Even Paranormal Authors Do Research!

by Diana McCollum

I write mostly paranormal stories. You might wonder how much 'research' goes into a book for a paranormal author. Well, not near as much as a historical author. Still, I do have to do a certain amount of research.

Some of the details I garner from reading other paranormals. I keep notes on books I read, word choices and other details.

Word choice in any genre is to me what paints the picture of the story. For instance, in my book "The Witch with the Trident Tattoo" I had to do some science research, some mythology research, and commercial fishing research to come up with an interesting and believable (as far as one can believe a paranormal story) book.

My heroine, Ella, is a scientist and a sea witch. Poseidon, Ruler of the sea, is who she reports too. Her familiar is an Octopus named James. So a little more research here on Octopus habits and what grows in the ocean etc.

Here is an excerpt as James gives Ella a ride to see Poseidon, who has requested a meeting with Ella.

"James wrapped one long tentacle gently but firmly around her waist. She linked her arms around two of his. On a whoosh of water, he propelled them to Poseidon's waiting submersible.

       One of her favorite things to do was ride along with James Her hair streamed behind her and they virtually flew over the bottom. Starfish dotted rocks close to the island, seahorses darted in and out of kelp, and her favorite, sea ferns, swayed with the current.

    They dove to ninety feet where the devastation brought a heaviness to her chest."

    As a scientist Ella has been studying the dying ocean off the coast of MA. This is why Poseidon has requested her to report to him. Not only is she studying the ocean as part of her job, but also at the request of Poseidon.
 
    When the reader meets Poseidon, I'll give you the generic sentence first, bare minimum.
    "Poseidon sat on a chair. On top of his head of black hair sat a gold crown. He was naked from the waist up except for two gold bands on each arm." Does that paint a picture of this man? Not a very interesting one!

This is what the reader reads as Poseidon is introduced. "Poseidon reclined on blue silk and green satin pillows set inside an enormous clam shell. On top of his black dreadlocks sat a golden crown encrusted with sparkling gems. Naked from the waist up except for two gold bands around each massive forearm." The reader gets a better picture of Poseidon with this description.

     The hero, Noah, is the captain of a fishing boat. When he takes Ella out for a ride a storm kicks up.
 So I researched nautical terms, and weather terms etc.

     "The radio crackled before he could form a response. "Mayday! Mayday! This is the Red Moon, Oscar Aldrich...taking on water. . .' The radio continued to crackle.

    Noah grabbed the microphone from his Marine Radio 'Oscar! Noah Drago here, what's your position, over?'

   Noah wrote down Oscar's coordinates. 'He must have run into the squall we came through. I'm heading back---I won't let this sea claim another friend.' He steered his boat back the way they had come, chasing after the storm.

    Gray clouds were leaden, almost black, and towered above the horizon. The hull slapped against waves, the sea churned beneath them."

   On this same boat trip, Noah witnesses Ella doing Magick for the first time.

   "Ella come back inside!" The sea tried to wrench the wheel from his hands. He struggled to control the helm.

   He looked again and she had raised her hands toward the sky. Clouds parted, the sun broke through encircling the boat. The seas calmed, flattened, identical to a lake on a summer day. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. The squall continued to rage around their circle of calm."

   Then there is the fun of creating spells! Here's an example.

       "Green leaves of Hemlock,
         And mighty twigs of Hemlock,
         I know you hold Magick.
         Release your power to save the sea,
         For this you've been handpicked,
         So mote it be!

     Ella set her grinder down and picked up a stirring rod. Gently she stirred her Magick portion, a foundation to start with.

        'Round, round and round the sea you'll go,
         to bind your Magick three drops of wax from this enchanted candlestick,
         So mote it be!'

   She held a binding candle over the beaker, continuing to stir whilst three drop of wax dropped into the bubbling mixture. A ball of magical energy began to form."
 
   Well, I had fun going back through "The Witch with the Trident Tattoo", to find these examples.
Now you know that there is research involved for Paranormal and Fantasy stories too!

Have you ever read a book that had too much researched info in it?