Since I most often learn by watching others, it’s hard to keep track of what may have come my way from a book. (ooo, there’s a whole therapy story line in there somewhere, LOL!) Since writers are always concerned about Point of View, maybe I’ve learned most in that area, seeing how others think or perceive the world. Of course, I’ve picked up some great dessert recipes, too. :)
I learned lots maybe more from historical books like who Rolland Garros home of the French Open was named after. I remember reading a series about American national parks. (3 were featured, Shiloh, Lincoln Memorial and Grand Canyon) I wanted to visit the Shiloh National Park. I did visit the Lincoln Memorial. I learnt there is a hidden place where the general public can’t go.
I have been on author FB groups where they ask for stories on a subject and also from a author newsletter asking for stories on a subject. I remember reading a Sisterchick book set downunder and there is a scene where there is a spa bath and the character puts all the bath gel samples she had in it. I know what was going to happen cos while I only used what they left I had the same issue. The spa had a button you push to start it but it is on a time and before you know it the bubbles are so high you are almost hidden and you can’t stop it. (no warning of course) In the book cos she put even more in the spa the bubbles were to the ceiling and there was bubbles coming under the door etc. I laughed so much cos that is what would have happened to me if I had used anymore. Others may think its over exaggerating it but with a preset timer of about 15 – 20 mins it happens.
Maybe a wildlife rescuer or carer would make a good story.
Not enough down here where it’s winter, much rather find words for warm at the moment, lol!
Wow, that spa story sounds hilarious!
I am in a few reader Facebook groups as well and I am always amazed at the number of responses to a seemingly random profession/location!
Love the recipes included in books. And great point about how people see the world!
That Elizabeth Camden book sounds like one I need to read! How fun!
Yes, when I researching how to get away with embezzlement I was thinking… okay NSA, don’t jump to conclusions here!
I haven’t read that one, but I’ll look it up!
Some of my favorite fiction is where I am learning something. I just finished a book about a woman who had recently become an Orthodox Jew from a Jewish Non-practicing family and how the “real/born” orthodox Jewish people perceived her as a “new-comer”, what her “turning” entailed (all the steps & rules). That was fascinating! I have also enjoyed novels about Smoke Jumpers – the folks that fight all the huge forest fires in the National/state parks and CA. The risks they take are frightful. My friends son was a Smoke Jumper during his college year summers to pay for college. I also love SAR stories, Ranger stories, SAR diving, Cave diving, spelunking, Coast Guard, forensic science characters. . . I read a great series and another separate book about law enforcement Entomologists (who determined the timing of the deceased body based on the fly insect cycle), and another series about “crime scene cleaners” (those who Clean the homes & scenes following violent/undetected deaths). Whenever I can learn odd bits & pieces of such info I love it! I have a very curious mind. ;)
In historical romance, I learned a lot about the names of different kinds of carriages.
the spa incident in the book was so funny. When it happened to me I was really panicking I tried to turn the timer off but it wouldn’t. They don’t give instructions for these things and it was on a bus tour and in the town we stopped it was probably one of the top motels. It’s also the only place I stayed where the spa bath had a timer and not just a on/off button