When I read a book, I want to be right there with the characters, seeing, smelling, touching and tasting their world through their eyes. By the time I’ve finished, I hope to feel like I’ve visited a place that was foreign at first, and then became as familiar as my hometown. That’s why I believe vivid descriptive scenes are as vital to a good novel as believable, sympathetic characters and true-to-life conversations.
To get that all-important color and flavor in my own writing, I opt for first-hand knowledge whenever possible -- the hands-on approach – which I’ll admit has made my life quite, ahem, interesting. And at times, downright chilling.
For my historical romances I did a lot of research simply by reading up on the time period in which my book was set, which was pretty tame stuff. But I also went spelunking in a cave that was NOT designed for tourists, and am still amazed I emerged unscathed. My tour guide was a college student looking for some pocket money, and we did not have hard hats with lights on them. We had old flashlights, candles and matches, and kneepads to crawl through the tight spots. Good thing I’m not overly claustrophobic because there were long stretches of those tight spots.
At one point, after straddling an icy stream for about twenty yards, when I was finally able to stand upright, I aimed the beam at the ceiling and discovered that it was here inches above my head. And hanging from that ceiling were about a thousand brown bats about the size of my thumb. I hunkered down and backed out very slowly. But let me tell you, that scene played out exceedingly well in my story.
I’ve also had my husband assume the roles of both hero and villain to help me script those black moment/woman in jeopardy scenes. If anyone had glanced in my office window as we were role-playing, I’m sure the cops would have been there soon after. I have my suspicions that my husband took great pleasure in pretending to try to throw me down a well. I’m just saying.... Then again, he took even greater pleasure in scripting the love scenes.
In writing mysteries, my research has taken me to very cool places as well as really strange ones. Because the main setting is a flower shop, I’ve spent a lot of time with florists, soaking up their techniques and that wonderful tropical atmosphere, pouring over floral magazines, and doing virtual flower designs. Pure heaven.
But when I wrote A ROSE FROM THE DEAD, in which my sleuth, a feisty young florist named Abby, sets up a booth at a funeral directors’ convention, I needed an in-depth look at a mortuary – really in-depth, because I had to climb inside a casket. And let me tell you, it’s really, really dark in those boxes. Still, I needed to experience it because that plays an important part in the story. Then there was the day I toured a crematorium. Enough said. And way more info than I ever wanted to know.
In the name of research I’ve also:
Held an eight-foot snake. They’re not slimy.
Ridden a donkey up the side of a steep cliff and didn’t fall off.
Took a hot air balloon ride. You can hear a person talking in a normal voice on the ground when you’re way up high.
Stood inside a prison cell. I can still hear the clanging of that door.
Sat in a tiny room in a prison with a criminal defense attorney as he interviewed a huge and frightening man accused of a grisly crime. (I told you it could be chilling.)
Would I have experienced these things if I’d remained an elementary teacher? Highly doubtful. As a child, I was the one cowering in the back row, unable to finish a swimming course because I was afraid to jump off the high dive. So this new-found courage, where does it come from?
It’s some kind of transference, I guess, because somehow, after having lived in my characters’ heads for years, I’m not scaredy-cat Kate any more. I’ve become bold, empowered by a passion for life and a fierce need for justice. I stand up for my rights now and don’t let bullies intimidate me. I fight for the underdog. What a heady feeling that is. I imagine it must be like being an actor. When you’re on stage, you become the character.
For a writer, you have to become many characters, and to do that accurately and with feeling, you must step outside of yourself and live fully in their worlds. All fun stuff, trust me.
Kate
Kate Collins is the author of the popular, best-selling Flower Shop Mysteries. For her plots, Kate draws upon her own love of flowers, and states firmly that none of the zany characters populating the fictional town of New Chapel are based on people she knows. Honest. Read more at www.katecollinsbooks.com
