ToM: How far would you go for your research? Do you have a cool research story?
I think I'd stop at eating live bugs. Yes, that would probably be my "Not Going There" stopping point.
For research, I traveled to San Francisco a few times, the last on my own, to research for my "Magic" series. I also went to Boston twice for my "Lexi Steele" series, and New York City for my "Night Tracker" series. Each time I walked as much of the city as I could on foot and alone so that I could absorb everything possible.
To research some of my books, I've talked extensively with a US Marshal regarding the Witness Security Program; a nurse in a burn trauma center; worked with a federal agent; visited a courtroom and watched court proceedings; talked with my local councilman; spoken with a Boston detective, a Boston metro police officer, a Texas SWAT officer, a Phoenix police officer; worked with an individual from Russia on language in a book; tracked down a guy from San Francisco on the internet to find out more about a typical layout of a SF home...
One of the most fun research tidbits was when I contacted the publicity office of The Presidio in San Francisco and started telling her I needed to find a place in SF for a epic battle for Dark Magic with demons, witches, fae... After I explained she said, "Well, if I was going to attack San Francisco, I'd come from the North Shore of the Presidio..." I could hear the blush in her voice as she realized what she was saying! LOL. It's a lot of fun sometimes!
I do tend to do a lot of research for my books. I want them to be as real as possible to the reader regardless of whether or not it's paranormal or contemporary.
Cheyenne
For research, I traveled to San Francisco a few times, the last on my own, to research for my "Magic" series. I also went to Boston twice for my "Lexi Steele" series, and New York City for my "Night Tracker" series. Each time I walked as much of the city as I could on foot and alone so that I could absorb everything possible.
To research some of my books, I've talked extensively with a US Marshal regarding the Witness Security Program; a nurse in a burn trauma center; worked with a federal agent; visited a courtroom and watched court proceedings; talked with my local councilman; spoken with a Boston detective, a Boston metro police officer, a Texas SWAT officer, a Phoenix police officer; worked with an individual from Russia on language in a book; tracked down a guy from San Francisco on the internet to find out more about a typical layout of a SF home...
One of the most fun research tidbits was when I contacted the publicity office of The Presidio in San Francisco and started telling her I needed to find a place in SF for a epic battle for Dark Magic with demons, witches, fae... After I explained she said, "Well, if I was going to attack San Francisco, I'd come from the North Shore of the Presidio..." I could hear the blush in her voice as she realized what she was saying! LOL. It's a lot of fun sometimes!
I do tend to do a lot of research for my books. I want them to be as real as possible to the reader regardless of whether or not it's paranormal or contemporary.
Cheyenne