mary e. pearson

I went to the library yesterday to get some books I needed--research for my newest book.  I came home with three.  I always joke that research is a great procrastination tool for writers.  (Or maybe it's just me?)  But I find that every book I write needs some degree of research.  I do two kinds.  One kind is the sort that can send you off on all kinds of birdwalks. You know, you only need the name of a street or a plant, and before you know it you have spent two hours online learning all kinds of stuff about this fascinating plant in the Amazon that eats people. Unfortunately your story takes place on a glacier in Alaska so the odds of needing this bit of research are a bit slim. 

Anyway, I try to put *asterisks* at these small research points in my manuscript as I write and move on so I can address them later when I am under the deadline gun and won't be so tempted to fall into the bottomless research hole--even though it is a fun ride.  The other kind of research I do is where I need to know a whole block of information so that as I am writing my story, the info can weave into it seamlessly.  I don't want to tell you what I am researching right now because I am not ready to talk about my new story, but these three books I got at the library will hopefully give me the background I need so the information will pop into my mind naturally, just as it would for my main character, or other characters in the story. 

Out of three books I will probably only be able to use a fraction of what I read, and no doubt the information I get will send me off on a few more research birdwalks--or maybe discoveries.  But that is the nice thing about this big block kind of research--once I have done it, I can forget it.  If it works, it works, and will fit into the story naturally.  If it doesn't, I have had an interesting time reading some books from the library.  It is a win-win. 

That is what I did with The Adoration of Jenna Fox.  I did tons of research and then put it away and wrote, but it was still lurking in my mind when I got to places in the story where I needed it.  I did the same on my latest book, The Miles Between, collecting a whole file on unusual coincidences.  I couldn't use them all, but a few were there when I needed them.

So today my "writing" will be reading.  And maybe a few birdwalks too.  You never know, maybe someday I wll have use for a woman-eating plant in the Amazon.

I always enjoy researching for my books, but sometimes it reaches new heights--or should I say colors? For my current WIP there is a scene with peacocks. I did some online research, including listening to a video clip of their call. I concluded it sounded something like
"Ya-ooooooooffff!"
I also learned that peacocks begin losing their feathers in June. It was about this time I remembered that the nearby Leo Carillo Ranch had peacocks and I figured since this is May, they might be in their full splendor about now. I was right. I love research.




Another fellow got a little disturbed when I joined him on the patio. Just watching the process of him lifting his feathers made my heart pound (plus I thought he was going to charge me--they have huge claws and beaks) Pretty awesome:



And in case I didn't get the message, he did a little dance and turned around so I could see his backside. It was almost as gorgeous as the front:




Just a short walk away was another fellow who couldn't care less who approached him. He was relaxing in the shade:



The restored rancho of Leo Carillo seems to be the perfect roost for these birds. Lots of room to roam.



Oh. And in person, their call sounds more like "Helllllllllllp!" to me, but I am not sure anyone would believe that.
Reality is stranger than fiction.

I’ve been in my office today . . . cleaning. My god, what a mess. It looks like somebody has actually, er, been working in here. I sent a finished draft (well, you know finished is a relative term) of my manuscript off to my editor on Saturday, so now it is time to regroup–and clean before the next round of revisions start. I’ve mostly got all the research stuff off the floor now and piled semi-neatly, uh, back on the floor. But at least it is only one pile now. And my desk is clear enough that I can see all the interesting little patterns of dust that have accumulated. And I am closing files on my computer that have remained open for ages too. One of them is a file of pictures I took for my wip. A few scenes in my story take place at the Mission San Luis Rey.


It is a gorgeous mission in Oceanside, California, my favorite of all the missions actually. When I went there on this particular day to shoot photos, I’m sure I looked like a tourist, but I probably took a lot of odd photos that most tourists never take. Here is one I thought might end up in the story, but never did. It’s on the wall as you enter the cemetery. Cheery, huh?


Now here is what is on the other side of that wall. And surprisingly, even though it is a cemetery, it does have a cheery side to it. Lots of history here, monuments to the Luiseno Indians who were the original inhabitants here, graves of rancho owners who were awarded land grants by Mexico, even my parents are buried here. It is not just an historical cemetery, but an active one too.


The grounds of the mission are beautiful but the inside of the church is pretty awe-inspiring too:


Here is another shot about midway in the church. This doorway leads to a small courtyard, and if and when this book ever gets published you will see this scene in the story a couple of times.


Since this is travel season, if any of you are out San Diego way, I recommend taking a walk through this Mission and its grounds. Don’t miss the lavendaria too–a small hike, but very cool.

And now, back to cleaning . . .