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.
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