Fantasy is made up, but research lends credence, and that helps immerse my readers into the fantasy. See previous blog!
My continuing research into wolf re-introductions in Colorado has made me curious how people and wolves coexist in other places. I know, for instance, that there have been wolves in the upper peninsula of Michigan for decades, as they were never extirpated like in the west. There are also wolf packs in Canada. My question: What is the ratio of people/wolf in those areas? How often do they encounter each other? If anyone has more information for me, I'd appreciate links and connections in the comments section below. This is all part of my research into animal and human behavior which will enrich my stories. Thank you for your help!
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I was once asked at an author event; do you have to do research for your fantasy stories? The short answer is yes. The bigger question is what exactly do I research?
First, I love words. When I come across new ones in my reading, whether it's a fantasy novel or the NYT, I look it up. For instance, last week I had to look up extirpate versus exterminate. The difference between the two is that with extirpate, there are still specimens of a species somewhere else, but not in the area under discussion. So you can extirpate wolves in Colorado, but they are not exterminated, because they survive in Montana and Michigan. Second, I don't know that much about wild animals. I research what they eat, how they live, where they live, what their mating rituals include, how many young they have and when and how often. When do they drop antlers, or are they called horns? Do they molt? My information comes from academic websites, national parks, and local newspapers. Those details get peppered into scenes I write for a more realistic portrayal. But you write fantasy, you say! Yes, but I want to get it right when I say that the bear hibernates at a certain time of year, so that I can then decide that my Netahs don't have to hibernate, because they build more permanent homes. Why is that important? That is one advantage to being a Netah! Finally, when it came time to market my book, The Netahs, Down in the Valley, book 2, I had to learn a lot of new skills. I discovered where and when to post news; what kind of information is welcome in different places. I've learned how to set up an Eventbrite event and do a zoom presentation, I practiced reading my own prose out loud for an audience. I had to decide who to contact and who my readers are. That's all research. Are you one of my readers? If you haven't already registered for my Virtual Launch Party, it's only 15 days away (4/28). Don't miss the fun, satisfy your curiosity, win prizes. Can't wait to see you. For the past 2 years I have been editing and refining book 2 in The Netah series. It has been a slog and exhilarating in equal parts. In between rounds of that, I worked on pre-writing book 3. I know what the general setting and action will include, so can write many pages that flesh out those ideas. This is what those in the trade call "word vomiting." It's a way to tap the creative cortex, turn off the editor/critic. I love that part. Eventually I realized I needed a stronger conflict and story arc, so set that aside. Now, my pre-writing looks more like me going for walks, staring off into the distance, or writing in my favorite small notebook. No, I'm not goofing off, it's called pre-writing. Also, the actual writing of book 3 has had to take a back seat to marketing book 2. It's what I signed up for when I chose a hybrid publisher. They were helpful when it came to a manuscript evaluation, cover art, distribution arrangements, and the little details like copyright registration and ISBN numbers. Editing and marketing are my job. I like writing, so the marketing has been fun, especially generating blog posts. I've also had to learn new things, so the little gray cells are getting a workout. The hard part? That would be self-promotion. I was raised to NOT brag. I was taught that it was not polite, but here I am writing an awful lot of "I" sentences. What I've learned is that what looks and often feels like a very solitary occupation, can be moderated by reaching out to my community. How that community is defined has expanded. There are other writers out there, also editors, marketers, not to mention support organizations that offer tips and resources. Friends have recently recommended Alignable and Substack, so I signed up. We'll see where that goes, but so far it seems very friendly. Then there's SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators), the Author's Guild, and the Denver Women's Press Club. So, if you get bogged down in your process, maybe it's time to find your people, your community. Maybe you don't have to do it alone. My people are signing up to join me in celebrating the launch of book 2 at my Virtual Party on April 28 at 4 pm Denver time. The more the merrier. There are still spots available, but registration on Eventbrite is required. Don't miss the fun and prizes. Can't wait to see you there! According to a study by Words rated, it's not just young adults. It is a fast-growing category of the books sold every year. Interestingly, at least to me, 78% of buyers are not younger than 18, but rather between 30 and 44 years old. Oh, and one other fact I find encouraging, the vast majority buy fiction. Of course, Harry Potter books rank highest, and Lord of the Rings is right up there too.
I'd like to share my thoughts on what's going on here. First, I wonder just how many young adults (13–18 years old) go into bookstores and pick out their own books? Unless they have a store on the corner that also sells coffee and has a place for teens to hang out together, I doubt it. While some stores have that, how many are teen friendly? Such young adults would also have to be avid readers who can finish off school reading assignments with ease and have time for their own choices. Second, if a lot of young readers choose ebooks, is that because they can buy them from home easily and they are less expensive? Possibly. Third, if most buyers are over 18, are they parents, librarians, or teachers, or all the rest of us who enjoy a bit of adventure, intrigue, mystery and romance? I suspect that they are adults of all ages who like a bit of escapism, but don't need to be slapped in the face with the deeper darker issues. They are looking for entertainment. If that's you, what are you waiting for? Don't miss my two Netah books about people who can shift into animals. Also, if you got this far, join the poll I'm taking. If you read young adult books, how old are you? Please answer in the comments below. |