I’m a research nerd at
heart. After all those years I spent in school, you’d think I’d be done with it, but
I’m not. I may be crazy but I love to research. Luckily, I’m a writer so it
comes with the territory. Even though I write—mainly—fantasy-laden stories, I
always have something that needs a bit of research to get right, even if I’m
well-versed in whatever it is I happen to include in the story.
For instance, in my
paranormal romance novel Passion’s
Sacred Dance, is influenced by Celtic
Myths, specifically that of the Second Battle of Mag Thuried (that was a battle
between the mythic Tuatha de Dannan and their foes Balor and the Formoire).
I’ve studied Celtic mythology for a long time and therefore read about that
battle here and there over the years. Still, I had much research to do in the
course of writing Passion’s
Sacred Dance.
How far back, exactly, was
that battle? Where did the Tuatha de Dannan actually come from? Beyond that,
there were scenes that take place in Celtic history. What was going on at the
times when the Celts clashed with the Romans and Greeks? What did the landscape
look like? Worse yet, the battles happen every five hundred years. Where did
the first one take place, and what did the world look like?
All these nifty little
pieces of the story demanded research from me, and brushing up on what I
already knew, led me to new discoveries. (Or new discoveries for me.) Did you
know the Celts built some of the world’s first fireplaces? Did you know there
was more than one Ice Age? Did you know there was a period in time where the
human race almost completely died out?
I
didn’t, before I started writing the novel. J Where I could’ve just thrown in the towel, no, I
went diving in looking for the answers I needed. Luckily, I’m a research nerd,
so this was a learning experience as much as a novel.
How about you? Have you ever
stumbled across a bit of information that begged you to learn even more?
Here’s
an excerpt from PASSION'S SACRED DANCE:
Note: In this excerpt, my heroine is on the
trail of her ancestor’s diary. Hopefully, it will tell her about the coming
battle. She’s found Aaron, her love interest and mentor in this search, in the
local college library, doing a little reading of his own:
“Ms. Macken’s here from the Bitter Thorn Grove
Historical Museum about the Hazeltine letter.”
“Hazeltine?” Stacy shook her head. “No, no. It’s the
Macken letter, isn’t it?”
Mr. Kaplan nodded. “You mean the Hazeltine letter.
It is by Ruth Macken. As we understand it, it was turned over to the college
collection by…” he paused, thinking, “Veronica Hazeltine, if I’m not mistaken.”
“Oh.” She blinked. “I’m sorry. Ms. Grenwich didn’t
say that. If you have it, I’d like to see it.”
He stood and waved a hand to the main room.
“Take a seat anywhere you like while I retrieve it
for you.”
She did as he suggested while Mr. Kaplan turned to
the task of finding the letter. Stacy settled into a chair at a table covered
with magazines. But she soon grew bored and turned her attention to studying
the architecture.
On a floor above, she spotted a handsome man with
strawberry blond hair leaning against the shelf. He was reading something. Aaron.
She smiled and stood, hurrying up the stairs.
Aaron looked up as she hit the landing. “Well, I
think my luck’s holding out.”
She came to his side and he took her hand and gave
it a light kiss. “What are you doing here?”
Delight lit to her toes at the polite, gentlemanly
greeting, though she wished it was a little more.
“I was going to ask you the same thing.”
“Me? I’m just doing a little reading.”
She tilted her head to read the title in his hands. Eternal
Journey: A Guide to Peace and Self-Mastery from Ancient Warriors. “Light
reading?” she guessed.
“Depends on what the author has to say for himself.”
He tucked the book under his arm. “What
brings you so far from home?”
She nodded to the bookcases. “Research. You’ll never
believe what I found! Ruth wrote a letter to someone that isn’t in my
collection at the gallery.”
“A letter? One you’d never heard of?”
She nodded.
Aaron paused for a moment, eyes narrowed intently.
She wondered what thought distracted him.
“What’s it say?”
“We’ll find out.” She scrubbed a hand through her
hair. “My source says she may’ve mentioned her diary to someone in it. I’m
hoping it’ll tell where I can find it.”
Aaron pursed his lips and nodded. “That would be
quite a coup.”
Stacy peered over the railing, wondering when the
archivist would arrive. “Wouldn’t it, though?”
She felt a touch on her arm and turned. Aaron winked
at her. “On the other hand, you could’ve helped my ego by saying you were
stalking me.”
She tapped her finger against her lips as if considering
her answer. Then she shook her finger at
him, once. “That’s the true reason I’m here, you’re
right.”
****
PASSION’S SACRED DANCE Synopsis:
Battling mounting debt,
Stacy Macken is determined not to lose her historic art gallery. When Aaron
Fielding appears and offers to help, she fights to keep the attraction sizzling
between them from clouding her judgment. He may be her savior in disguise--but
can she trust him?
Aaron intrigues her with tales of the Tuatha dé Danann, sworn warriors who protect humanity from the monsters seeking their destruction. If Aaron can prove what he claims, she would give up anything to help--even the gallery he claims is sacred ground. But with her property set to stage the next epic battle, she needs answers. An old family diary will confirm the ancient legend is true, if only they can find it in time.
If the battle is lost, the enemy will take control of Earth for the next five hundred years. Stacy and Aaron's budding love might only complicate things.
Aaron intrigues her with tales of the Tuatha dé Danann, sworn warriors who protect humanity from the monsters seeking their destruction. If Aaron can prove what he claims, she would give up anything to help--even the gallery he claims is sacred ground. But with her property set to stage the next epic battle, she needs answers. An old family diary will confirm the ancient legend is true, if only they can find it in time.
If the battle is lost, the enemy will take control of Earth for the next five hundred years. Stacy and Aaron's budding love might only complicate things.
If you’d like to read
more, PASSION’S SACRED DANCE is available for Kindle and in paperback. The
Ebook is on sale for $.99 this week at Amazon:
All Romance Ebooks:
The Wild Rose Press:
Paperbacks are available
from Amazon, The Wild Rose Press, and Barnes and Noble:
Thanks
for having me, ladies!
 |
| Author Juli D. Revezzo |
Juli
D. Revezzo has long been in love with writing, a love built by devouring
everything from the Arthurian legends, to the works of Michael Moorcock, and
the classics and has a soft spot for classic the “Goths” of the 19th century.
Her short fiction has been published in Dark Things II: Cat Crimes, The
Scribing Ibis, Eternal Haunted Summer, Twisted Dreams Magazine and Luna Station
Quarterly. She also has an article and book review or two out there. But her
heart lies in the storytelling. She is a member of Independent Authors Network
and Magic Appreciation Tour. Passion’s Sacred Dance is her first romance
novel.
You can find out more about
her at her homepage: http://julidrevezzo.com/
Like her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/JD-Revezzo/233193150037011
Follow her on Author’s Den http://www.authorsden.com/visit/author.asp?AuthorID=167318
On Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5782712.Juli_D_Revezzo
On twitter: @julidrevezzo
Nice post, Juli. It seems that research is a major part of writing historical novels. At least with the authors that I read. They all want to be historically accurate. I enjoyed reading about your research.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Karren (and Caroline and Joan). I prefer the authors who are as historically accurate as possible. Sometimes, you just can't be but it's a nice touch when they can. It can be a major part of any writing, if you're not careful, can't it? Joan, those tantalizing facts are certainly little sparks sometimes. You wouldn't believe some of the things I had to track down while working on that scene and one for a current WIP. Like, what foods were available to the Irish at certain points in history and such like.
DeleteThanks for having me, ladies. I hope you and your readers enjoy the book.
Thanks for coming by and sharing with us today, Juli.
ReplyDeleteHey, Juli. Nice to see you here. Enjoyed the blurb and the excerpt. I too love those tantalizing facts. They certainly can spark the imagination.
ReplyDelete