tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post3569329710847196921..comments2024-03-26T20:43:43.436-05:00Comments on Samantha Gentry's Blog: Researching A Setting Can Be FunSamantha Gentryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-29871356968286803502009-11-11T16:56:45.691-06:002009-11-11T16:56:45.691-06:00Margaret: That sounds like a marvelous research t...Margaret: That sounds like a marvelous research trip. I'd love to visit the Normandy beaches that were the D-Day landing sites for World War II.Samantha Gentryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-28994895018327813692009-11-11T16:51:11.241-06:002009-11-11T16:51:11.241-06:00Mary: I have to admit that was back when I also h...Mary: I have to admit that was back when I also had a 'day' job that paid all the bills, so I could afford to do things like that with my writing income. Ah...those were the good old days.Samantha Gentryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-54146992248598254792009-11-11T16:40:08.007-06:002009-11-11T16:40:08.007-06:00Hi Samantha,
Great article. It is obvious that you...Hi Samantha,<br />Great article. It is obvious that you go to a lot of research for your books and are prepared to go that extra mile, so to speak, and I admire that, nothing worse than reading a book that has a glaring mistake in it, turns me off the author for life.<br />I write historical romance myself, so I know the importance of historical accuracy.<br />I live in Australia, but I travelled to England then made a pilgrimige to the World War 1 battlefields of France and Belgium while researching my World War 1 novels. This would have been one of the most poignant moments in my whole life.Margaret Tannerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07123830410502520003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-31057364238423964072009-11-11T16:17:50.323-06:002009-11-11T16:17:50.323-06:00gosh, I wish I could afford to travel to do resear...gosh, I wish I could afford to travel to do research for my stories. That would be a big help!Mary Ricksenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12676306822821614446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-51642272144096520482009-11-11T12:23:31.565-06:002009-11-11T12:23:31.565-06:00Joyce: Good suggestion about making and maintaini...Joyce: Good suggestion about making and maintaining a contact in an area used as a favorite setting in several novels. Soaking up the atmosphere of a present day location can provide the extra spark to make the historical setting come to life in a book.Samantha Gentryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-57458834925234634082009-11-11T10:46:44.992-06:002009-11-11T10:46:44.992-06:00There's nothing better than onsight research, ...There's nothing better than onsight research, but many are unable to travel that much. I'm fortunate in that much of what I write I already know. But one shouldn't allow herself to be complacent about setting, and don't forget those interesting folks who peopled an area long before you came on the scene. LOL<br /><br />I write about horses, which I used to own, farming, which I used to do, and Central Texas, where I was born. Some years ago I spent a week with an aunt in my hometown and haunted the library while I was there; walked the oldest cemetary, and generally soaked up today's ambience so that I could apply it to my historical fiction.<br /><br />Following that, I have recontacted the librarian several times over the years, and she's been unfailingly helpful.Joyce Hendersonhttp://www.joycehendersonauthor.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-55936388769280359092009-11-10T12:27:39.001-06:002009-11-10T12:27:39.001-06:00Susan: I received your contest entry, thanks.
Th...Susan: I received your contest entry, thanks.<br /><br />That entire research project was interesting. Being on the property that was my real life model for my fictional Sedgwick Estate was fun. The 14th century tithe barn pictured above is only about 100 feet from a modern swimming pool. Interesting juxtaposition of the very old and the new.Samantha Gentryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-32349739132987270352009-11-10T10:50:29.084-06:002009-11-10T10:50:29.084-06:00what an awesome thing you did and sounds like you ...what an awesome thing you did and sounds like you should feel honored the officer gave you that much time..you must has impressed him. ah ah I enjoy reading your article. I also sent you my answers to your J. DEPP contest and enjoyed that very much. susan L.susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07719916545911843485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-7513162129969925662009-11-08T10:54:23.306-06:002009-11-08T10:54:23.306-06:00Linda: I couldn't believe I'd end up spen...Linda: I couldn't believe I'd end up spending 2 hours with him, either. :) It was blatantly obvious that he was not pleased with having to deal with me. He said he guessed he could give me maybe 15 minutes. He ended up even giving me a tour of their jail facility!<br /><br />Very good advice about looking at your location from a different mindset. Something you take for granted could turn out to be so much more.Samantha Gentryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02764092383245823784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1131669960192626946.post-26781747438777584432009-11-08T10:30:43.386-06:002009-11-08T10:30:43.386-06:00I can't believe you managed to get two hours r...I can't believe you managed to get two hours research out of our British Police! They are usually so run off their feet that they haven't time for meal breaks. Good for you.<br /><br />My tip regarding research is *not* to take your close surroundings for granted. Familiarity breeds (unjust) contempt. <br /><br />I live outside of Hull, Yorkshire, born and raised there, and was looking west to the hilly & windswept Pennines area as a setting for my paranormal TORC OF MOONLIGHT because Celtic bog-bodies were uncovered there and that information fitted my storyline. But visiting Hull's university I was caught by a fleeting image, retraced my steps for a better look, and in mentally stepping back from my accepted normality found the true setting for my novel.<br /><br />Often an exotic setting isn't necessary, just a different mindset.<br /><br />LindaLinda Acasterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03096791092366530129noreply@blogger.com