This week:  Research…how far will you go?

If you reached me by Carolyn Spear on the blog hop, thanks for continuing the tour.  The week’s author questions are from me. I am curious to see what my fellow authors will do in the name of research, prying for the obscure and maybe even sensual. My fingers are crossed.

What is the most unusual thing you’ve ever done in the name of research for a book?

I did ask a friend who owns a Jeep if it was possible to have sex in the cargo area if the backseats were out. What a true pal, she actually asked her husband to give it a try!

As for me, I guess I’d say going to the East Coast Surfing Championships to photograph surfers.  Included in this post are some shots I took in the practice area where the surfers were relaxed and testing the waves.

Name a nonfiction book you’ve read for research that you wouldn’t have read otherwise.  Not including writing craft books. Oh, let me see, The Roman Imperial Army, Fighting Fire, The Last Men Out, American Sniper, Outlaw Platoon, War and, War Dogs… Whooa, I’m  seeing a trend here.

If you could travel anywhere to do research for a book, including back in time or out of this world, where would you go?

My first novel was set in ancient Rome and I really wanted to see the Coliseum, and other Roman ruins throughout Europe. Now that I’m writing contemporary, I’d like to take a tour of beaches of the world, like in the Endless Summer movie. Give me the purple pill and bring on the Margaritas!

Now, let’s see what’s the most interesting thing Jeana E. Mann has done for research.

This week:  Favorite characters and three must haves for writing…

 Who is your favorite character you’ve written and why?

Hmmm… That’s tough. I become very invested in my characters, especially the heroes. I’d have to say Ray in Hot as Blazes, as he is the embodiment of a hero to me. A man of few words, he exudes a quiet air of confidence. While handsome, he doesn’t see himself that way and always has your back. The heroine nicknames him Hemanus (hēּ-manּ-us), a term invented by my son for his dad.

Do you prefer to write your Hero or Heroine?

I’m such a tomboy, I love writing the hero. I’ve been told I write like a guy and that it’s a good thing, but I’m not so sure. Some romance readers like cutesy and that’s not my style. Tongue in cheek humor, action and sarcasm are prevalent in my writing. As for my heroines, they are flip-flop casual, real world and, independent bordering on bossy. Some may polish their nails, but they’re not worried about breaking one.

What are the three things you can’t write without?

Jack Daniels, my Stealth Bods Pinterest Board for inspiration & chocolate LOL – No really, my number one need is a computer. I hate writing by hand. I’ve was typing before I learned to drive. Keyboarding is second nature and a zillion times faster than my scribble. If you’ve ever used a typewriter you know the freedom word processing is godlike. A writer’s world is limitless until the damn thing crashes.

The internet is second deity to writers. You can learn things in seconds where as before it would have taken a visit to the library or even a trip abroad. Recently, I wrote about a neighborhood in a nearby city, where I had never visited. I needed to know the type of houses built there. A Google satellite search gave me the answer in minutes and saved me a thirty minute drive, plus gas.

My third need varies by the day. Some days I need music or eye drops. When editing, I need is a printer loaded with paper. Certain errors pop in print. I notice wrong word choices, thoughts out of sequence and misused words. Oh, and I can’t forget my CRW critique group!

Thanks to Rebekkah Ganiere for this week’s Romance Weekly questions. Hop on over to Leslie Hachtel’s blog to see what three things she can’t live without when writing.