Researching Outside the Box with Elizabeth Seckman, Author of Fate Intended

Researching Outside the Box

 
One of my favorite things about writing is research. I'm not talking about the hours spent in the library, reading books you once had to be assigned...though that is fun!

No, I'm talking about outside the box research.

My first book, Past Due, is set in Buxton, North Carolina after the moving of the Cape Hatteras light. I read books on the move and accumulated a slew of minute facts, but one thing I couldn't find was, how long was the light extinguished and what was that like for people who were used to the predictable flash?

What's a writer to do? Pick up a Buxton phone book and cold call island residents. Seriously, you'd think I called people offering cash. Person after person was delighted to offer memories and thoughts. Not only did I learn the light was doused the entire time (which made the night skyline more than a little creepy), there was also a strong consensus of fear that the beloved icon could still crumble to the ground from the move. 

Second book, Healing Summer, my research happened by accident. I was visiting my husband's family in Montana and we went to the local grocer. I was totally stunned to find "counter checks". Blank checks left on the counter for anyone to grab and fill out. I guess they trusted you'd fill in all the correct info. Me, being me, I had to ask the cashier, "Can I use one of these?" She answered with a quick, "Sure, honey. As long as you know your bank info." And offered me a pen. I told her I was from back East and for all she knew I was going to use false information. She looked at me a second, then said without missing a beat, "Then you must really be hungry."

Yeah, that lady became Sue in Healing Summer.

For this book, Fate Intended,  I wanted to add a few Russian phrases here and there, maybe a few insults. So, I went to eLance.com and posted for a Russian translator. The lady I chose was super helpful and even gave me tips on culture. I also started stalking Russian blogs. Yeah, I picked up a few viruses and I'm still getting emails for a wife, but I also hit blog gold by stumbling on one by an American ex-pat living in Russia, On Life in St. Petersburg.

Thanks to Fate Intended's uncommon research, I now have a story where they can call each other dumb ass in Russian and explains what it means to live life "round about".

Fate Intended is the third book in the Coulter Men Series.  Trip is the last of the Coulter sons to find love. He’s a handsome man with all the skills a young spy needs to succeed. But when it comes to love, he misses the target. Jane is a sweet beauty who may or may not be wanted for murder. She’s hiding out as a cleaning lady when chance brings her and Trip together. It looks like a happily ever after is in the cross hairs until reality tries to destroy what fate has intended.

Elizabeth Seckman is a simple chick with a simple dream…to write stories people want to read.

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