There is one question I get fairly often: Do you have to do a lot of research to write a book?  The question itself reveals the problem.  Because the answer is… HAVE to? That’s the FUN part! It’s not all book work, either.

Yesterday, for example, I went to the Asbury Community (a retirement village that is an upscale version of Mayden’s Heritage Village) to find out if I’m on target for my set and setting. I also went to meet with ten of the most indepenent and active residents to ask 1) if I was on target in my descriptions and 2) if they were even remotely interested in this “teen” story.  They were kind enough to read at least the first four chapters online (or printed out) and let me know what they thought.  Since they were all 60+, and some of them were in their 80’s, I was a little nervous. 

Turns out, I didn’t need to be.  They love Mayden! We talked for an hour, and there was a lot to learn about the “health care” section, which is equivalent to the level of care Anna has.  In fact, they said Mayden made them wonder how many of the residents in Anna’s condition were really lucid underneath.  I was able to explain blogging as a format and where I’m going with the story.  They gave me suggestions about where I needed more detail and we discussed Anna’s “backstory”–where she was thirty years before the story started (I had to confess, I didn’t know yet). In short, we all got each other thinking. That’s the heart of research and Mayden will surely be a better story for it. 

I thank Suzanne Edwards, Bobbie Patterson, Mary Ellen Muldoon, Sandra Wilkens, Betty Peterkin, Jerre Musser, and Nancy Mellem! Also and especially, my hosts and wonderful parents-in-law (the ones who made it all happen), Janie and Ellis Knox.  You all were so very helpful!