I love my job.
No really. I L-O-V-E my job. I get to be creative and let my imagination run away with me. And if I need more inspiration, there’s always research.
In school, research wasn’t nearly as much fun. I mean, who wants to study ancient whatever when you’d rather be reading a good book or hanging out with friends.
Now days, research is fun and I use it to write books about characters who are almost friends. These days, I love making notes and exploring maps and studying facts.
Most recently I’ve been reading up on Alaska: the towns, the glaciers, the intricate chains of islands. There’s plenty of basics that I knew about Alaska. It’s humongous. The largest state in our Union. It has more coastline than all of the other states, combined. But I discovered that the rainiest town in the United States is a place called Ketchikan, in southern Alaska. They measure their rainfall in feet, not inches!
Fabulous factoids like this stew in my brain for a while and then I pick and choose which pieces fit the story. Usually, the information I discover helps shape the book. There are facets I never would have thought to include and they add richness and layers to the book.
Since I’m a fan of factoids and I’m always on the lookout for fabulous new-to-me settings, tell me something about where you’re from. Pretty please.
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Selena Blake writes erotic paranormal and contemporary romance. First published in 2008, her series Stormy Weather has been on the best seller lists and nominated for awards. She’s a fan of action movies, Diet Coke, Milky Way bars and thunderstorms, not necessarily in that order. Learn more about her online at http://www.selena-blake.com or catch her at facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorSelenaBlake or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/SelenaBlake
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Alaska is awe inspiring & Ketchikan should be on your’must visit’ list. The local bookstore sports signs, sells tee shirts & mugs that say “Don’t drip on our books” – it’s that wet there. On a sunny day you will fall in love w it. There are seals & whales and amazing food – love the halibut!
I live in the most easterly point in England. The small seaside town of Lowestoft in Suffolk!
The vastness of Alaska is mind boggling to me but I love reading books set there.
I’m on the east coast of the States in Maryland. While I live in the state, I’m actually closer in miles to Washington, DC in the Maryland suburbs, than to Baltimore (Maryland’s only city amongst a state full of counties) . Besides the blue crab, which is a Maryland staple, my state has the beauty of mountains to the north and west; and, the wonder of the Atlantic ocean and the Chesapeake Bay to the east and south. And in between you’ll find farms and vineyards. A little something for everyone. 🙂