A bit of research fun...

I'm currently working on the edits for Tarnished Knight. Most of the book takes place at Castle Sugan, a place in my imagination. However, Jack Roper, Lord Roper, sails into Berwick-upon-Tweed from the Continent.

Every story I write includes research of one sort or another. I confess: I often become lost reading about the places I'm writing about.

I've visited the Berwick website and explored the town, even though only short visits are made to the town in my book. Reading about it, looking at the pictures shared on the site, gives me a sense of being there, combined with my own trip to England and Scotland years ago.

The history caught my attention as I double checked information.

http://www.bridgeviewberwick.com/berwick-history.html

Bits and bobs about writing...

I spend a lot of time researching. It doesn't matter which series I'm working on. There's always something I need to know. Here are a few of things I've looked up lately:

Draft breeds. I needed a pair of dray horses. I looked at several and decided on the Clydesdale. They were bred in Scotland, not long before my story takes place.

Moon phases, in 1817. Yes, timeanddate.com provide the date of the new moon, first quarter, full, and third quarter.

Sunrise and sunset times, comparing winter to summer. I've learned about astronomical twilight, nautical twilight, and civil twilight. Also available at the same site, though I figured this year would be close enough.

I search maps for towns for my stories, and then look up the towns.

In the upcoming Tarnished Knight, Jack sails into Berwick-upon-Tweed. It's a walled port town in northern England, almost to the Scottish border. After visiting their webpage, I want to visit.

The problem with research: It's distracting. The next thing I know hours have passed. However, I've a much clearer picture in my head of the places my characters live.

Boxing Day...

Since servants usually performed their duties on Christmas Day, the day after Christmas, the servants were given gifts from their employers. In the various Regency romances I've read, the gifts have ranged widely, depending on the charity of the estate owner.

The less gracious aristocracy would offer coins and handkerchiefs or other trinkets. The lady of the house would require the heroine or some other poor maid to stitch and create the gifts given, then take credit for bestowing said gift.

The hero and heroine in the aristocracy, of course, would provide a box of gifts and food stuffs for each family as well as the day off. They would ensure each box contained something specific for each family, demonstrating an awareness of those dependent on them, including a monetary bonus.

Most of my employers, over the years, have provided a Christmas bonus of some sort, but usually given before Christmas rather than on Boxing Day.

I'm grateful for the lovely Christmas I enjoyed with friends and family.

Favorite cooking shows...

Julia Childs, anything Julia Childs. I remember watching her when I was little. She was my first foray into television cooking. I do remember the Galloping Gourmet, but didn't enjoy his show as much.

America's Test Kitchen and Cook's Country from America's Test Kitchen. They have lots of great tips.

Nick Stellino. I love his idea of making your home into your favorite restaurant. I admit that he also makes me blush when he compliments the chefs who visit his show. I can't imagine someone talking to me that way.

Lidia's Italy has taught me a lot about Italian cooking, my personal favorite.

I don't grill but Primal Grill with Steven Raichlen has taught me a lot about the methods involved.

Bake Decorate Celebrate! is all about cakes and cookies and decorating them. I don't do it, but I find the creative process amazing.

I've also watched Jacques Pepin for years. He always makes it look so easy. I learned to properly flip food in a pan watching his technique. It helped when Julia Childs pointed out exactly what he did. Jerk back and pop. A little practice, and I use it all the time when I'm sauteing vegetables.

 There are a couple of Irish cooking shows I've enjoyed.

I didn't like Chef Ramsey, at first, because of his abrasive nature. I saw him on Kitchen Nightmares and realized how passionate he is about cooking. He really does want others to succeed. He expects others to give their best, because he gives it. Anything less than their best, and he resents having his time wasted. I watch anything he does now. I still don't like the swearing, but he's a grown up and I'm not his mother.

Burt Wolf has changed over the years. I enjoy his programs more now, sharing a few recipes and lots of background information about where foods come from and the traditions associated with them. Fascinating.

Simply Ming is watching an artist create a painting with food.

A Taste of History is my newest favorite. The chef explores American history and the recipes to go along with it.

I don't have cable so I know I'm missing out on the Food Channel. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. I'm afraid if I had cable I'd be watching television all the time instead of living my life. :-)

Taking my writing seriously...

At the Desert Rose meeting (the RWA chapter here), we chatted about a number of topics. Kris Tualla reviewed Goal, Motivation, and Conflict. She has a gift for condensing information into its simplest form, for those of us who need crayon drawings. Her concise explanation hit home as I mapped my next WIP. The concept and a bunch of scenes are written, and I've shuffled scenes back and forth, until I admitted to myself a proper outline is the goal for this week. I hadn't needed to explore it before now because I've been working mostly on rewriting and editing the books scheduled to be published first. Pulling out pen and paper, I wrote concise answers to the GMC questions for the hero and the heroine. The entire backstory for the hero unveiled itself. It always makes me laugh to learn so may things I didn't know about my characters.

Anne Gracie also had an excellent article on writing this week.

http://romanceaustralia.wordpress.com/2012/05/30/keep-writing-by-anne-gracie/

I've added her hints to my 30 minutes of writing to upbeat music. I haven't done the 30-min write lately because I'm still too deep in the mapping stage. I don't know my characters well enough to know what they'd do in some situations. For example, in my current WIP, I discovered my hero isn't quite what I expected, and my heroine is far more stubborn than I expected.

*whispers* I've seen a rough draft of my cover, which could change. I cried; it's so pretty.

Blogs to visit, today...

My preference is to be flexible. Today is not that day.

Laurie Schnebly Campbell is visiting Romancing The Genres, today.

http://www.romancingthegenres.blogspot.com/2012/05/power-on-alpha-female.html

I wanted to make sure I remembered to visit and had an easy way to do so, which means posting the link here.

Twysted Writer has an intriguing post on body language.

http://www.twystedwriter.com/2012/05/flirting-body-language-guy-thing.html

Wish I'd know about a lot of this a lot sooner. Would have saved me some trouble.  If you aren't comfortable with blunt language and anything that hints at going beyond the bedroom door, you might want to skip this link.

Maria Hammarblad shares "Research and Science Fiction Reports" over at Night Owl Reviews.

http://www.nightowlreview.blogspot.com/2012/05/maria-hammarblad-research-and-science.html

The Writer Limits interviews Gail R. Delaney, who's latest book Janus is now out. More Sci-Fi.

http://thewriterlimitsauthors.blogspot.com/2012/05/gail-delaney-attack-of-interview.html

Then there is Celia Yeary's post "How Physics Helped Me Become an Author," and every time I look at the title I find myself intrigued.

http://www.celiayeary.blogspot.com/

Those should keep you busy for a while. Well, they kept me busy for a while.