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The Devil Is in the Details
• Author: admin
• Published: Jan 28th, 2008

116 Responses to “The Devil Is in the Details”

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1. 
   Fedora
   on Jan 28th, 2008
   @ 11:16 pm: 

   Jo and AC, what a very interesting post! As a reader, I definitely notice details that are wrong if the topic’s something I know about. So military rank or proper titles for addressing royalty would possibly slide right by me, but when a baby might start to eat bananas or what kind of outfit a nursing mom might wear, I’d probably notice. Of course the trick for you writers is that the all the details are bound to matter to one reader or another! I guess in general, I appreciate when the writers take the time to get it right. But I probably don’t need to know all of the details myself (especially the icky one, thanks! *averting eyes from info on serial killers*) Sorry, that doesn’t seem too helpful, huh? Mostly I find that if the story is compelling and the characters are good, I want to read the book and the details just help form the background to it all. I’ll have to give some thought to books/writers that get it just right and get back to you…

2. 
   Aunty Cindy
   on Jan 28th, 2008
   @ 11:56 pm: 

   THANX Fedora! You’re right, somewhere someone will notice any little detail if it is WRONG! We writers sometimes have to walk that fine line between thorough and boring. All in the name of CYA (and no, I am NOT referring to the California Youth Authority). LOL!

   And I’m with you on that stuff about Jo’s serial killers. To quote my son, “TMI!” Plus, Jo’s such a sweet looking lady school teacher, you’d never guess what evil lurks in her mind! (snork!)

   I’ll be very curious to see the books and/or writers you suggest as getting it “just right.”

   And THANX A BUNCH for being our first commenter!
   AC

3. 
   helen
   on Jan 29th, 2008
   @ 12:12 am: 

   You are both terrific the amount of research that goes into a book must be lots of hard work and fun at the same time especially if you visit the places. I read mostly historicals and have learn’t so much from the reading I do thanks to the authors. I really like it when the facts are authentic although I get so much into a book that I probably wouldn’t notice a minor thing that was wrong.
   I really do thank the authors for all of the interesting things that I have learn’t over the years.
   Have Fun
   Helen

4. 
   jo robertson
   on Jan 29th, 2008
   @ 12:19 am: 

   Hi, Fedora and Helen, waving madly from our little corner of the world. I agree that if the story’s great and the characters are compelling we readers tend to glide over any “mistakes” of the author. I’ll forgive just about anything if I’m in love with the hero and heroine.

   Sorry about my serial killers. I just find those kinds of characters very interesting. Like what made them that way? Why are they acting out such gruesomeness? I guess I want there to be a reason people are bad instead of like that old movie “The Bad Seed.” Anyone remember that one?

   And I think the research should be fun, don’t you AC? We were just talking about that. If it’s not fun for the writer, how can she make it interesting for the reader. Of course, both AC and I are history major/minors, so we’re sort of geeky like that.

5. 
   Aunty Cindy
   on Jan 29th, 2008
   @ 12:44 am: 

   HEY! (smacks Jo-mama with my French beret) Watch who you’re calling geeky!

   And yes, I DO remember seeing “The Bad Seed” on TV I think. Ever have a kid like that in your class Jo? (shudders) For those who have never seen it, she was this adorable little cherub with blonde-braids who KILLED people. She pushed an old lady down the stairs so she could have… Was it a snow-globe? Music box? And (Jeanne and Cassondra take note)because she was a cute lil girl, she didn’t even worry about hiding the bodies, coz nobody suspected her!

   Yes, Helen, research can be difficult and time consuming, but it’s also FUN!

   Part of the fun is when you learn things that fit so perfectly into your story. When I was researching my 2006 GH finalist “Jewels of the Madonna” I was inspired by a Renaissance portrait of a young woman. I wanted to base one of my characters on her and using the approximate date of the painting, decided to set that portion of the story (JOTM has a dual story line) in 1485. So I started researching real influential Venetians of that time period and came across the famous architect, Pietro Lombardo. Fine, so my beautiful young woman would be the daughter of this famous Venetian architect. One of the buildings Lombardo designed would be pivotal in the story. Well, one of his most famous structures still stands in Venice today, the church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli. You’ll never guess what year it was built… 1485!

   That is when research is FUN!

6. 
   Anna Campbell
   on Jan 29th, 2008
   @ 12:49 am: 

   Jo, what happened to the guy with the botched circumcision? Did he end up going back to being a boy? I hate being left in suspense.

   Research is actually something I really enjoy. I particularly enjoy the hands on stuff when I get to go to old houses in England or beautiful landscapes. And it’s interesting – the more you know, the more you want to know because everything ends up feeding into everything else somehow. Sorry to sound so Zen!

   Great post, Cindy and Jo. Will be back later! Still got some of today’s quota to write so can’t…get…tied…up…on…the…internet…

7. 
   helen
   on Jan 29th, 2008
   @ 12:55 am: 

   I love hearing all these little bits and pieces how cool that the years matched AC and Jo I love a good mystery story especially if it is a romance as well.
   Have Fun
   Helen

8. 
   jo robertson
   on Jan 29th, 2008
   @ 12:56 am: 

   I find things like “The Bad Seed” fascinating. Was the little girl really born bad? Is that even possible? Or is she a product of environment?

   For my current WIP I took the true 1909 story of a woman who murdered her lover for jilting her. She just strapped a pistol onto her ankle, went to his house, shot him dead, and took off into the woods. Her guilt was never in question, just her culpability. Was she a bad woman or was she led astray by a man’s wicked ways.

   The strangest part for me was that she was acquitted by an all-male jury; women couldn’t sit on juries in the U.S. in 1909.

   Of course, my fictional hero and heroine have their love story set against that backdrop. The research on this has been tons of fun.

9. 
   Aunty Cindy
   on Jan 29th, 2008
   @ 12:56 am: 

   Well, we KNOW what happens in Jo-Mama’s version of the poor lad’s story. YIKES! But what’s the REAL rest-of-the-story, Jo-Mama? Do you know?

   Glad you popped in, Foanna! Are you SURE you don’t wanna be tied up? Might help you with “research” on some of your “naughty bits”! (very evil grin)

10. 
    jo robertson
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 12:58 am: 

    Oh, Cindy, that’s a sad, sad story. Eventually, he rebelled against the doctor and his parents (said he always FELT like a male, even as a child), refused to BE a woman and finally married a woman with three children and seemed happy for a while. But later he committed suicide. Opray did a show on him.

11. 
    jo robertson
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 1:02 am: 

    Ooops, sorry, Anna C, thought that was Cindy’s question. The good thing about the post is I’ve gotten 1000 words written while waiting for the comments. Back to the writing grind (snatches AC’s whip and brandishes it fiercely).

    Helen, so glad you said you love a good mystery with romance. I parted company with my agent recently because she said my writing was mainstream suspense, but I kept putting the love parts in. I just couldn’t help it. I do like a good procedural but I want to mingle it with a great love story. Waaahh, can’t I do both?

12. 
    Aunty Cindy
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 1:06 am: 

    Thanx Helen! We writers LOVE nattering on about our babies… er, um, books!

    I hope you’ll forsake your usual historicals for a few contemporaries by us Banditas! I know you’ve read Tawny’s sassy sexy Blazes, but our Duchesse Jeanne’s “Dark and Dangerous” will be out in June, and of course my own will be out sometime this fall… (Yes, these are shameless plugs, but all the Banditas and our buddies know I’m shameless!)

13. 
    jo robertson
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 1:10 am: 

    Readers, let me tell you about these action figures AC and I are giving away today. They’re so darling that I want to keep them for myself. Well, actually I own Jane Austen. She’s pictured on the RNTV home page. She’s very authentic looking and if you turn her upside down you can see her undies. She carries a book and a quill pen and a writing tablet comes with her. Shakespeare’s pretty nifty too with his quill pen and book. Each is about 5 inches tall.

    I want to thank my former teaching collegue for turning me on to the idea. HI KELLY!!! She gave me Austen for Christmas and I love her! Soooo cool.

14. 
    jo robertson
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 1:12 am: 

    Oh, but, AC, I think your “Death in the Fens” has a certain historical feel about it even though it’s contemporary. I think it’s the whole mysterious idea of the fens, the Irish brogue of Donovan, the . . . whooops, telling too much again?

15. 
    Christine Wells
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 1:16 am: 

    Hmm, weird. I just commented on another version of this post, then one son tried to kill the other and I lost track. This is confusing.

    Ahem! Anyway, fun post, ladies! I like a bit of devil in my detail too. Er, I mean, I like a bit of detail in my devil. No, that’s not right…

    I love an author who can weave detail through her work and not bore me witless. I loathe info dumps and a lot of description so if an author gives me too much, I skim.

    I’m afraid I’m a terrible pedant when it comes to the way language is used and sounds in Regency historicals. No one else cares about this in my subgenre but still, Regency misses who sound like Valley Girls in period dress really get up my nose. So here is my rant…In the Regency, English people did not say ‘Fine.’ unless they were talking about the weather. They did not ‘visit WITH Lady X’ and they did not walk on a SIDEWALK. They also do not ‘go do something’. They go TO do something. I know, I know, I said I was pedantic, didn’t I? And the debate rages on about ‘gotten’ on Regency loops everywhere. And I certainly make mistakes myself. But I try, I really try to make my characters sound like they’re from England.

    On the other hand I do not care if an author gives the wrong price for a pair of gloves or uses some word or phrase that wasn’t recorded as in use until 5 years after her book is set. I don’t care if writers say there were buttons on those puffy shirts when there weren’t, yet I know a lot of people hate these kinds of inaccuracies with a passion.

    Someone said somewhere that readers have an enormous collective knowledge. THink about it, no one person can be an expert on everything that appears in their story, yet one reader might be an expert on period dress, another an expert on guns and so on. Together, they can make your life a misery with their nitpicking, but you know, you only have a year to write a book, even less time to research it, generally. You can’t become an expert on everything. So I just do my best and I have to be satisfied with that.

    End of rant!*g*

16. 
    Christine Wells
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 1:27 am: 

    I found an interesting snippet about lady prizefighters in 18th and 19th century London when I was researching The Dangerous Duke. I even discovered that a countess had learnt to box. From her likeness, she certainly looks like a bit of a bruiser but I thought it was a very interesting detail to use in a story.

    That story about the sex changed twin is terribly sad, Jo. Isn’t it awful that the parents agreed?

17. 
    jo robertson
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 1:34 am: 

    LOL, Christine. Of course, separating murderous siblings trumps posting on a blog. At least I think it does; sometimes it’s better to let them duke it out.

    Sorry you posted twice. Confusing, huh, double-posting? I shot an email to RNTV so hopefully it’ll get fixed.

    Nice rant, Madame! Strangely enough, I’m not worried so much about the syntax or diction of the character’s dialogue, but I do get mightily pissed at a zipper before it was invented. Or an anachronistic person.

    I was reading an historical several weeks ago in which a character quoted something from Emerson (without citing the name, but I recognized the quote — okay, geeky English teacher here) and I flipped back to the front of the book and looked at the date. Sure enough, the date of the novel predated Emerson life and work. That really annoyed me.

18. 
    Aunty Cindy
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 1:35 am: 

    Hmmm, yes I can tell it is past Jo-Mama’s bedtime when she admits to peeking at Jane Austen’s undies! Next thing we know, she’ll be pulling down Will’s hose. (snork!)

    But no, you haven’t revealed too much about my upcoming book (they told me they were changing the title, just not what the new official title is, yet). There ARE some ancient Celts running around in it… Did I mention the paranormal elements? Not to mention some IRA baddies…. Okay, now I’m about to reveal too much! (Aunty zips lip and slinks away.)

19. 
    jo robertson
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 1:38 am: 

    Yes, Christine, it’s sad. I think they call it the John/Jane case. It was long enough ago that medical experts didn’t understand as much about identities. In fact, there was a time (back in the old days) when an infant’s gender was determined by the length of the genital. Physcians looks and made a judgment. Anything less than so many inches and the doctor proclaimed the child a girl; more and it was a boy. We didn’t know about XX and XY chromosomes and certainly never imagined there could be XXY and XYY chromosomes.

    We’ve come a long way.

20. 
    jo robertson
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 1:41 am: 

    Lady prize-fighters!! I haven’t heard that one, Christine. I just love how you have to be a lifelong learner and keep all these bits of arcane knowledge in your brain — or in my case on the laptop since my brain’s a sieve — and then plan to drop them in one short sentence or phrase of your story. It give such an air of authenticity. Tee hee, makes me feel smarter than I am.

21. 
    jo robertson
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 1:43 am: 

    Cindy, I REALLY wanted to talk about the slight supernatural element and the IRA, but I’ll hush now. So this as-yet untitled book comes out in the fall? I feel so lucky I’ve read it already!

22. 
    Aunty Cindy
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 1:44 am: 

    WOW! What a night! Jo peeking at undies! The demure and proper Mme. D-W ranting! Lawd-a-mercy as my Gramma used to say!

    Christine, that is a fascinating tidbit about women boxers! I definitely never heard of that. And you know I’m just kidding about the proper and demure, we Banditas know the REAL you. MUAHAHAHA! Gum-snapping Valley Girls, BEWARE!

23. 
    Aunty Cindy
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 2:13 am: 

    Well, it is now just past the “witching hour” here on the West Coast, and I really did just return home a few days ago from Europe so the jet lag has knocked me even more loopy than usual. Therefore, I will bid nighty-night to our Oz contingent and any other night owl readers so that we can continue this fun and informative discussion when our East Coasters are up and about.

    DO NOT expect me back here early. Jo-Mama is the early riser and will be holding down the fort for awhile. I am NOT a morning person, and I have the key chain (compliments of my DH) to prove it!

24. 
    helen
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 2:14 am: 

    AC I will be reading all of the Banditas books I am waiting on Christie’s to be delivered within the next ten days you guys are the best and I have loved all the ones I have read so far actually they are at the top of my all time favourites list. Way to go Ladies. Jo I say you can have romance and a good suspense in a book I love them
    Have Fun
    Helen

25. 
    jo robertson
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 2:20 am: 

    Heheheh, it’s a cold day you-know-where when AC goes to bed before me, but I’m off to sleep also.

    Be thinking of choreography in your reading/writing and we’ll talk about it in the morning. By that I mean how do you make sure the movements of your characters ring true?

    In my third book, in an up-scale bar Isabella walks on 4″ strappy heels (borrowed from her sister) towards the hero. Another person brushes by her just enough so that she topples. I wanted her to lose her balance and fall backwards so that her sexy red dress flips up over her head and the hero (who just happens to be sitting in the booth in front of her) spies a glimpse of her sexy panties.

    It’s amazing how sometimes the movements work well in our heads, but just don’t translate to the page. What do you think readers? Have you ever been stymied by an impossible physical movement by characters? As readers, how do you insure authenticity?

26. 
    Christine Wells
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 2:44 am: 

    And the Emerson thing is quite easy to check, isn’t it? You could just look up his dates on the internet.

    I’m just amazed at the way you were able to twist the John/Jane case for your story, Jo. It must have been fascinating.

    And Aunty C, I can’t wait for your Death in the Fens, to be titled book. I love romantic suspense, so I’m really looking forward to a treat.

27. 
    Christine Wells
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 2:46 am: 

    Hey, AC, you’re giving away my dirty little secret:) Well, no one will ever believe me when I say I’m not such a good girl so I thought I’d go with the goody two-shoes image. Now you say you don’t buy that either? Sheesh!

28. 
    Suzanne Welsh
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 4:57 am: 

    Fedora, that’s the tricky part, putting in enough research bits to make it feel authentic, but not so much that you’re giving a dissertation on the subject to the readers.

29. 
    Suzanne Welsh
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 5:03 am: 

    Good morning Jo and AC! Got a few minutes to comment on your blog. I’m thinking I really have to watch Viggo’s Russian movie…for the research…yeah that’s the ticket! I’m sure I watch Last Of The Mohicans for historical research…:)

    But it is fun to get research. I went to the firefighters with Jo Davis to help do research for her book, and got info on Meth labs for one of my books. Darn, what hardship! Spending an entire Sunday afternoon in the company of firemen…who had lots to tell us! And let us play with their equipment….FIRE Equipment!!

    Then there was the time I wanted my heroine to be able to take apart a Glock and put it back together again. I have a friend who’s husband wrote me out the exact steps she would go through to do it. So I broke the steps up over a page, slipping in parts during the dialogue. It worked so smoothly!

30. 
    Gannon
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 7:09 am: 

    I appreciate an author who can weave the details into the story in such a way that keeps my interest. Too much information at one time makes me feel like I’m reading a textbook! Accuracy is so important, though. If I find a glaring error, it pulls me out of the story, and we all know, that’s not good.

    Great blog, ladies. And that story about the twins, Jo, is absolutely tragic! Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.

31. 
    Anna Sugden
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 7:29 am: 

    Great post Aunty Cindy and Jo! I remember seeing a Law and Order SVU episode which was based around a similar story of the twins.

    I’ve seen how much environment can affect children – I’m a former school teacher and was once attacked by a pupil in a shocking home situation! He wasn’t being abused, but it was very close. When things changed at home, he became a different child … though I was never able to trust that change.

    Research *sigh* it is a tough part of the job – going down to watch hunky hockey players, meeting them and interviewing them … oh the hard work we do to please our readers! Hey, I even got to ride on the Zamboni! (The machine that clears the ice for all you naughty women!)

    Layering in research so it flavours the work rather than overwhelms it, is an art. It’s like eating a meal prepared by an excellent chef like Mario Battali or Gordon Ramsey or Morimoto!

    I think it’s hard to know what to research too. My story about a piece of information in a book that was wrong, is one where the author couldn’t have know to research the topic. She made a logical assumption and, unfortunately, it was wrong because of who she chose. It concerns a Cary Grant autograph. Now, most people sign best wishes … but Cary never did. It was always ‘cordially’. Only people who collect autographs (whistles innocently … I have a few … boxes … several cary Grant’s) would know that. So, when I saw ‘best wishes, Cary Grant’ – it really pulled me out of the story (an excellent book otherwise). But, like I said – only a few anoraks/autograph geeks would know that.

32. 
    Beth Andrews
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 8:40 am: 

    Hey Jo and AC! Great post. I really enjoy researching but since I tend to plan my stories a bit too much, I have to be very careful with my research time or I’ll never start writing *g*

    I haven’t found any really interesting facts or tidbits in my research, though I have read a few very disturbing stories when I was researching for a romantic suspense.

    As far as my reading, I can’t remember ever being pulled out of a story because of lack of research or faulty research – probably because I wouldn’t know if it was faulty *g*

    I think Nora Roberts does a great job of bringing her research to life – whether it’s settings (Ireland or a small town in Alaska) or careers or hobbies (vineyards, mountain climbing, archeology) I’m always impressed by how seamlessly she puts it all together

33. 
    Kirsten Scott
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 9:04 am: 

    Okay, I’ll admit it, I’m not a detail person. Funny, being a lawyer and all, but I’m more big picture than detail. When I read historical romance, I’m usually more interested in the story than the history. Gosh, I feel soooo guilty admitting that in front of all the history buffs on this list (especially Christine, who will NEVER NEVER see the Regency romances that live under my bed).

    That said, I can totally appreciate an author who is willing to sacrifice and go visit Venice and Ireland just for the sake of her writing. (Hmph!) I thought Jennifer Donnelly’s book The Tea Rose was simply amazing for this–she spent 10 years working on it! Can you imagine? From her dialect to the detail about types of tea and how you pack it, I believed every bit and found it totally organic to the story.

    But when you’re writing three or four books a year, you can’t get to quite that level of detail. Other than becoming an expert in one time period (Regency) or having a team of research assistants, how do you triage your research? Where do you put in the time and where do you take educated guesses?

34. 
    Donna MacMeans
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 9:24 am: 

    LOL Jo – I read your post about the person who brushes by the heroine and she suddenly “topples” – to say he brushes by her and she’s suddenly topless! What a different book that would be

    I love that both of you majored in history. I was just commenting to my husband that if I were to go back for another degree (I admit, I’m a schoolie at heart) I’d get a masters in history…or theater. I think acting and staging classes would compliment writing.

    Anna – you collect autographs? Interesting… the things one learns in a blog -

    Such a sad story about the twin. Medical/scientific discoveries had exploded over the last century that we forget that many of the discoveries – like DNA and the effect of chromosones – that we forget that there was a fairly recent time when such knowledge didn’t exist.

35. 
    jo robertson
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 9:26 am: 

    I’m baaacccck! I think I’m awake . . . not really sure.

    Yes, Christine, the author could’ve checked Emerson out so easily. She never mentioned the poet, so it may have been that she was just using the quote without knowing whence it came, never realizing a picky English teacher was lurking in the corner!

    In my current WIP, I wanted the hero to have a Picasso hanging on the wall, one of his more daring abstracts. Now, I know nothing about art, but it was fairly easy to get dates off the internet. I certainly wanted to be sure Picasso was alive in 1909 LOL!

    Suzanne, with your Roman boys, you certainly know about historical research. My upcoming class is in firearms, although I’ve noticed that the other students — strapping young men and women all — look askance at me. Nothing like a firearms-toting grandma!

    And you’ve certainly sacrificed in the name of your research, Suz! Firemen — meth labs (those things blow up, you know).

    Seamlessly, Gannon, I think that’s the word. When the author slips those rich little details into the story so effortlessly that the reader hardly notices them, and yet the richness they add to the story is always there at the back of our minds.

36. 
    jo robertson
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 9:29 am: 

    And, in all seriousness, the Viggo Mortensen — Eastern Promises — is outstanding. He really stretches his acting continuum, does an amazing job. It wasn’t all about the naked shower fight scene!

37. 
    Kate Carlisle
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 9:33 am: 

    Oooh V.Anna, that’s a really cool insight on Cary Grant! You’ll have to use that in a book someday. And I think I saw the SVU episode, too. Creepy!!

    JoMama and Aunty, great post! I love hearing about the background research that goes into a book. Not so much the infodump inside the book, though. There really is a fine line. I find myself pouring a lot of research into the chapters as I write the first draft, then going through and cutting it out on the second draft.

    And Aunty, I am so anxious to finally get my hands on your Death in the Fens — whatever the title ends up being (although I simply love it the way it is). You’ve really whet my appetite for a great atmospheric Irish mystery. I can’t wait!

    JoMama, your books sound so incredible! Well, they must be since you keep winning every contest under the sun. It’s just a matter of time before you soar to superstar status!

    For myself, when I sat down to write my new series, I decided I wanted to include a little bit of everything I love so that when I was *forced* to do the research, I could do all my favorite things. So my character works with old books, she lives in San Francisco, she was raised in a Sonoma commune where her Deadhead parents run a vineyard and winery, and then there’s the British security expert who’s hot for her. So let’s see…I’ve got to research old books, San Francisco, wine country, wine, James Bond–er, I mean, British Intelligence, etc. What a chore! And my girl will be going to an Edinburgh book festival in book two! Snork! I love research.

38. 
    jo robertson
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 9:39 am: 

    Donna, ROTFLOL, it’d just be like me to write “topless”! Freudian slip and all.

    Oh, yes, acting classes are great for getting that physical choreography. I’m sure you know that fight scenes in movies are choreographed — nothing left to chance. Years ago I taught high school drama and we’d learn the basic movements. The John Wayne was a one-two-three. One, left hand on opponent’s right shoulder; two fist back to strike; three, graze opponent’s jaw and in the follow through, slap your fist into the palm of your left hand.

    Okay, that was as clear as mud, huh? Anyway, the slapping of your fist into your open palm creates a slapping sound. At the same moment, of course, the opponent must jerk his head to the right as if he’s been struck.

    Warning: This act should only be repeated by professionals.

39. 
    jo robertson
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 9:51 am: 

    Get outta here, Anna S. You collect autographed pix? Who knew? Yes, I’m sure no one would know that arcane piece of info about Cary Grant.

    I’m fortunate that my husband is a walking encyclopedia of trivia. If I’m in the “zone” and don’t want to stop writing to look up a bit of information, I’ll ask him. He invariably knows. Like, what trees are indigenous to Idaho? How did the Utah salt flats form? Last night I was wondering who controlled the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, a holy place to Christians, Jews, and Muslims. He knew! Go figure, the man’s a wonder!

    Actually, this is probably the area where we older (cough, cough, more mature) writers have an advantage over younger ones. We’ve lived longer and generally have a more broad experience base. That’s why I said we writers have to be intellectually curious about the world around us.

40. 
    jo robertson
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 9:59 am: 

    Anna said “Layering in research so it flavours the work rather than overwhelms it, is an art. It’s like eating a meal prepared by an excellent chef like Mario Battali or Gordon Ramsey or Morimoto!”

    What an excellent thought, Anna. I just had to repeat it. It IS like good cuisine, isn’t it?

    BTW, I knew the term Zamboni, another bit from DH!

    Beth, I so know the feeling of either getting lost (BTW, LOST starts up new this week — yay!!) in the research or being overwhelmed by it. Internet access has made it so much easier to obtain information — an tempting to over-research. And DISTURBING STORIES??? Come on, girl, you’ve gotta follow that one up. I’m imagining a shower scene in a remote hotel, a knife slicing through the shower curtain, blood trickling down the drain — oh wait, that’s PSYCHO. Tell all, Beth, inquiring minds want to know!

41. 
    jo robertson
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 10:06 am: 

    Kirsten, I have Jennifer’s book on my TBR list. Readers, we have an interview with Donnelly on our blog. Click the link on this home page to follow through and you can read about Jennifer’s experience writing THE TEA ROSE.

    But it’s all in the balance as Gannon said. Too much historical detail is as off-putting for me as inaccurate facts. I’m all like, yawn, girl, did you just decide to take a break, cut and paste that two-page historical stuff in? It’s when the clever writer sneaks in details and the reader doesn’t lose the passion of the story that’s great to me.

    And don’t YA and contemporary writers have to have their details accurate? Since I stopped teaching school I’m clueless about the current teen vernacular. When I taught it was easy to pick up their language, now not so much.

42. 
    jo robertson
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 10:15 am: 

    Kirsten said: “how do you triage your research? Where do you put in the time and where do you take educated guesses?”

    Excellent question. Any answers, writers?

    Personally I can’t imagine any of you young mother-writers triaging more than poopy diapers, dinner, and sleep (please God, tonight let me sleep!). Well I remember those days. I think the answer is as different as writers’ styles.

    I solved a lot of my historical problems by creating a fictional county (Bigler County) based on the real county where I live. The courthouse in the county seat is an historical landmark and last year when I did jury duty, I wandered through the building and got a feeling for its history (there’s a tiny museum on the bottom floor). Underneath the cement steps leading to the upper floors, is a small cell built specifically for women prisoners. That historical fact spawned my story. I got the basic facts from history, but wanted to tweak the circumstances of that trial. I made the woman innocent so that I’d have a mystery to solve.

43. 
    jo robertson
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 10:19 am: 

    Kate, thanks for the compliment!

    Your bibliophile books sound just up my alley. Can’t wait until they come out, and what a fun bunch of research you have ahead of you! Lucky girl, you’ll have to re-watch ALL the Bond movies, just to get the accent correct.

44. 
    Yvonne
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 10:38 am: 

    Hi Cindy & Jo,

    I loved your blog and can’t wait for Cindy’s book to come out…I love to research and am in the middle of a Billy the Kid tie in for a story set in New Mexico…but is not a historical! I had originally set it near Lincoln County NM but I had only vacationed in Northern NM so now I’ve changed the location so that I can refer to the places I’ve been and the areas that I know…anyway…loved your ideas and will continue to read!

    Yvonne
    SVR

45. 
    Anna Sugden
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 10:52 am: 

    Jo – my hubby sounds like yours – a font of all kinds of information! Love the sound of your books – just my cup of tea!

    Yes – I collect autographs – mainly classic movie stars and from movies I like (romances – who’d have thought), as well some from TV series. But I have branched out recently into hockey autographs too *grin* Good job our house back home has plenty of wall space!

    Kate – I can’t wait for your Bibliophile mystery books either … if you need help with Brits and old books – you know where to come!

    AC – Waiting (im)patiently for your book to come out!

46. 
    Aunty Cindy
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 10:56 am: 

    (Aunty cranks one eyelid half way open and shudders) UGH! What ungodly hour IS it? Jo actually stayed up LATER than I did? And she’s been here HOW LONG! (Groans and waves white flag) Well, it’s nice that ONE of us is a morning person and it is never gonna be ME!

    Hi everyone, glad to see the discussion is going strong even if I’m not.

47. 
    jo robertson
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 11:11 am: 

    Yvonne, love Billy the Kid references — so uniquely American! My husband’s mother claimed her ancestors had a dust up with Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid! She was quite elderly, so I questioned the fact .

    I just watched Good Morning America’s Matt Lauer interview John Grisham. He asked Grisham for a piece of advice for writers, so I perked up! His advice: write a page every single day. That’s a book a year, he said. Also he apparently writes very detailed outlines before beginning a word. Hmmm, I know most Banditas write more than a page day, but then again, we’re not as rich as Grisham LOL. And many of us write organically. I wonder if that’s one of the differences between men and women writers?

48. 
    Aunty Cindy
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 11:13 am: 

    Wow, GREAT to see all our Bandita-sisters out so bright and early, even Kirsten and Kate here on the West Coast and (no doubt) getting ready for work! And Yvonne, our SVR Sister! HUGS! Thanx so much for joining the party!

    Kirsten, you bring up a very valid point! Most writers do need to produce more than one book a year. How to do that, fit in the proper amount of research and still have a life is a huge challenge! In fact, just thinking about it is giving me a huge headache this early in the day! Please, somebody else weigh in with their opinion here!

49. 
    Fedora
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 11:15 am: 

    Definitely true, Suzanne, Jo, Gannon–it’s really lovely when the details are woven in as part of the story, and really awful when they’re clumped together as a big serving of “lookee, here’s my research–this is completely accurate!” I do tend to zone out when that happens and skim until the story picks up again. I do like Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ books–I learned about the circus and football but didn’t feel like I was taking a class

50. 
    jo robertson
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 11:15 am: 

    So, Anna S, do you have the autographs framed and hung back in England. I find that a fascinating hobby. I collect teapots from various places I’ve been, not nearly as interesting.

    AC, yahooooooo, you’re up and crawling out of the coffin. Oh, wait, that’s Cassondra!

    Unfortunately,when I signed off last night around midnight, I’d have a gajillion pepsis to keep me awake and so I watched a movie on TV until 2:00. Anyone remember when you did this kind of thing in college to study for finals and it was actually fun??? Not so much when you’re old.

51. 
    jo robertson
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 11:20 am: 

    SEP’s quite good at that, isn’t she, Fedora. And her writing underscores how important accuracy in detail is for contemporary writers as well.

    A new historical author I’ve discovered is superb at this weaving of detail. Check out Deanna Raybourne’s SILENT IN THE GRAVE, a Lady Julia Grey mystery. The hero, Nicholas Brisbane is quite the hottie, in a dark alpha-male, tormented hero sort of way.

52. 
    Joanie T
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 11:29 am: 

    AC said: Plus, Jo’s such a sweet looking lady school teacher, you’d never guess what evil lurks in her mind!

    LOL, AC. It’s always the QUIET ones. News report “He was such a quiet, good neighbor. I just thought he loved his flowers, working in the garden so late at night. He told me tulips NEEDED 6 foot deep holes”

    In my third book, in an up-scale bar Isabella walks on 4″ strappy heels (borrowed from her sister) towards the hero. Another person brushes by her just enough so that she topples.

    A year ago, my CP TL Gray and I went to NYC for a long weekend. We went to see the Broadway production of “Mamma Mia”. Now, TL is an absolute designer shoe maven. I mean we went shopping and it was like watching an addict on a high. I just smiled at the salespeople and helped lug the purchases around.

    Anyway, getting ready to go I realized my fairly “bleach” shoes just weren’t elegant enough. So she lent me a classy pair of black Dior.

    I walked gingerly out to the taxi, thinking “You are SO gonna break an ankle” but was determined to look sophisticated. The taxi pulls up to the theatre, I open the door and there is a huge grate there! I manage to get past that but kept bumping into people (looking like a drunk giraffe). I would say “Excuse me, I’m in designer shoe training” LOL

    Layering in research so it flavours the work rather than overwhelms it, is an art.

    Anna this is so true. The day to day details of my Roman boys, the culture, the world they live in has to be melded in as they go about their lives and the plot unfolds. If Damon walks the streets of the Aventine I will present the “historical” aspects through his eyes, his perceptions, his feelings (and in the case of a fuller’s house..the stench )

    Now, off to research B & B’s for my April trip to Ireland which , oh, boy will be SO used in several books.

53. 
    Tawny Weber
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 11:33 am: 

    Morning, AC *g* Hey Jo!

    Great blog. Research is so NOT my thing. It always feels like being in school LOL. So I do very little for my books, although I believe strongly in making sure that whatever you are writing (historical setting, serial killers, hot sex) you know enough about to make sure it’s realistic in every aspect. For example, I watched a version of Robin Hood once and was loving it, until a character used a very modern term that ruined the entire rest of the movie. It was so inappropriate to the time, I was done. I’m the same with books. I’ll give the author my complete faith and read happily, as long as the details are consistent with whatever they’ve told me I’m reading LOL.

    btw, running in heels… depends on how used to heels the gal is Some would trip, skirt over their head and show panties (*beg* Jo) and others could pull off a few karate kicks and keep on going. The most important thing, though, is what the heels look like. I mean, if they are ugly, just kick them off and go barefoot. There’s no room for ugly shoes. Nope, none.

54. 
    jo robertson
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 11:41 am: 

    All we Banditas are in serious envy mode of Joanie’s upcoming trip to Ireland. Sorry, Joan, I inadvertently attributed your Roman historicals to Suz — Sheesh — brain freeze!

    You are much braver than I on those stilettoes.

    Tawny, you’re right. Life is too short for a gal to wear ugly shoes. And pretty shoes means a pretty pedicure, don’t forget!

55. 
    Keira Soleore
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 12:30 pm: 

    Returned here to find that my earlier comment had vanished!! All that scholarly writing. Gone!!

    Tawny and V.Anna: How many pairs of shoes are appropriate to bring to National?

    Joan: When do you leave for Ireland? Do tell us a bit more about your itinerary? Is Armagh on your list?

    Jo-Mama and Aunty Cindy: The author’s research should be vast and deep, but written in a way that the reader is seamlessly carried from their home into the writer’s world, without feeling, “Uh-oh here comes the info-dump orientation.”

    Jo-Mama: Cassondra likes to sleep in a coffin?? OMG. Do tell. I absolutely need to know.

    Donna: You clever, clever you. “Topples” to “topless” without missing a beat.

    About these action figures, now that Jo-Mama has brought up peeking inside… Do their clothes come off? All for research purposes, of course! (I believe there was a Marie Antoinette one I belive whose head would fall off and her dress, too.)

56. 
    Aunty Cindy
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 12:35 pm: 

    Joanie, we are all VERY ENVIOUS of your upcoming trip to Ireland! In spite of my reputation as a gadabout, I think you’ve been to Ireland more times than I have. Sure you have, in fact!

    Here’s another tidbit about the Celts that I discovered. You probably know this already, Joanie, but the Celts used old Roman coins (they would’ve been several hundred years old by then) as part of their offerings. Metal was considered to be particularly powerful and so was often used in ceremonial sacrifices.

    Yes, Tawny, life IS too short for ugly shoes! But you don’t fool me, I KNOW you do some research. In “Does She Dare” you have Isabel as a flower/gift shop owner, and Dante (YUM!) as a building construction and real estate acquisition agent. Have you done all those things before? I know you’re multi-talented, but didn’t you do a WEE BIT of research? FESS UP!

57. 
    Suzanne Welsh
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 12:37 pm: 

    Since we’re talking about research, I do have a pet peeve…and Joanie can probably concur with me on it. If you’re not in the medical field and are writing scenes in a hospital, please, please, please do not write what you’ve seen on TV! They get wrong on a lot levels. There are millions of nurse around the country and world. ASK US what would happen in the scene. We’re the ones who work daily on the units, physically take care of the patients, are the first ones on the scene to save the patient’s life. We’ll give you accuracy, authenticity and occasionally funny antecdotes!

    Suz
    Stepping off her soap box

58. 
    Suzanne Welsh
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 12:41 pm: 

    Joanie, on the shoe thing…I don’t get it much either….(ducks pillows being thrown from Anna S and Tawny). HOWEVER, think of the way you could describe a non-shoe-maven heroine stepping around town in borrowed stillettos from a friend or sister, trying to look soooo sexy and coming off as the drunk girraffe right into the hero. Now that’s great first person research!

59. 
    Aunty Cindy
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 12:42 pm: 

    Keira, GREAT to see you!

    My book is largely set in County Armagh! Do you have relatives there? For those who don’t know, this is one of the counties NOT in the Republic. Things are definitely different in Northern Ireland than the Republic.

    Yes, our Cassondra claims to sleep in a coffin. However, since she also owns and is an expert on copious amounts of weaponry, I’ll let HER tell you about that particular lil quirk.

    And as for shoes, I’m SURE Tawny and VA will tell you that however many pairs you bring to National, you won’t have too many!

60. 
    cassondra
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 12:49 pm: 

    Okay, speaking of shoes..

    I was in TJMaxx on Sunday (my fav store) and they had this GORGEOUS pair of silver-gray FM shoes (okay, does everyone know what FM shoes are? This is a respectable blog and I can’t actually use that word, ya know?) 4-1/2″ spikes, just barely open toe pumps with part of one side cut out. OMG. And the only size they didn’t have? THat’s right. Mine. (Size 8 always goes first.) Pffffffft.

    And yes, I could run in those. Not as well or as fast as I could when I was a young woman. I grew up in really high heels. Then I went through my “earth mother” phase and wore only flats and it ruined me. It’s harder, now, to wear those gorgeous shoes for long periods. And I can’t move nearly as fast in them. Dangit.

    JoMama, at LAST your Derringer question begins to make sense. I could NOT for the life of me figure out why a modern murderess would choose an antique gun! NOW I understand…..the murder was 100 years ago. So, the answer will change a bit, and I can get you the exact model if you want. But if it’s possible, I’d strap the gun to my thigh, or just below my knee and right above the calf–because the Derringers were really heavy.

    This is a great post, btw. In our workshops I use an example of an EXTREMELY famous (male) author who writes what are, for me, wallbangers because he does impossible stuff with weapons–like spinning the cylinder on a Glock, and “in one smooth move, he kneels, pulls up his Khaki pants and yanks the gun out of his “shin” holster and shoots the villain right between the eyes(all this while the villain was holding a gun on him)…..Lessee…..about twenty things wrong with this move–it could never happen, no such thing as a shin holster, couldn’t pull your pants leg over that model of weapon unless they were bell bottoms, couldn’t reasonably wear that big a weapon on your lower leg anywhere, no way could you do it that quickly–you’d be dead before you got your pants leg up….) SEE? This just ruins it.

    And it ruined it for a lot of people because I found this excerpt when somebody on an internet forum brought it to everyone’s attention.

    It’s frightening–there’s a whole world of experts out there. Everybody is an expert about something. Right now, I’m needing to see a large vending machine business–maybe even a vending machine distributorship–and having trouble finding anybody anywhere that will let me come in and see their facility and find out how it works. But I WILL find that.

    The whole “write what you know” thing is all well and good–except you can’t know everything. But what bothers me is the obvious stuff–when it’s so obvious that the author has made no effort to check–is Paducah, KY in the mountains? Or not? No, it’s not. It’s river bottom land. That’s not hard to find out, and when one hero, at the end of a very good book, went to face his demons and “rolled into the mountains around Paducah, Ky”, I threw the book across the room. Made me SO mad.

    I spoke with a sweetie pie editor from Kensington at a conference when I was pitching one of my books to her, and of course, it’s romantic suspense, and this one was set in NYC. She asked, “Why do you think you can write romantic suspense?” Well, I was able to rattle off….”I’ve done Search & Rescue for fifteen years, I’ve worked with all levels of law enforcement, EMS, state and local forensics people, and my husband is former Special Ops, and a weapons expert. I teach ropes courses and we do workshops on weapons for writers.” She smiled and nodded, then she said, “And what makes you think you can set a book in New York?” And I said, “I was up there in the aftermath of 9-11 with my dogs. I made friends with an NYPD Undercover, and he’s taken me everywhere–he showed me blah blah blah….” And she smiled and shook her head and said, “Good. I want to see the full. I’m always disappointed when ladies try to write romantic suspense and never get out of their bunny slippers, but bless their hearts for trying.”

    I found this very telling..I think the editors are looking for that feel of authenticity and authority in knowing what you’re talking about. I think you have to do enough research to get that. Some of it can be had second hand, and some not.

    It’s really hard to know when you’ve got it right.

    Oh, and firemen are so good about letting you feel their…uh…hoses…aren’t they?

61. 
    cassondra
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 12:52 pm: 

    Suz said:

    If you’re not in the medical field and are writing scenes in a hospital, please, please, please do not write what you’ve seen on TV! They get wrong on a lot levels.

    Amen Suz. And they get the guns wrong too. SO wrong. Lots of ladies in law enforcement now….at all levels…and lots of ladies both shooting for fun AND reading romance.

62. 
    Aunty Cindy
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 12:52 pm: 

    Suz, TOTALLY AGREE about using TV for research — DON’T DO IT! Even though I never worked in a clinical settings, I hung around medical folks enough to know that most of the hospital stuff on TV is done for dramatic effect, not realism.

    So that brings up another point to ponder: With so many readers “trained” by what they see on TV and movies, is this a disadvantage to the writer who is striving for accuracy and realism? Our lovely Bandita Anna Campbell’s book “Claiming the Courtesan” comes to mind. Our La Campbell was criticized by some readers for her arrogant alpha hero. In reality, she was giving an accurate portrayal of a man of power and privilege during that era.

    Comments anyone?

63. 
    cassondra
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 1:00 pm: 

    Keira, do NOT let Aunty Cindy scare you….I won’t be bringing my coffin along to SanFran…have to get up EARLY there for workshops and such.

64. 
    jo robertson
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 1:06 pm: 

    LOL, sorry you lost your high-brow research, Keira! I do believe San Francisco will have its first (maybe) SHOE invasion when RWA arrives in July. And with the nearly year-round 60’s weather, we can wear all kinds of fun shoes.

    I’ll let Cassondra ’splain about her coffin compulsion.

    I have a secret confession. Don’t tell my husband. I love to buy shoes, all kinds of funky ones, unusual ones, ones that will only go with ONE outfit. The trouble? I only wear a few of them. So sad. And Cassondra, TJMaxx is the best place to get high-fashion shoes cheap!

    Joanie and Suz, if I worked on my feet for 12-hour shifts dealing with cranky patients, I’d only wear my Birkenstocks! You women are saints. SAINTS, I TELL YOU! The entire medical profession would fall apart without you.

    LOL, Cassondra, I wondered why YOU wondered about the Deringer. I wanted a pistol, produced in pairs, which also was no longer made. I only had to do a little research to find this little one. As soon as I get down to my state historical archives, I’ll research what type of weapon the murderess actually used.

    Man, I tell you, if Wikipedia cannot be trusted, I am in deep doo-doo. I use that site a lot!

65. 
    Joanie T
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 1:08 pm: 

    Suz,

    Man, if I wrote modern day stories that would be a GREAT scene! Instead of Beauty and the Beast it would be Beauty and the Giraffe LOL.

    I do hear you about the medical stuff though as you and I both know, the reality can be rather bland and uproariously funny…as well as the usual heartbreaking and soul satisfying. What gets me is the use of stereotypes. The over sexed nurse (most of us keep that under wraps to protect the health of our patients ), the “Nurse Cratchet” type of stuff.

66. 
    Aunty Cindy
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 1:09 pm: 

    Hey Cassondra, *I* am not the scary one… Well, okay maybe a little bit, when I’m snapping my crop (which I WILL be bringing to SF!).

    And yes, even I am forced to get up early at National. Either that or, just never go to bed. AHEM! We Banditas have a reputation for being found in the BAAAA.

67. 
    jo robertson
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 1:15 pm: 

    Funny one about the “bunny slippers,” Cassondra. And the firemen and their “hoses” are most excellent. Denis O’Leary was on Craig Ferguson last night talking about firemen (and his role in “Rescue Me”). Too, too funny, the Scotsman and the Irishman doing a comedy talk show.

    Reader-Writers, one thing we didn’t mention, but I’m sure you know is the wonderful world of writing loops. There are so many people with such great expertise. Someone’s always sure to have an answer for you. The Banditas are replete with experts — two nurses, lawyers, CPA’s, teachers, our munitions expert, what else have I forgotten? Pop on over to our site if you have a question. You can see we love to chatter.

    Me, I don’t know nuthin’ ’bout ‘nuthing. Oh, except grammar. Give me a dangling participle and I can fix the hell out of it. For whatever that’s worth .

68. 
    Joanie T
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 1:18 pm: 

    Ahhhhhh, Ireland, my Ireland.

    This will be my 5th trip though it’s been 2 years since my last. I’ve missed it!

    As of now Armagh is not on the route I’m planning. Northern Ireland has a “different feel to it”, is in my opinion not as grand as the rest of the Republic though the Giant’s Causeway is something to behold. Derry….well, Derry was just plain haunting. The vibrations of years of violence and strife have left a definate imprint on the place. (shiver)

    Going to begin and end in Shannon, go to the west coast Doolin and explore Galway and the Connemara. From there on down to Killarney (I don’t care what anybody says about Killarney being so “touristy”. The mountains and the lakes around there are so beautiful your soul weeps). A quick overnight in Tramore and explore Kilkenny/Waterford (Here’s a B&B I’m trying to get into http://www.glenorney.com) then onto Dublin for a couple of days. Having a bit of trouble finding a B&B close to Dublin. I like to stay in the outskirts then take the DART into town.

    I’m for hitting up the National Museum again. Bran, the hero of book three is a metalwork artist i.e. the gold amulets etc and I need specific info on process etc. I was frankly dumbfounded at the level of artistry, tools etc that predate even my time period of 52 AD (Iron age). All of this is in pristine shape as the hoards are found in bogs…instant preservation. They even have an ancient curragh (canoe) from the Viking era with the skeleton of a captive still in it….with an iron collar and chain around its neck!

    They say the Romans never had the urge to invade Ireland because it was so foreboding though I know there have been some artifacts i.e. coins found. The Irish did trade with tribes in Britain so they could have come over that way. Thus did treachery bring an Iron age Celt into the heart of the Empire

    Only 71 days left to go!

69. 
    Anna Sugden
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 1:24 pm: 

    Yes, Jo – many of my autographs are framed (usually with an original film still) and go on the wall. In our last house they filled the dining room walls and went up the stairwell! One good thing about going home is being able to get them all out again.

    Tawny – I’m so with you on no place for ugly shoes (Birkenstocks with socks anyone?!)!!

    Joanie – one of the problems with NY is the sheer number of grates! Hubby is getting quite adept at changing where he walks so I don’t end up A over T with a heel stuck!

    Keira – books can be shipped home, outfits can be mixed and matched, but shoes … well, I like a selection *grin*. And I’ve found that my more expensive shoes hold up better to the rigours of Nationals than cheaper ones!

    Cassondra – oh yeah on the FM shoes. I have a few of those No wonder hubby encourages my shoe buying!

    Ewww on Joanie’s mention of realistic smells!

70. 
    jo robertson
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 1:24 pm: 

    Had to laugh at the comment about using TV for “authentic” research. Every year my seniors put Macbeth on trial for the murder of King Duncan. This is a common practice among high school English teachers and serves a multi-fold purpose — actually study the play, research the law, critical thinking, public speaking, etc.

    The first year I did it all my experience came from Law and Order and Perry Mason episodes LOL. After I took a class in criminal law, I realized I’d made a lot of boo-boo’s those first years. Police detectives get especially pissed off when every crime is solved within the 44 minute time slot of the show. DNA’s back in record time, the AFIS database ALWAYS gets a hit, and the CSI’s can find anything with luminol (even your grandma’s lost pendant). Of course, we understand the constraints of TV. and we’re willing to suspend our disbelief, but give the viewers a break.

    I’ve heard half a dozen practicing criminal attorneys talk about the difficulty of convincing juries that what they see on TV is fiction, not fact, but they have to deal in fact as a juror. Really, television has skewed many a jury pool.

71. 
    helen
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 1:25 pm: 

    Claiming The Courtesan is one of the best books I have ever read and I felt that Anna portrayed Kylemore true to the era Men in that era were very powerful and arrogant but in the stories we read there is always a wonderful heroine who pulls them down a notch or two like Verity.
    Have Fun
    Helen

72. 
    jo robertson
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 1:28 pm: 

    Good question about Anna Campbell’s book, AC! She portrays the male accurately in a way that was unpalatable to a VERY FEW readers — I loved it! Should she have sacrified reality to cater to the readers? Not that Anna would’ve done that LOL.

    I had a similar experience. I used the term “insinuate himself into the crime” in my third book. An editor questioned the appropriate use of the word “insinutate,” which is correct in this case. My thought is, if an editor says get rid of it, do it. Promptly. Otherwise, you’ve got to be true to your writing self.

73. 
    jo robertson
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 1:35 pm: 

    Ah, Joan, I feel about Scotland the way you feel about Ireland. Going there was like coming home, “although not to any home I’ve known” (remember Tom Hank’s line?). I renewed my admiration for Robert Burns’ poetry and picked up a CD of Eddi Reader singing Burns’ songs. HAUNTING, I tell you. Anyone know her?

74. 
    Aunty Cindy
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 1:37 pm: 

    Yes, Joanie, to the coins being brought into Ireland through trade.

    And BIG YES to the “different feel” in Northern Ireland versus the Republic. My DH’s relations are in County Fermanagh (talk about beautiful lakes!) and my own people (based on name research alone) are from the north somewhere. Possibly Donegal, possibly not.

    Thank you for mentioning The Giant’s Causeway. I LOVED visiting there, and it also happens to appear in my book!

    ROFLOL about the bunny slippers, Cassondra. Mine happen to be puppies, instead of bunnies.

    And one of the joys of having Jo-Mama for a CP is that I never worry about any of my participles dangling.

75. 
    cassondra
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 1:44 pm: 

    It IS unfortunate–the portrayal of “reality” in shows like CSI. Almost none of it is real.

    And it does affect our entire culture. And it does make it difficult to seat a jury, and that’s serious business right there. It also biases entire cultures for or against certain things (you know, how they shoot cars with guns and there’s always an explosion????? NOT.)

    I recently did a read for a multi-pubbed author for the weapons authenticity and the accuracies for a military op. We were discussing this very thing…if it causes confusion for the reader, is there a way around it? If the editor questions it and you can back it up and say, “No, this is the way it’s done,” that’s one thing. But if it is truly CONFUSING to people, I think you have to back up and say, “is it worth it to include this tidbit–is this critical to the actual story, or am I being a prima dona?”

    The reader is the ultimate target for me. I want the book right. And I WON’T do stuff wrong in the book on purpose because “everybody thinks that’s the way it is,” but I will take stuff out if it confuses more than one reader, and certainly if the editor thinks it will, I’ll take it out.

76. 
    cassondra
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 1:48 pm: 

    Aunty Cindy said:

    ROFLOL about the bunny slippers, Cassondra. Mine happen to be puppies, instead of bunnies.

    HA! Mine are giant furry monster feet. (grin)

77. 
    Keira Soleore
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 2:20 pm: 

    Cassondra: I have to say that I was one of those who felt that Law & Order portrayed reality, because in many shows they used real-life cases.

    Aunty wrote, “My book is largely set in County Armagh! Do you have relatives there?”

    I studied ancient Ireland through the early Middle Ages. We covered history, archeology, and mythology. Fabulous course!!

    Cassondra wrote, “…do NOT let Aunty Cindy scare you….I won’t be bringing my coffin along to SanFran…have to get up EARLY there for workshops and such.”

    Ah, I am much much much much relieved!

    Jo-Mama, wrote, “I have a secret confession. Don’t tell my husband. I love to buy shoes…”

    Er, how do you hide your habit (and its result) from him? Off-site storage??

    Aunty wrote, “We Banditas have a reputation for being found in the BAAAA.”

    And that acronym means…?? Spell and spill…

    Hey Joan! Glenorney advertises that it has free broadband services. We expect blogs from Ireland from you.

    V.Anna wrote, “Birkenstocks with socks anyone?!”

    *timidly raising hand* It’s the uniform de rigueur of the Pacific NW

    V.Anna: So…how many pairs of shoes would that be for a properly attired Conference attendance??

78. 
    Anna Campbell
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 2:26 pm: 

    But, Anna, that’s the point of research! The more we can get it right, the more we don’t risk pulling people out of the story. I so agree that it just destroys my trust in the reality of the world the author is building if I come across something like that. I know it’s impossible to get everything right – believe me, I KNOW! But I think we have to at least try. I’m a music geek – really drives me mad when people are playing Bach or Vivaldi in the very early 19th century. Both were basically completely unknown until Mendelssohn did his Bach revival concerts in Leipzig in the late 1820s/early 1830s (guessing on exact dates – see? Should do some research!) and Vivaldi was completely unknown until after the Second World War. Just because the stuff had been written doesn’t mean people knew about it – they didn’t. Even someone like Mozart who was in very specialised musical circles only discovered Bach well into his adulthood and then it was just the preludes and fugues. Nothing else was available to be known, if you know what I mean. Oh, dear, scratch an autograph geek, scratch a music geek. We’re all the same! But I think the point I’m trying to make in a longwinded way (sorry, guys) is that everybody is a geek of some form or another so you can’t just expect to get away with sloppy research. And never assume nobody will know – someone will!

79. 
    Keira Soleore
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 2:34 pm: 

    FoAnna, I agree wholeheartedly with everything you’ve said above in comment #78. You put it beautifully, m’dear.

80. 
    Anna Campbell
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 2:37 pm: 

    Kirsten, you’re right about triage research – and Beth, watch out, I know people who’ve researched for ten years and never started the book. My feeling is get a general feeling for the period and then write it – there will be specific things that pop up then that you need to look up. When you write/read a lot of Regency, you do get a good general knowledge about the time. Imagine it’s the same for police procedurals or whatever. You’re not reinventing the wheel with every book. With CTC, I did a lot of research on courtesans but as I was writing. Fortunately, nothing I discovered broke the premise of my story. But then, as I said, I had a good general knowledge of Regency high society before I started writing and that, of necessity, included courtesans. With Untouched, I did a lot of research into madness in the Regency period. Ooh, some of tha would curl your hair, it was so awful. Most of that didn’t make it into the book (a lot of the legal issues die) but it made me feel I knew what I was talking about which always helps! With Tempt the Devil, there were odd bits I had to look up (how long it would take to get a carriage to Kent, for example – you always have stuff like that you need to check) but as the book was so relationship-centered, I didn’t need to look up any one particular subject. This next book is proving to be fascinating – I need to know about the East India Company. Just for back story, again, so like Untouched, most of it’s not going to make it into the story. But how interesting!

81. 
    jo robertson
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 2:39 pm: 

    Ah, Aunty Cindy, but at our age so many more disturbing bits dangle than participles!

    Absolutely, Cassondra, just because a fact is true, you don’t have to include it in the book. It’s a tricky line we writers follow. Nothing’s more boring than a pedantic writer who drones on and on rather than getting to the heart of the story.

    Oh, Keira, the Middle Ages, now that’s a time I’d love to see in a romance, although it might not be too pretty. Hmmm, an off-site storage for shoes, I hadn’t thought of that. Fortunately, all the kids are gone now and I have lots and lots of closets in which to hide them. He probably thinks all those plastic shoe boxes are toys for the grandkids.

    The BAAAA is simple — the bar — where we Banditas will be found whether we drink or not!

    And I confess to wearing Birkenstocks with socks as long as I’m home where no one sees me. I’m one of those writers who doesn’t believe in things like showers, clothes (except sweats) or manners when I’m in the zone. It’s not a pretty thing to see.

    I’ve got the multi-task thing down pat, though. My husband actually thinks I’m watching TV with him or listening to his political commentary while my hands are on the keyboard. An occasional look and a nod keep him quite happy. Sometimes men really are such simple creatures.

82. 
    jo robertson
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 2:45 pm: 

    You know, Anna C, I do think we writers are all geeks beneath the surface. Else why would we get so excited about the rapidly-diminishing skills of writing and reading? We probably popped out of our mothers’ bodies and yelled, “Where’s my book?”

    And you’re right about people who research and research and never actually write. I think of those people as researchers, not writers. The research is merely the means to an end — the finished product, the book! Both comments very nice, Anna C.

83. 
    Caren Crane
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 2:45 pm: 

    Keira, take as many pairs of shoes to RWA National as you need! That is the only right answer. Vrai Anna was exactly right: books can be shipped home, so leave plenty of room for shoes. Also, the Incomparable Claudia Dain rightly argues that you should never choose between style and comfort. You should always insist on both! There are plenty of gorgeous, comfy shoes in the world. Keep looking until you find them!

    Jo and Cindy, as to research I agree that it is a fine line. I like enough to give me a flavor, but not enough to bog down the story. I love Regency-set historicals and I think there are a number of authors who walk the research line well. Christine Wells, naturally. *g* I also think Liz Carlyle does a wonderful job and I know for a fact that she, Sabrina Jeffries, Claudia Dain and Deb Marlowe are all quite meticulous with their research!

    In my contemporaries, I end up doing FAR more research than ends up in my books. However, we all know that bits of research get lodged into your brain and come out at the oddest times. I consider none of it wasted: it’s back story! Even if it does all stay locked in my head.

    One thing that tossed me out of a story recently was a minor offhand detail about someone being let up to visit a bank employee who worked in a specific department. I happen to work in a bank in that specific department and I know, without a doubt, NO ONE is allowed to traipse around a bank’s headquarters unescorted! That threw me right out of the story. Other people might not notice, but no one who works in financial services would buy an unescorted visitor in a bank. Maybe the writer was working on OLD information, but with information security laws the way they are now, access to areas where bank information is accessible is very limited and even workmen are escorted at all times. The worst part it, all the writer had to do was ask any random bank employee whether visitors at corporate headquarters needed an escort. But, as Vrai Anna pointed out with the Cary Grant signature, it was probably something the writer didn’t realize needed to be researched!

84. 
    Aunty Cindy
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 2:53 pm: 

    LOL, Keira, no mystery here. BAAA = Bar

    It was a play on words we developed in honor of V.Anna’s “sheep book” that was a Golden Heart finalist.

    And yes, UGH! I’ve been in the Pacific Northwest in spring and summer and seen first hand all those Birkenstocks and sox. Not exactly the fashion statement *I* would want to make.

    I had a Brazilian friend who used to laugh heartily at the American tourists. He said they were easy to spot because they were the ones walking on the beach with shoes, socks, and shorts! I’ll admit I’ve been guilty of that (though not on the beach) a few times in Mexico, but only because I have to wear socks with my walking shoes.

    I once had a contest judge mark me down because she didn’t think my Irish bartender would know my heroine was American after she said only 4 words to him. GRRR! The truth is, she didn’t need to say ONE WORD. He would have known immediately by the way she was dressed that she was American. I tested this lil theory just last week. Yes, I really was in Paris, and as I was sitting in the gigantic foyer of the Louvre resting, I decided to see if I could pick out the Americans, strictly by the way they were dressed. It was SOOO EASY! Sorry to say, they stuck out like the proverbial sore thumbs.

85. 
    Anna Campbell
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 2:55 pm: 

    Joan, I go as green as the grass of Ireland every time I hear more about your trip. You’d better send me a postcard, Bandita, or there’s a bog waiting for you

    Cassondra, love the ‘bunny slippers’ bit! The keyboard was a goner again with tea spat all over it!

    Hey, Helen, great big smooches to you! Thank you! Actually that was the story I wanted to tell – of someone who thought he knew everything and realizes in the end he had so much more to learn! That’s one of my arguments against modern shows/books/movis, etc., that deliberately soften history or make it very 2008 and politically correct. It leads to some fundamental misunderstandings of what life was like for our predecessors. Life was different before modern medicine, reliable birth control (well, mostly reliable – g), modern communication, the rights of women, etc. That’s why it’s interesting to write historicals – to look at how people negotiated meaningful relationships in that environment. Because of course they did!

86. 
    Christie Kelley
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 2:56 pm: 

    I finally made it here. Sorry it took me so long to stop in but I was attempting to get some writing done (yeah, note the word attempting). This is a great post! I love to research but I do find it can take over a perfectly good writing day. Especially when you’re searching for just one little fact that then doesn’t even make it into the book. I’d love to chat more, but I really need to get this book done.

87. 
    Aunty Cindy
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 3:00 pm: 

    Caren! GREAT to see you made it!

    Yes, I definitely agree, research is seldom wasted. You never know when something you read ages ago and lodged in one of the wrinkles of the old gray matter will pop out at just the right moment in a story! Unlike the dangling… participles, this is a welcome accident!

88. 
    Anna Campbell
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 3:05 pm: 

    Hey, Keira, thanks for that cheer. But of course, you still get caught out. When I was writing the romantic comedy that finalled in the Golden Heart, I had my hero taking my heroine for a drive around the streets that surround Hyde Park. Luckily, I visited London in the process and went to the Duke of Wellington’s house, Apsley House. Turns out there was a tollgate there so nobody would just do a tootle right around Hyde Park unless they wanted to pay the toll. Minor? Yes. If someone knew Regency London, though, it would make them think I didn’t know what I was talking about. Recently another historical author was pilloried on a messageboard because she had people in the Victorian era using champagne flutes (although apparently research has since proven her right and the bulletin boarders wrong – hahahahaha). The author has gone on record saying it wouldn’t have occurred to her to have checked. See? It’s so easy to get caught! I’m positive there are moments like that in my stories – I try my best but nobody’s perfect!

89. 
    Aunty Cindy
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 3:06 pm: 

    Thanks for popping by on your break, Christie!

    You’re day is coming here on RNTV… Along about Friday. Everyone, that is the “official” release date of Christie’s first book, “Every Night I’m Yours.” Don’t miss the launch party OR the book!

    And speaking of parties, one month from today (yes, that is Feb. 29th) is our very own Jo-Mama’s 16th birthday! (She’s a leap year baby. Figure it out.) Be sure you drop by the Bandit Blog for a Sweet 16 Party, Bandita style!

90. 
    Joanie T
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 3:39 pm: 

    Well, AC I can tell you that I can pick out the South American visitors to Disneyworld. The ladies go around ALL those parks in 4 inch heels….and pretend it doesn’t HURT!

    My CP and I had just gotten off the DART in Dublin. I was a bit turned around from where I’d been my previous trip and stopped a fellow to ask if I was headed toward O’Connell street. He told me he’d just arrived from Wales and didn’t know. I thanked him and headed down the street. I heard his 10 year old say “Da, why don’t they speak English?” To which Da exclaimed in a rather loud voice “Because they’re Americans!”

    Oh, and I horrified a bar keep at a pub by ordering a Diet Coke Hey! It was an IRISH Diet Coke!

    Don’t worry Foanna…..I’ll send you a card and a bit of the magic along with it.

91. 
    Anna Campbell
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 3:42 pm: 

    OK, you’re safe from the bog dunking then, JT!

92. 
    Susan Seyfarth
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 3:44 pm: 

    I would dearly, dearly love to travel for research (AC!) or take my dream line up of classes at the local university (JoMama!) But as you said, right I’m earning my doctorate in diapering. I keep seeing these advertisements for citizens academies sponsored by the local police where you get to go for ride alongs, etc. And then my favorite mystery author (William Kent Krueger, a local boy!) thanked a laundry list of people who talked to him about mental hospitals & secret service protocol & any number of fascinating things on the dedication page of a book of his I just read. And I was SO JEALOUS. Someday when my kids are in school full time I’m going to learn everything I want to know!

    But first I have to get past this reluctance to bother people with my questions. Whenever I say, “I’m writing a book” people get all excited & want to know where they can find my work. When I tell them it’s all living under my bed with the dust bunnies, they’re so disappointed. And I feel less than legitimate somehow. Any ideas for getting past this??

93. 
    Gillian
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 4:36 pm: 

    First of all, I’m in a cold sweat thinking of the millions of things I could/might/am getting wrong in my Regency manuscript. (shudder) As a lovely coincidence, my copy of Our Tempestuous Day came in last weekend, and my copy of The County Maps of Old England was waiting on the doorstep this afternoon (nicely covered in a dusting of snow), and an email assures me my copy of the A-Z of Regency London is on its way. So my excuse for any mistakes is dwindling However, the details, the details…..I’m hoping reading bits of periodicals and diaries from the times will help.

    Secondly, I’m with Susan. It’s really, really hard to get past those blank looks–of course, I course, no one in my day job/life knows, so I avoid most of those looks quite nicely. Susan, of course you’re legitimate!!

94. 
    Aunty Cindy
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 4:39 pm: 

    LOL on not speaking English because we’re American, Joanie! SO VERY TRUE!

    Susan/Smoov, HANG IN THERE! The lil munchkins will eventually be in school and some poor teacher like V.Anna or Jo will be stuck with them for a few hours.

    Wish I had some advice for you about getting past the feelings of not being a “legitimate writer” because you are AYU. Been there, done that RECENTLY! I remember how Kate blogged about getting her Call and how strange it was that one phone call changes everything. It does! But in some ways, it doesn’t. I still don’t quite feel like this is real. I asked Foanna when it finally felt “real” to her, and she said not until she held the actual book in her hands. We’ve all trod the “I’m Not Worthy” path, so don’t feel alone. In fact, getting The Call doesn’t even make it go away entirely.

95. 
    jo robertson
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 4:46 pm: 

    Good to see you, Christie. I’ll repeat Christie Kelley’s debut “Every Night I’m Yours” launches Friday and it’s already been sighted across the country. Yay!

    Great example of the bank story, Caren. Some writers tend to do the same thing with public schools. If they were graduated, say in the 80’s and have no children that age, they may not understand the changing face of schools in this country. Lock-downs didn’t exist. Visitors signing in through the office or closed campuses may be different now. Many schools have metal detectors and law enforcement personnel assigned from the city police to the campus.

    Anna, your story brings up an interesting question. How do you think most writers would react if they were corrected on an historical detail? Would they welcome the information or be offended?

96. 
    jo robertson
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 4:52 pm: 

    That’s a tough one, Susan. How to explain that you’re a serious writer even though no one has yet acquired your book? I find most people have no idea of the complications of the industry. It’s like teaching school. People think, hey I went to school, so that means I can teach. I can write words and letters on paper, so I can be a writer. Not so simple.

    I just decided that I would in NO way apologize for my unsold, hidden under the bed books. They’ve won awards. I can write. I AM a serious writer and they’ll find my books in the stores one day. Easier said than done LOL.

97. 
    jo robertson
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 4:54 pm: 

    Gillian, take heart. EVERYTHING gets easier with the doing of it — even research details!

98. 
    Joanie T
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 5:14 pm: 

    Susan and Jo,

    What is amazing to me is the people who will say “I want a signed copy”, expecting a free copy when my books are published. Or they’ll say “Can I have one?” I smile and say “Yes, with your BN (Borders etc.) card and $6.99) VBG.

    All my non writing friends have been well educated on sell throughs

99. 
    Anna Campbell
    on Jan 29th, 2008
    @ 5:19 pm: 

    Jo, interesting. So far, nobody has picked me up on something that was wrong historically – I’ve had people contact me with questions or stuff that worried them but I was able to answer them because I’d done my research I think as with a lot of this stuff, depends on how it was done. Someone pillorying me across the Internet – yeah, I probably wouldn’t like that much! Someone pointing out a mistake to me privately in an email, I’d have no problem with that at all, especially if they were nice about it. In fact, I’d appreciate it. I’m not nearly the Regency specialist our Madame CW is – I often ask her for clarification or help. So believe me, I’m aware that I’m always learning.

    Actually that brings up an interesting point – when people think they’re right and they’re not. I can remember an internet discussion on the fact that obviously Regency people NEVER smiled because they’re never smiling in the paintings. Huh? It’s hard enough holding a smile for a photo, let alone a portrait done over several sittings! And portraits were often meant to convey the status or gravitas of the sitter so Regency people didn’t think smiles were appropriate anyway. Honestly, I think common sense can come into this whole research thing sometimes too!

100. 
     Anna Campbell
     on Jan 29th, 2008
     @ 5:21 pm: 

     Jo, it’s amazing – people do treat you MUCH more seriously if you can say someone forked out good money to acquire your manuscript. I used to be enormously shy about saying I was a writer although obviously friends and colleagues usually knew. But I also think I was SILLY!!!

101. 
     Aunty Cindy
     on Jan 29th, 2008
     @ 5:30 pm: 

     people who will say “I want a signed copy”, expecting a free copy when my books are published. Or they’ll say “Can I have one?” I smile and say “Yes, with your BN (Borders etc.) card and $6.99) VBG.

     WAY TO GO, Joanie! Can I quote you when my book is on the shelves?

     Now, can I just say a few words to the Readers here? First off, YOU make it all worthwhile! The whole reason we writers do what we do is to entertain YOU, our readers. Second, we LOVE to hear from readers! Whether snail mail, email, or in person, nothing is more exciting to a writer than having someone say, “I read your book and enjoyed it.” Personally, this is what I’m looking forward to even more than the sale — Fan Mail! Finally, please remember that we are only human. We will make mistakes in our books and in our lives. A little forgiveness is truly a wonderful thing!

     Okay, back to the topic at hand… Do I want to be corrected if I make a mistake? Yes! But gently please, and also realize that once the book is in print, there’s probably nothing the author can do at that point to correct it. However, you’d better believe I won’t make the same mistake again!

102. 
     Kate Carlisle
     on Jan 29th, 2008
     @ 5:35 pm: 

     Oh Susan, you ARE legitimate!! Good grief, girl! At this point, the only difference between you and me is timing. The right day, the right planetary phase, the right editor who just ate the right lunch … it’s all just a matter of timing. It will happen for you!

     And as far as “bothering” people with questions, everyone loves to talk about themselves. Just tell ‘em to spell their name slowly so you can get it right for the book.

103. 
     Suzanne Welsh
     on Jan 29th, 2008
     @ 5:47 pm: 

     Joanie! I thought I was the only one who heard that from people. AND it’s not even close friends, (they know better), OR people who read romance if any books at all! It’s always the most bizzare people I hardly know that want “a free author copy”. I’m sad to say I paint on a sanquenous smile and say…no, but if you buy a copy I’ll be happy to sign it for FREE! LOL

104. 
     Aunty Cindy
     on Jan 29th, 2008
     @ 6:03 pm: 

     no, but if you buy a copy I’ll be happy to sign it for FREE!

     Another GREAT response! Thank you, Suz! Geez, I better start writing these down so I can remember them later. And isn’t it AMAZING how people you don’t know seem to feel entitled to ask such things? Like, “How much was your advance?” My standard response to that was, “Not nearly enough!” and then to laugh. What I REALLY wanted to say (and next time I probably will) is something like, “Why do you need to know, because I don’t feel comfortable telling you that information.” Or, if I’m in an especially cranky mood (Yes, it happens!), look them straight in the eye and say, “None of your business.”

105. 
     Joanie T
     on Jan 29th, 2008
     @ 6:28 pm: 

     Oh, AC Just give them a smile and a wink and leave it to their imaginations!

     I also have non writing friends who insist I dedicate the books to them! Um…why?

     The people who have been there for me, helped me learn and grow listen to my neurotic whining and celebrated my contest finals/wins and personal rejections? THEY will be the ones I dedicate my books to.

106. 
     Aunty Cindy
     on Jan 29th, 2008
     @ 6:33 pm: 

     Okay, let me prove one more time how totally shameless I am by spruiking (did I spell that right Foanna and Christine?) the Bandit Blog. I hope all you commenters and lurkers will come on over and check out our lair. We have a whole slew of GREAT guest bloggers coming up in the next couple of weeks including Terri Brisbin, Amy Andrews, Lucy Monroe, Allison Brennan, Deb Marlowe, and Dee Davis! We give away lots of prizes and always have lively discussions… Gee, just like here on RNTV!

     Tomorrow, here on the Bandita Invasion, Donna MacMeans and KJ Howe will be stepping into mine and Jo-Mama’s bucket boots and brandishing their own rapier wits. And do NOT miss Friday when Nancy Northcott and Christie Kelly will be celebrating the launch of Christie’s book, among other things!

107. 
     Jeanne AKA The Duchesse
     on Jan 29th, 2008
     @ 7:01 pm: 

     Hi Ladies! Love your topic – and I love research! :> Susan, I have to confess to a bit of wincing when researching before The Call for the very reason you mentioned. However, I used to just blow right past it and say “my last book is being reviewed by several editors. I’m working on a new one at this point.” Which was pretty much always true, via contests, but it IS hard to answer that w/o a wince. Even though I’m in the pipeline for my book to come out in June, it’s still a bit odd when you call an insurance agent to ask about the process a homeowner would go through when their house burns down. They do look at you a bit askance (you can tell, even through the phone) Grins. Oh, and when you call the arson investigator and ask what type of readily available incendiary device will do the most damage…THAT gets some concern. (”Uh, Ma’am? What do you mean by readily available?”) It was nice to be able (finally) to send them to my website and say, see, I’m really a writer, my book comes out in June… Ha! I’m sure I’m on some FBI list somewhere for asking the kind of questions I do. Snork.

     As to errors, the ones that make me throw the book across the room – a la Cassondra – are the dead body things having to do with how the body’s prepared, and especially the timeline. You just CAN’T bury someone the next day if they die under suspicious circumstances and you just CAN’T casually exhume a body without due cause and a LOT of expense. Sigh. Sorry. That’s usualy where I start a rant. Grins.

     But I love the research. Like Anna said, I usually write the book then go check my facts because sometimes I don’t know what I need to know until I’m a good halfway through the story. Ha! And Caren, having worked in a bank HQ, I knew about the escort. :> What I like to do is tangle up the security in their own rules….bwah-ha-ha! Then there’s the research you do then discover you can’t use. I talked to two former military helicopter pilots about the opening scene in my book Dark and Dangerous. I wanted to know if a hot-dog pilot who wasn’t currently military – i.e. didn’t have to worry about the taxpayers and a million-dollar price tag on the helicopter – could and/or would fly a helicopter in amongst trees. He said yep, sure would, sure could. In the end, I decided not to use it because three out of four test readers didn’t believe it could be done. (Its that jury-as-educated-by-TV issue, I think)

     Anna, I love it when the pontificating “you can’t DO that” nit-picker is proved wrong. I really do. Petty of me, I know, but, hey, retribution!

108. 
     Jeanne AKA The Duchesse
     on Jan 29th, 2008
     @ 7:09 pm: 

     I am so LOL about the “I want a copy” folks. I say the same sort of thing…order it from B&N or Amazon or pick it up at the store and I’ll GLADLY sign it for you! To me this is like the gal who sells me a lottery ticket saying, “hey, you’ll have to give me a tip if you win” To quote Joanie T…”Ummmm, why would I need to do this?” Snicker. As to dedications, I agree with you again, Joanie T. The dedication goes to those who HELPED, not those who stood around picking their…hmmmm….sweater fuzz. Grins.

109. 
     jo robertson
     on Jan 29th, 2008
     @ 7:35 pm: 

     LOL, Joan, I’ve never had anyone assume they’d get a free copy. They probably know me too well!

     Yes, Anna, it’s all about tone and intent, isn’t it? It’s really sadly funny when people are so adamant about something they’re so wrong about! That smiling/not smiling for portraits kind of thinking is a real fallacy in logic. I saw a car once. It was green. Therefore all cars are green.

     Actually, I do far LESS research than I should — confession time again — because I’d let myself bog down with the fun of it. I try to figure something out on my own first, go to husband second (he’s so smart), and then hit the sources. I’m sure my books are loaded with inaccuracies LOL.

110. 
     jo robertson
     on Jan 29th, 2008
     @ 7:42 pm: 

     Don’t forget Victoria Dahl, AC. She’s visiting with the Bandits on Feb. 29. She’s a wonderful new historical writer I just discovered, loved her so much, I made the gutsy move of asking her to blog without even knowing her! I’m very excited about her visit.

     Great words about our readers. If we didn’t have such voracious readers, we writers would be out of luck.

111. 
     jo robertson
     on Jan 29th, 2008
     @ 7:50 pm: 

     Hi, Jeanne! Great to have you here. Jeanne, as you know is our resident dead-body specialist. And I have it on good authority that she heads the Department of Homeland Security Watch List. Mawhahahah!

     If some of you haven’t sat in on Jeanne’s workshops at National, please do. They’re superb!

112. 
     Aunty Cindy
     on Jan 29th, 2008
     @ 8:07 pm: 

     I was only hitting the guests in the next two weeks, Jo-Mama! Can’t BELIEVE our fantastic line-up! And YAY on Victoria Dahl and all our other guest later in the month.

     Yes, Jeanne’s workshops are FAB! I still have my femur bone complete with hip socket ink pen from her Atlanta presentation. Oh and I’m pretty sure she’s not the ONLY one of us romantic suspense writers who have a nice fat dossier somewhere in DHS. To quote our darling Cassondra, “I’m just sayin…”

     BIG THANX again to everyone for reading and commenting on our blog post today. It’s been a TON O FUN! And even BIGGER BUNCHES O THANX to Marisa, Kim, Maria and all the other great folks here at RNTV for allowing us to “invade” their site.

113. 
     Jeanne AKA The Duchesse
     on Jan 29th, 2008
     @ 8:43 pm: 

     *blushing* Thanks dear ones for the nice comments on the workshops. I do love teaching both the body disposal one and the “almost there/limbo-limbo” class. Grins. It was also fun to teach a new one on writing environments last year. :>

     Bwah-ha-ha on the dossier in DHS. Oh, yeah. For allllllll sorts of reasons. Grins.

114. 
     jo robertson
     on Jan 29th, 2008
     @ 10:19 pm: 

     Good night, everyone! We’ve sure enjoyed the warm welcome here at RNTV. Thanks, Kim, Marisa and Maria for inviting us.

     Take it away, Donna and KJ!!!

115. 
     Pam P
     on Jan 30th, 2008
     @ 8:18 pm: 

     Sure it’s important to do a certain amount of research if you are going to write a romance historical, though I think it more important in an historical not classified as romance, particularly those based on real events. I’ve noticed in all the critical comments I’ve seen about an error here and there that those (both readers and authors) seem to have an avid interest in history, many having majored in it at school. The rest of us not really into all those historical facts probably wouldn’t pick up on most of what those who have that interest/background do, and just read along enjoying the story and characters. I can think of one book I read I really enjoyed, as did many others, where a couple of times modern-day slang was used – know what, that I did notice, but it was only two words in the whole book I can recall, and it sure didn’t stop me from loving what I read. All you can do is make the effort to do your main research, and not sweat over a small error or two – I’m a reader happy with that.

     One author I think of right off who loves history and is up on lots of research and detail is Jo Beverley.

116. 
     barbara_bergin
     on Feb 2nd, 2008
     @ 9:49 pm: 

     When I started writing my first novel which was just released in November, I wanted to make my protagonist do something I didn’t know much about. About two days into it, I changed my mind and her career. Now she does what I do…orthopedic surgery. It was a lot easier for me to get that book finished. My main guy character is a contractor and he’s building a football stadium. I did make almost monthly trips to a football stadium under construction in order to observe the process. I also interviewed a contractor of such structures in order to make sure I had all the right equipment in place to build it. That was a lot of fun. But I think I’d have to quit my day job if I needed to do too much research. So for now…stick to what I know. Later? Who knows?…

     Barbara Bergin
     author of “Endings”
     http://www.BarbaraBerginInk.com