I've been writing three books simultaneously, which has led to some pretty interesting Google searches. This week I jotted down all the weird queries I had to Google as part of researching the various books. As you can tell, lots of my research is verifying historical facts:
- how to make hydrocholoric acid with table salt
- the difference between a shilling, crown, and guinea
- image search for actors from Pretty Little Liars (yes, it's research!)
- typical time of sunset in London in December
- policies for corresponding with people in prison
- when people started using "cab" for "cabriolet"
- infinity paradoxes/Mobius strip
- the chimpanzee Lucy, raised to live as a human
- YouTube videos for how to put on a corset by yourself
- how to create a homemade bomb from batteries
So, this has led me to a few different thoughts. First of all, if any Homeland Security people are monitoring my Google searches, I just want it to be known that it's for FICTION.
Secondly, as part of my research I found these awesome websites called My Daguerreotype Boyfriend and Historical Hotties. That's where I found this:
It had the caption "The hottest blind-gentleman-holding-a-kitten daguerreotype you'll see all day" I couldn't agree more.
And this:
The first photo is Photographer Edward Steichen c. 1917; the second is Aidan Quinn in Legends of the Fall. I mean, if this isn't 100% proof that Aidan Quinn is a time traveler, I don't know what more proof you people need.
And my favorite--I found this photo and used it as the basis for the two guy characters in THE MADMAN'S DAUGHTER. I want to keep a copy of this photo in my wallet, and any time a reader says "I'm not really into historical fiction" or "ugh, I hate love triangles" I'm going to pull it out and say "Changed your mind? I thought so. You're welcome."