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I'm a book geek and a research/writing book junkie. I know the latest can be found online but when I write fantasy romance set in the Dark Ages, books are just fine. I love curling up in a big chair with a book, I love the rustle and smell of paper. I grew up hearing, whenever I asked a question, to "look it up."
My kids HATE when I pull that on them...
So when I sat down to write Riever's Heart, Verdeen was my existing character from before. Daq Aryk was the unknown. So I started w/Spartans in Iceland. Researched Iceland, Glaciers & the Northern Lights online. Then I started grabbing books on Spartans and Vikings:

A hard life. People focused on survival with no time for frivoloties like art and culture. A total shock for the rather sheltered Verdeen. She's a bookworm like me. Whenever she's faced with the unknown, she does what I do--she looks it up. "What were you reading this time?" Verdeen heard the queen pick up the book
from the bedside table. "'The Art of Chivalry'? Ugh. This dates back to
Kiel Brightblade's reign. The fool who banned women from the military. Whyever
would you be reading this accursed tome?"

"I wanted to know why," Verdeen confessed. "I wanted to understand why he did

"Always trying to find the answers in books. Not all tough questions have
simple answers. You can't always look it up."

"I know, but books are a good place to start."

"And did you receive your expected enlightenment?" Queen Dara's tone was

"Acourse not, which is why we revoked that particular edict."

"A lot of good that did me. Everyone's turned against me. My own family
didn't show. The war mares rejected me..." Verdeen's voice trailed off.



Posted by Renee Wildes at 4:51 PM Labels: elves, Fantasy Romance, Renee Wildes, research, Riever's Heart, Samhain 
I know it must take an incredible amount of time, but I love when authors do a lot research about a time period even if it exists in another world. Cool stuff. I also love stories with Vikings, Dark Ages, etc. Wouldn;t have wanted to live back then for anything, but I love reading about it!

marajbrandon AT earthlink DOT net

July 30, 2011 at 6:31 PM Renee Wildes said...

Most people only see the lawless brutality of the period, but it was a time of small villages. All about kin & clan. It took a tremendous amount of personal strength to live back then. Each person had to live by their own personal code of honor.

You might like checking out Riever's Heart and seeing the end result of all that research!

July 30, 2011 at 7:08 PM 
Thanks for the glimpse into your research.

July 30, 2011 at 7:14 PM 
Hi Anna!

I was always THAT kid in school who over-reasearched & ALWAYS did the extra credit. Most stuff we discover never makes it into the books. (Go figure.)

It's a juggling act/guessing game between "just enough" and "too much."

July 30, 2011 at 7:29 PM 
I'm definitely going to check your book.


July 30, 2011 at 8:59 PM 
I love how your research brings the world to life and teaches me things too! Thanks for all your efforts!


July 30, 2011 at 10:07 PM 
Hi Robin!

It's fun to learn about new stuff - one of the perks of this job. I couldn't tell you how to do modern math (I'm useless at helping kids with homework) but cataoult trajectories and 10th century blacksmithing and I'm your girl!

July 30, 2011 at 10:24 PM 
I think researching a book would be so much fun. It is probably time consuming too.

User1123 AT comcast DOT net

July 30, 2011 at 10:43 PM 
Hi Stacie!

It is time consuming but you learn so many COOL things! It's almost sad when you have to stop and start writing. What kills me is when you find out something really odd that you think is facinating--but can't make it fit anywhere in the story!

I'd ROCK on Jeopardy, tho'!

July 30, 2011 at 11:39 PM 
Research is fun fo me and I really enjoy books that are well-researched. I think it's especially important in science-fiction and historical genres because these facts will help build the world. Of course with fiction it doesn't have to be true but I think the research will help make the story stronger.

July 31, 2011 at 3:19 AM 
With fantasy fiction you make everything up, but it has to have a certain amount of "real" thrown in there for the sake of concreteness and consistency. Have to se able to keep it all straight, especially where you're dealing with the span of a series.

I'm working with another fantasy author on a proposal for Savvy Authors on World-Building...

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