I love researching. Love. In fact, I love it so much that if I don’t control myself, I would spend all my time researching instead of writing. I love the rush that comes with all the random things I learn while researching a book (I talk a little about that here).

Most of my books (Glass being the notable exception) don’t have any strong historical aspects, but I still like to research the history of the setting. So, when I went about writing Darken, I spent a lot of time researching the history of Charleston-especially its cemeteries. With Incubus, I learned all I could about southeast North Carolina (including what the entrance to North Brunswick High School looks like-it was really important at the time). I like to feel like I really know my settings. I don’t just want to geography and what-not, I want to feel intimately acquainted with the area. I want to be comfortable moving my characters around.

I am not so sure I need to research as much as I do, but I feel like it really helps me out with my writing. When I spend a long time reading about a certain subject, I get jazzed to write about it. Then the words just fall out of my mind and on to the page. And that is a wonderful feeling.

When I had to have my shoulder re-constructed two years ago, I knew massage therapy might not be a feasible career option anymore. I was disappointed. But at the same time, I was excited. With massage no longer an option, the whole world of opportunities opened up before me. I now had an excuse to go back to school again! (for Russian translation, for those who are curious)

This morning, I was getting all my ducks in a row concerning starting school again when it hit me: this is part of why I love writing! With each book I write, I learn more and more. Even better–with each new book, I learn an abundance of stuff I probably would not learn in a traditional classroom (unless I just went to school for every subject under the sun–if only I had the time and money). For instance, while researching for my books so far, I have learned about:

• Medieval mythology of Incubi, Succubi, Cambions, and Nephilim
• History of Charleston, SC–particularly its cemeteries
• Battle of New Bern (civil war)
• Physical and emotional damage of rape (this was tough reading)
• Architecture of old plantation homes
• Ninjitsu (the theory, not the practice)
• Dostoevsky, Dostoevsky, Dostoevsky!!

Okay, that last one will definitely be covered in a traditional classroom as I study Russian. I have learned countless other things while researching for my books, but this little list shows what I have learned more in-depth. What a wide range of studies!

Writing is the perfect thing for someone who likes to learn as much as I do. With each book I write, I have an excuse to spend time digging, searching, and reading about a wide assortment of topics. I learn things I had never even thought about before the book idea hit me. I learn things many people will probably never think about. And, as a bonus, much of my research spawns ideas for new books to write!

Oh, and another brilliant side-effect of all this research? I now know even more random trivia, which should help secure my position as Queen-of-Trivial-Pursuit.