The Trouble With Research

The real problem with researching a book is the real problem with going to Wikipedia at all. EVER.

One minute you’re looking at a page on Venetian masks to get a good mental image for the book you’re working on and the next minute you find your on a page about something called gesso, which is apparently the substance used in the construction of modern Venetian masks.

Then you’re back on the original page, having remembered what your original goal was, and you’re marveling at just how creepy these Moretta masks are.

I mean, look at that thing. I don’t think it’s even necessarily the physical appearance that creeps me out the most, but the fact that (according to the Wiki), these are kept in place by a button or bit on the inside that women had to bite down upon to hold the mask in place.

On the plus side, I got some fantastic notes and ideas for the book I’m working on.

Of course, on the flip side there’s all the nightmares.

I should mention that all of this is for a project I’m tentatively calling Sherlock Holmes in Fantasy Land. This book has been stewing in the back of my head for a long time, while I’ve worked on other books, while I’ve worked on other short stories, etc.

I’m just glad I’ve finally found the right way to work on it.