Sheila
asked
Becky Clark:
Just wanted to say that I am loving the Mystery Writer's Mystery series. First books I've read by you and I can't wait to read more! What kind of research do you do for your books?
Becky Clark
Hi Sheila! Thank you so much for your kind words! It's always fun to hear when readers discover my books.
As for research, that's one of the fun things about writing. I write at the cozy end of the spectrum so I don't have to worry too much about police procedure or forensics, although in my 3rd Crossword Mystery, FATAL SOLUTIONS (Nov 2021), I did get to have a fascinating discussion with a forensic anthropologist. She even gave me some plot ideas and a lot of description. I met her through my local Sisters in Crime chapter when she came to speak to us. Really cool stuff!
Also for the Crossword Mysteries I did a lot of research about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) because Quinn, my main character, has received a recent diagnosis. Lots of case studies and a few live interviews to make sure I got that all correct.
And then, of course, there's smaller stuff that just crops up as I write: diner lingo, dog breeds, agility training, locations, how to attach a drag wig, cars, clothes in the 1970s, driving an RV, funny ways to kill somebody. And that's lots of fun to dive into.
The Mystery Writer's Mysteries stars a mystery writer, as you know, so I already had a lot of that info, but for the Crossword Mysteries I had to teach myself how to construct crosswords. Waaay harder than I expected. But also fun ... when it works, that is!
Thanks for reading!
As for research, that's one of the fun things about writing. I write at the cozy end of the spectrum so I don't have to worry too much about police procedure or forensics, although in my 3rd Crossword Mystery, FATAL SOLUTIONS (Nov 2021), I did get to have a fascinating discussion with a forensic anthropologist. She even gave me some plot ideas and a lot of description. I met her through my local Sisters in Crime chapter when she came to speak to us. Really cool stuff!
Also for the Crossword Mysteries I did a lot of research about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) because Quinn, my main character, has received a recent diagnosis. Lots of case studies and a few live interviews to make sure I got that all correct.
And then, of course, there's smaller stuff that just crops up as I write: diner lingo, dog breeds, agility training, locations, how to attach a drag wig, cars, clothes in the 1970s, driving an RV, funny ways to kill somebody. And that's lots of fun to dive into.
The Mystery Writer's Mysteries stars a mystery writer, as you know, so I already had a lot of that info, but for the Crossword Mysteries I had to teach myself how to construct crosswords. Waaay harder than I expected. But also fun ... when it works, that is!
Thanks for reading!
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