One of the questions I guarantee people will ask me is, ‘Do you do much research?’
My answer is, ‘Absolutely. Continually.’
I’m a naturally nosey person and so my research comes two-fold.
First, I love to people watch. Not just idly observe them as they pass by in the street, but I focus in. I can’t help myself. I’ll order another coffee in a café if something interesting happens, just so I can stay longer, because I want to know the result of the conversation.
I’m not talking about conflict, because that attracts everyone’s attention and I tend to steer clear of that kind of thing.
I mean those small events such as the tender stroke of a mother’s hand to comfort an upset child; the slow withdrawal of a disgruntled woman from her husband; the sharp slap of money on a countertop to convey annoyance, the joyous curve of lips, the tight bunch of muscles in a jawline.
All of these things, I draw in so that when the time is right, they contribute to my character driven stories.
Secondly, I suck in knowledge. Every single thing I hear or see, I like to store in my mind for that random piece of information to sneak out just as I’m in the middle of a manuscript.
I might not be that person who can do a pub quiz with rapid-fire answers or even remember the title of the last book I read, but when there’s something already in my mind I go through a process, a kind of sorting through information, like a librarian’s rotary card index. I know, if I relax, the information will present itself, usually at 3 am. I think I’m more of a visual learner, rather than one who can do it by rote.
Research is essential to every single word I write. I hate to get something wrong. I’ve attended on-line university courses on forensics to gain a better understanding, even though I have a source close at hand who is willing to help out. Sometimes I need to do that bit myself. I may not be writing about that specific area at the moment, but it will pop into my head at the appropriate time and I will pluck it out and put it to paper.
One of my recent reviews stated : ‘The Good Twin is a prime example of how a psychological (and claustrophobic!) thriller should be written. Not only is the research evident, but also very plausible. This book will be yanking on all emotions possible; Hope. Despair. Love.’
It’s your emotions I do my research for.
Get your copy of The Good Twin today: https://mybook.to/goodtwinsocial