I’m currently researching the possibility of a project so I thought I'd pull back the curtain and let you see a bit of my process. I say possibility because as interesting as the history is, I’m not sure yet if I can make it into a compelling novel. Which, honestly, is often the way a book project starts for me. Research mode, for me, entails several different things. First, … [Read more...]
Uncurated Research
Last week, I got to experience something I haven’t before—I got to sift through a pile of uncurated documents and photos. ‘Uncurated?” Some of you might be asking. “What does that even mean?” Well, uncurated is the opposite of curated. Curated documents and photos are ones which have been “selected, organized and presented using professional or expert knowledge.” (According to the … [Read more...]
Theological Dig
When I write historical fiction, whether based on biblical characters or not, I take great pains to get the history right. That can be especially challenging when writing about ancient times, but the challenge is often fun! The following is an old email conversation between me and one of my like-minded writer friends (this is what we do when we should be writing). The subject: How long was … [Read more...]
Research on the Road
Hi friends, Happy to be back with you this week. With all the information available at our fingertips for research, it’s easy for me to research from the comfort of my home. I can call and talk with experts via Zoom or on the phone, I can order research books online, and use search engines to find practically everything I need to write a strongly researched book. However, I love to take my … [Read more...]
Three Ways Authors Can Keep Research Details From Boring Their Readers
I always enjoy when I have the chance to talk with readers and book groups. Whether via a library presentation, through a Skype session, or in person, readers always ask me about my research: How do you do all your research? How much time does it take? Do you try to visit the places that you’re researching? Since I'm a historical writer, research is an integral part of my writing … [Read more...]