If You Only Knew...

Currently, I'm working on a new young adult thriller. It's a departure from my usual stuff and requires a little bit of dabbling into the unknown. And while I'm used to the unknown in general -- traipsing into the world of witches, the underground lair of your general demon folk, stumbling through the den of a few good looking werewolves -- this is a different kind of unknown. Let the research begin.

I do a lot of my writing in a local coffee shop where the majority of the regulars know me and my writing quirks. I also pride myself on being the only woman I know with the medical examiner on speed dial. These are some of the things that I've learned in researching my latest book...

1. If you do decide to speed dial the medical examiner while you're enjoying a latte at the corner coffee shop, best not to loudly state, "so, if I were going to strangle someone but make it look like a suicide by hanging..."

2. Best also not to wave maniacally at the people who turn and gape at you while you're sitting at said coffee shop, booming above conversation. They won't think you're the friendly, quirky local writer. They'll think you're a homicidal maniac hopped up on caffeine and sugar cookies.

3. Though you have a great relationship with a few cops, do not assume that relationship extends to other cops. Cops who DO, in fact, not take kindly to you asking if you can try on their weapons belts.

4. Ditto for asking to examine their cop car. They'll let you examine it all right, but you tend to get less of a view from the backseat, and lesser still when you're in hand cuffs.

5. Do not assume that your genial demeanor and winning smile, coupled with the fact that you graduated from a particular high school some twenty years ago, will get you off the hook from heading over to said high school at lunch hour and asking students how they would kill one another, if in fact, they should ever intend to do so. (Not that I'm "suggesting" it)  Book research? No. Learning experience? See # 4.

Perhaps this whole experience just goes back to one of my earlier blog posts about writing what you know. Because now, I know a hell of a lot more than I thought I would.

Comments

[Staci]

Ha! Great post! I'll definitely have to keep these tips in mind.

[Susan Shea]

I wished I could try on the cop'd utility belt, but somehow knew his friendly demeanor would change instantly if I asked. Sigh. He was an excellent resource otherwise! Good tips.

[Camille Minichino]

I, too, love #3, Hannah, and wish I could go up to every cop I see and ask questions. Fortunately, I do have a number of them on my Contacts list and can patiently wait for info from them.

[Ann]

HA! I love the "maniac in the coffeeshop" image... I imagine that sometimes when we writers get together over lunch, etc., and start delving into plots, clues, methods and motivations, folks must want to moooove awaaaaaay from the area...

[donnamaie white]

I love it! The view from the back seat and the handcuffs! And then there's my son who has stated that if I do anything nutty like that, he simply won't bail me out!

[Janet Miller/Cricket Starr]

Hee... Good thing I can't research my vampire books this way. Although I keep telling my husband that I have to go on a Panama Canal cruise for research purposes.

[MarinaEAdair]

Hannah!

Fantastic post! I assume the same rules apply to researching how one would die in an avalanche?

[Jacee James]

Luckily, I work for the Police Department, however, walking into my Lieutenant's office and asking to check out her gun is not guaranteed to look good in my personell file. The good news is, that she used to work homicide and knows that I am a writer so she doesn't mind when I walk in and calmly begin asking how she would go about solving a murder where one person is framed and the real murderer is plotting his 2nd murder. And she gives tips on the best weapons to use too...lol.