Info (And Fun) You Won’t Find On the Internet

By Linda Lovely

I recently was invited to talk with students in Creative Writing and English classes at a local high school. Part of my advice to those students interested in writing fiction was to go beyond the Internet to do research. A writer’s best resources are people who have actual hands-on experience, and, almost always, they’re more than willing to talk about their work and themselves.

My intent wasn’t to downplay the Internet’s value. I can and do Google topics to find a wealth of materials and information, though I also try to vet these sources to make sure they’re reliable. I also tap into YouTube to open visual/audio windows into experiences. For instance, I watched clips of Billy goats in rut and how-to drone-flying demos to help craft scenes in PICKED OFF, my second Brie Hooker Mystery.

Yet, there’s no substitute for speaking directly with experts. I realize some aspiring authors are shy and feel they may be imposing if they ask strangers to spend time answering their questions. Yet most people are flattered rather than annoyed and enjoy the opportunity to share information. I can’t ever recall being rebuffed by an information “source.” Of course, it’s important to make clear why you want the information and how you plan to use it. Now that I’m writing fiction, that simply means I’ll use their experiences and insights to help build more interesting, well-rounded characters and more credible plots.

For BONES TO PICK, my first Brie Hooker Mystery, I made in-person visits to goat farms and breweries (what a hardship) and quizzed the owners about the care and feeding of dairy goats and what’s involved in brewing moonshine. I also tasted goat fudge, and, of course, sampled moonshine. Visiting locations helped me visualize potential scenes and also triggered ideas about situations and activities for my characters.  Joining a goat yoga class was a true adventure, and provided the idea for the opening scene in my third Brie book, BAD PICK, due out April, 2019!

So how do you find experts if you’re writing a crime novel? Even authors of mysteries featuring amateur sleuths should try to be as accurate as possible in describing law enforcement and legal procedures, forensics, investigative techniques, etc.

I’ve discovered my best resources through my local Sisters in Crime chapter and the phenomenal annual Writers’ Police Academy (WPA). This August I’ll be attending my seventh WPA event, a special MurderCon edition that will focus on using forensic tools to solve homicides. Over the years, these two sources—Sisters in Crime and the WPA—have been treasure troves of information and contacts. Through these organizations I’ve met everyone from FBI, ATF and Treasury agents to paramedics, coroners, detectives and defense attorneys. What’s more, since I’ve met them, I’m not a stranger calling them out of the blue. We have a prior connection and they know my request is legitimate.

So if you don’t know an answer, ask! Not only may you be surprised by the answer, you may find answers to questions you didn’t even know you should ask. Conversations can be a wonderful adventure. And what a fun way to start a New Year!

Interview with author, Meg Cabot (whose last name rhymes with Habit!)

By: Marcia King-Gamble

www.lovemarcia.com

  http://amzn.com/B019RYLW24

 

A great big shout out to Generista, Sarah Raplee, co-founder of The Generistas, for giving up her spot on the blog so that I could publish this interview with Meg Cabot. Thank you so much Sarah.

Just a few days ago I had the pleasure of interviewing Meg Cabot (best known for her series- The Princess Diaries.)  Her last name rhymes with Habit.

On February 05th Meg will speak at a luncheon hosted by The Broward Public Library Foundation; a not-for profit, funded by the Broward Library. The information can be found below:

http://www.bplfoundation.org/litlunch-press-release

Me: How does a Resident Assistant at New York University become a successful writer?

Meg: I always loved writing stories. Romance is my favorite genre to read. I began writing my first story at age 7. My parents were always encouraging. My dad was a professor at a university and my mom was an English teacher. My mom told me I needed to take typing lessons and have a backup job. She suggested I become an administrative assistant as that would give me free time to write. When I graduated college I became a resident assistant and was able to take classes for free. My first book, a romance was published while I was at NYU.

Me: You refer to yourself as a high school freak, why is that?

Meg: I was in theater. My high school was rural. If you weren’t into basketball or football you were a freak. I never go back to my high school reunions.

Me: You’ve written over 80 books and you have a new one coming out.  Tell us about your journey.

Meg: I was published by St Martin’s press at age 30. My first book was a historical romance written under the name Patricia Cabot, because I didn’t want my grandmother to find out. Turns out her favorite author was Rosemary Rogers who was as racy as you can get back then. I write two to three books a year. YA (Young Adult,) Middle Grade and Adult books.  My first e novella, Proposal has just been released. 

Me. I read somewhere you love cats.

Meg:  I’ve never been without cats. We only have one now. She’s a typical Key West Cat.

Me: You mean she has twelve toes?

Meg: No, she doesn’t have multiple toes, but she does have the Key West attitude. She’s very independent. She has a cat door and goes in and out of it, but is always back for breakfast.   

Me: How many rejections have you gotten?

Meg: As a teenager I sent submissions to Seventeen Magazine’s contest and got rejected all the time.  But professors were very encouraging. It was the fellow students who didn’t understand. I would send out a query letter every day.  I got rejections every day. I’ve gotten thousands of rejections.  It was cheaper than playing the lottery with a bigger return. Then one day I got a call and it was that romance I mentioned published by St. Martin’s Press.

Me: You write for multiple genres. Do you write three books at the same time or do you complete one before you move on?

Meg:   I write one at a time. I’m a fast writer. My mother’s advice to take typing paid off. I think of a plot first. As a working writer it’s important to be flexible. Yes, everyone has a book of their heart. I have almost a hundred of them. My first book was about a basketball coach who solves crimes. It was a terrible book, a weird book. At times you have to let go. I knew nothing about basketball. My agent said it’s terrible. It’s going to ruin your career.  

Me: What’s in the pipeline for 2016?

Meg: I revisited a story that was initially a YA a series.  I thought it might be fun to see what they’re up to as adults. I wrote it so that anyone could read it without having read the others. It’s a stand- alone book.  It’s called Remembrance and is out in February. The heroine’s boyfriend is a ghost. My e novella is titled - Proposal.

Me: Will you be talking about your book at the upcoming library luncheon?

 http://www.pbglifestyle.com/pbglm-blotter/2016-litlunch-to-feature-bestselling-author-meg-cabot/

Meg: I’ll be talking about the meaning of life and about pursuing your dreams.  I want to talk about small topics. What are we here on the planet for? How to be empowered like a Princess.  I have another Princess book coming out in May for younger readers.

Me: What’s this fascination with Princesses? You wrote the Princess Diaries.

Meg:  My mother is obsessed with princesses. She grew up in the era of princesses; Princess Grace marrying the king of Monaco etc.  There is no princess I am not familiar with. When I was younger I saw Star Wars for the first time. I write about princesses who rule; the ones who rescue themselves and about embracing your inner princess.

 .

Me: How does the reading public get in touch with you? Are you on Instagram, Facebook etc.?

Meg:  I’m on Facebook and twitter etc. You can find me at http://www.megcabot.com. I’m still catching up with Instagram but I’m on it.

Me: Is there anything else you want to talk about? Your cat? Your husband?

Meg:  It’s been so cold in Florida that my cat is spending more time indoors. Recently my cat came in at 2 am and was screaming so loudly we thought another cat was in the house. We raced downstairs and it turns out it’s the first time she’d seen her own reflection in the mirror. She was trying to fight herself.  

Me: Is there something that keeps you up at night?

Meg: Besides my screaming cat and the election?   We’ll try not to talk about politics.  I feel so lucky and grateful to be doing something I love so much, and that I get to do it for a living is the best feeling in the world.

Me: Thank you for your time. You have a standing invitation to pop in at the Florida Romance Writers meetings. We meet the second Saturday of the month. http://www.frwriters.org/

Meg: Thank you and I look forward to meeting you soon.  Come say hi at the luncheon.