My Research

Close up on still life of hard exams by @freepik

Now that I've shared my writing style, I want to touch upon the way in which I give my stories context, structure, depth, and plausibility. I am so thankful I earned a Master's degree in Communication Studies. I had to develop expertise on a variety of communication topics and this went beyond reading texts, listening to lectures, and participating in discussion. I had to write papers! Lots of them! This activity was always prefaced with copious research. Not only did I want to get As, but I wanted to show I wasn't making things up.

Hence--research! One of my favorite references is Black's Law Dictionary. Since my character Christine Monroe is a Chicago attorney and public defender, I incorporate a lot of legalese and legal or courtroom situations. Don't worry. It isn't boring. I weave what a reader might consider dull and dry into the stories in a very intriguing and entertaining way.

I also navigated Google Earth and Google Maps so all of my characters' movements could be visualized accurately. I didn't want readers from Chicago or Rapid City, for instance, to think I didn't respect their towns by misspelling a place name or by providing wrong directions. I also researched geographical sites and landmarks and tourist attractions so as to ground my stories in realistic yet whimsical trivia.

I studied horses, researching their behavior and the tack used to ride them. I learned everything I could about harnessing horses to a wagon for The Right & Left Hands of Love as well as how to tamper with the tack so as to cause harm. I studied life on a cattle ranch, to include all the chores people do and the equipment they need to do it.

I researched physical trauma and how it is treated. I won't divulge more than that here as I might give away the premise to The Well of Tears & Laughter. That sequel was difficult to write due to the voluminous research I had to undertake in order to make the story work. My readers won't be disappointed. Upset, perhaps, but not disappointed.

Finally, I was told a long time ago when I first wrote the screenplay for The Last Solo Roller to be as accurate about and respectful toward the Lakota culture, history, heroes, rituals, ceremonies, and spirituality as I could possibly be, since it plays a huge part in my "Down the Prairie Rabbit Hole Romance Series." In fact, my stories would have no real meaning or value without my Lakota characters and locale. I shall be forever indebted to the Lakota people for their proud and colorful traditions and enduring courage and quiet dignity. I did an incredible amount of research in order to reflect these in my stories so my readers could develop a deeper understanding of and appreciation for this amazing Native American tribe.

Thanks for reading. Namaste.