Today’s Question:
What is the weirdest/coolest thing you ever had to research
for your story?
Since I write murder mysteries – I've
researched various serial killers their methods and their reasons – many never
share the why? But as a person interested in motivations, I give my antagonists
a background befitting their psychotic bent.
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Michelle Wallace
Nancy Gideon
Tamara Narayan
Liesbet @ Roaming About
Feather Stone
I hope you will follow my blog
tour for the Snowman.
This week I'll be visiting:
Bish Denham - Random Thoughts – Excerpt
This week I'll be visiting:
THE SNOWMAN TOUR CALENDAR
May 1 – Juneta @ Writer’s Gambit – Author Guest Post
May 2 – Romance Under Fire – Review& Excerpt
Bish Denham - Random Thoughts – Excerpt
Please stop by and say hello!
And did you ever have nightmares after a research session? This would be interesting and creepy both.
ReplyDeleteHi, Donna:
DeleteNot that I can recall. Zombies give me nightmares, but serial killers give me the creeps, waking nightmares, paranoia. And are probably why I keep lights on all over the house at night! :) No surprises in the dark for me!
Have you visited websleuths.com? They crowdsource their amateur sleuthing skills in a way, and there are a ton of forums on serial killers that they're tracking. A&E's The Killing Season featured the site a lot. http://www.raimeygallant.com
ReplyDeleteNo, I haven't, but I will. Sounds interesting! Thank, Raimey!
DeleteWhat fun! I can relate :) Loving your new covers and brand, Yolanda. Hope all is well with you. Take good care.
ReplyDeleteHi, Nicola:
DeleteThanks! All is as well as can be expected! :)
Never knew few never said why, figured they'd brag once they got caught.
ReplyDeleteThey like to keep their secrets, only a few brag! Some won't even admit to being a killer, claim innocence until the end!
DeleteHi, Pat!
Sometimes, it takes a swift kick to be feed up with some of the antics that I hear some publishers doing. I just finished reading your post on Denise's blog. All the best and I'm glad you got through the month of April.
ReplyDeleteShalom aleichem,
Pat G
Thanks, Pat!
DeleteFed up is the truth. It had reached maximum! Thanks, still struggling to finish it all, but I'll get there! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! Beach - here I come!
I can only imagine what your computer history looks like, all gruesome and such. I do occasionally read true crime stories out some kind of curiosity to discover the motive, the why and what that makes a person do such things.
ReplyDeleteIt's pretty bad, and only gets worse. I have to know the motivation, it's vital and yet, understanding is seldom achieved! Thanks, Bish!
DeleteYou must have some interesting sites bookmarked.
ReplyDeleteAlready visited Denise!
I think one of my most interesting is the sounds of gunshots. Describing those are sometimes key! :)
DeleteCongrats on your blog tour! I'm into the psychological side of things too, both as a writer and reader. I think it makes the story more interesting.
ReplyDeleteI do too, J.H.!
DeleteIt's vital to knowing the character fully!
I think all characters need a good back story for motivation.
ReplyDeleteI do too, Elizabeth! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteHopefully, all your research into serial killers didn't cause you to get flagged by the FBI.
ReplyDeleteOh, gosh, I hope not! But who knows. Maybe that's why I keep seeing that black SUV in front of the house. Hmm. . .
DeleteHi, Ken, thanks for stopping by!
Of all the killers that exist, serial killers scare me the most. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
Funny thing is Zombies still frighten me more, unless it's a flesh eating serial killer. YUCK!
DeleteHi, emaginette! Thanks!
Hi Yolanda: There is one thing I find common in all crimes. Not matter what the circumstances are, people crave to know why the crime was committed. It seems to be a human need to understand the motive. And sometimes, like you said, the criminal refuses to reveal what led him/her to speak about. And so, even though justice may be served, there remains the hurt and confusion. The Snowman is truly a excellent novel, delving into the mind of two truly twisted people. It must have been quite the journey for you.
ReplyDeleteUnderstanding motivation is important to me! Thanks, I so appreciate your understanding of the process and the story!
DeleteLong walks on the beach made all the difference! Thanks again - your review was beyond awesome!
Why? Because they are all certifiably crazy.
ReplyDeleteLOL, you are so right, Diane!
DeleteResearch is one of my favourite things about writing, especially when it's a dark story!
ReplyDeleteI love it too, learning has always been a life long journey! Although, sometimes, I wish I hadn't. Yuck!
DeleteThanks, Laura!
Such research you do must be pretty depressing. Serial killers are truly scary, in life as well as in fiction.
ReplyDeleteSo true, Olga!
DeleteInteresting characters though!
Hi Yolanda. I hope you're pleased with the way your blog tour is going. I've made those changes. Terribly sorry!
ReplyDeleteNo need to apologize! You did a beautiful job! Thank you! I'm thrilled, busy, and behind in comments and follow-up but very, very, pleased. Mason does an amazing job! If not for her I would be in the loony bin! :)
DeleteHmmm, I can't help but wonder if some of the creepy ways Stowie came up with to kill came from your research or from your pretty little head. Especially the plans he had for Brenda! Yipes.
ReplyDeleteLOL, imagination? Thinking like a killer? All that research turning around in my head? Who knows, it just comes to me and I go with it. I always blame the character though, he is in my head after all! Hi, Susan! Heading over now!
DeleteI can imagine that research must have its creepy elements because serial killers are definitely real life monsters that make sparkly vampires and brain-eating zombies look tame.
ReplyDeleteHappy book touring and Congrats!
Hi, Tyrean:
DeleteThanks for the visit! And you're so right - much, much worse!
Serial killers are kind of mind-blowing. I like to invent murderers who are more like the rest of us. Which, in a way, is more chilling, now that I think of it!
ReplyDeleteThat's the problem they are all ready way too much like the rest of us. No invention necessary! Hi, Rebecca!
DeleteI enjoy when a book has given serious thought to the motivations behind the bad guys. It makes it seem more realistic. Your tour looks awesome! I really gotta do one of those in Sept...
ReplyDeleteHi, Lexa:
DeleteIf you decide to do a tour consider Mason Canyon, she's awesome!
I like knowing the motivations.
I love Law & Order: Criminal Intent so that would be fascinating (and scary). On my way to Flanders
ReplyDeleteHi, Maurice, thanks for taking the time to visit both sites! Criminal Intent was one of my favorites too!
DeleteI'm wondering, do you ever have nightmares about some of the horrific things you read about when in research mode?
ReplyDeleteOr do you have the ability to cut it off and adopt the 'leave work behind at the office' mentality?
Hi, Michelle:
DeleteYes, I have, I think I'm a bit paranoid because of it too! :)