Research...

Today, I did a bit of research for a book to be written in the near future. I spent a couple of hours at a local blacksmith's here in Atlanta. 
While most of you would probably expect to see something like this...



In reality, modern blacksmithing is more like this...




Sparks were flying everywhere as metal was welded and grinders made edges smooth. The shop was making (with four full-time metal workers) an enormous bell tower for a local church. 
Not exactly horseshoes and swords, right?
We can romanticize the heck out of anything, but it wouldn't do this profession justice. Blacksmiths have come a long way from using an anvil and a coal forge. Although, there were several anvils in the shop, but the forge runs on propane now, not coal. (ha!)
It's important to get the details right, so to see metal creations come to life was a pretty cool experience. 
Now, for my next book I'm thinking male strippers... more research to be done!