Using travel for research. Does it help visit the places you write about?
I went to Scotland, England, and Wales. A vacation of 30 years set in the dreaming phase. It was a multi-purpose trip. Fun, pub food, and football matches were the bonus round. But, I went for business. To find out where the UK libraries are in the ebook revolution and research for my stories.
I’ll talk first about research. I am in the midst of writing a historical romance series called Regimental Heroes. The third in the series, The Wounded Nobleman, comes out this weekend. It’s set in the Victorian era around the Crimea War and the young men returning with the PTSD of that time.
People always say ‘write what you know.’ But, it’s fun to write something you don’t know. You’ll need to do in-depth research to make sure your facts are right. I wrote, Kilt by Love, without ever traveling to Scotland. Can I write it more accurately now? Maybe. Unfortunately, I found out that everyday men do not run around in kilts. Through in Glasgow the men are extremely handsome. Dark hair, great accents, and very well fit dress pants to some fine (I’ll bet soccer playing) rear-ends.
In Glasgow we stumbled on a military museum tucked back on the main street. It was free admission, so we weren’t expecting much. It was GREAT! Had full display windows from the Crimea war with uniforms, swords and metals. Now, mind you, this was the Scottish Regiment, and I’m working on the British side. But, soon I will move into the Scots.
It also made me wonder, here are the Scots, less than a 100 years after being slaughtered by the English in Culloden (we saw that too), having to fight beside them. This adds a whole level of conflict for my series. It’s 200+ years after Culloden and they still don’t like each other. Hatred and religious differences can last a really long time.
The Crimea was a short battle, but I was surprised to see how many statues in parks and even tribute tombs in the cathedrals dedicated to the fallen soldiers.
Wars were different then. It took sometimes years to organize it all. Get the horses, make the weapons, acquire the food and uniforms. You didn’t just go in and drop bombs. It said in the museum that more soldiers died from exposure to the cold and infection than in battle. Not enough medicine, not enough doctors, little clean water. Not good. There was a joke during the war amongst soldiers that the cooks killed more than the enemy did. Not enough food and water they dropped like flies.
If you have the opportunity to research like I’ve been able to, it adds a whole level of depth and understanding to your writing. If not, read, read, read and make sure your facts are right!
Please check out my Regimental Heroes Series
The Wounded Nobleman
The Duke and the Lost Night
The Reluctant Heir
Jennifer ConnerThe Reluctant HeirThe Duke and the Lost Night
I’ll talk first about research. I am in the midst of writing a historical romance series called Regimental Heroes. The third in the series, The Wounded Nobleman, comes out this weekend. It’s set in the Victorian era around the Crimea War and the young men returning with the PTSD of that time.
People always say ‘write what you know.’ But, it’s fun to write something you don’t know. You’ll need to do in-depth research to make sure your facts are right. I wrote, Kilt by Love, without ever traveling to Scotland. Can I write it more accurately now? Maybe. Unfortunately, I found out that everyday men do not run around in kilts. Through in Glasgow the men are extremely handsome. Dark hair, great accents, and very well fit dress pants to some fine (I’ll bet soccer playing) rear-ends.
In Glasgow we stumbled on a military museum tucked back on the main street. It was free admission, so we weren’t expecting much. It was GREAT! Had full display windows from the Crimea war with uniforms, swords and metals. Now, mind you, this was the Scottish Regiment, and I’m working on the British side. But, soon I will move into the Scots.
It also made me wonder, here are the Scots, less than a 100 years after being slaughtered by the English in Culloden (we saw that too), having to fight beside them. This adds a whole level of conflict for my series. It’s 200+ years after Culloden and they still don’t like each other. Hatred and religious differences can last a really long time.
The Crimea was a short battle, but I was surprised to see how many statues in parks and even tribute tombs in the cathedrals dedicated to the fallen soldiers.
Wars were different then. It took sometimes years to organize it all. Get the horses, make the weapons, acquire the food and uniforms. You didn’t just go in and drop bombs. It said in the museum that more soldiers died from exposure to the cold and infection than in battle. Not enough medicine, not enough doctors, little clean water. Not good. There was a joke during the war amongst soldiers that the cooks killed more than the enemy did. Not enough food and water they dropped like flies.
If you have the opportunity to research like I’ve been able to, it adds a whole level of depth and understanding to your writing. If not, read, read, read and make sure your facts are right!
Please check out my Regimental Heroes Series
The Wounded Nobleman
The Duke and the Lost Night
The Reluctant Heir
Jennifer ConnerThe Reluctant HeirThe Duke and the Lost Night
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