Friend and fellow author Valerie Biel runs a fun series on her blog called Strange But True, in which she asks authors to share the ways their research has taught them something new, encouraged a new hobby, or inspired them to travel.

I wrote how my need for a character to have a quiet, introspective moment led to her pulling out of her pocket a spinning top. As the typed words escaped my fingertips, I was surprised at the triggered memory. I loved loved loved spinning tops as a kid. The toy’s ...