February 22, 2007
Thirteen Things I've Researched for Books I've Written
(both published and unpublished)
1. Tarot Cards–the Major and Minor Arcana and what all the cards mean
2. The Gaia Theory–the theory that the earth is actually one living organism
3. Making rose beads–beads that are made from the stewed petals of roses
4. Indian Vampire mythology
5. What it was like behind the scenes at the Opera Garnier (The Paris Opera House) during the late 19th Century
6. Different types of antique lamps
7. Working at a radio station
8. The oil industry
9. Earthquakes and geological faults
10. The flora, fauna, geology and climate of Siberia
11. Flying small planes (I didn't actually fly them–just researched!)
12. Caving and cave rescues
13. Rome in the 19th Century
The second installment of the Gardella Vampire Chronicles takes Victoria to Venice and Rome.
My novel, 
February 22nd, 2007 at 7:38 am
I think working at a radio station would have been interesting research. I’m curious to what goes on behind the scenes at radio stations.
And I have never heard of the gaia theory.
My 13 are up.
February 22nd, 2007 at 7:44 am
u are quite an interesting person…ur list sounds like something cool!
February 22nd, 2007 at 7:58 am
Just the thought of caving gives me the creeps. I’ve been in one on a tour in the Black Hills… never again. I must have a minor case claustrophobia.
:P
February 22nd, 2007 at 8:13 am
Nine is very interesting. I have mad plans for this one.
Eight is very interesting too, from a geopolitics intersects with capitalism, corruption etc point of view.
February 22nd, 2007 at 8:29 am
That’s the best part of being a writer, isn’t it, Colleen? All the things we get to investigate and learn about…
February 22nd, 2007 at 8:38 am
Doing the research must be fun. How do you research them. obliviously some you have to do book research but others do you participate?
February 22nd, 2007 at 8:43 am
Hello, I’m Colleen and a writer too. I just saw your interview over at R’s. I feel the same way about the 13. I’ll probably still do my own because I love the mid week tying up of loose ends with it. And look at all these TT bloggers I haven’t even met yet, like you.
February 22nd, 2007 at 8:46 am
I think my favorite part of writing would be the researcheing I love to learn new things.
February 22nd, 2007 at 8:48 am
The rose beads sound very interesting. A new topic for me to research too!
Happy last TT
February 22nd, 2007 at 8:48 am
Great list! Sounds very interesting
Researching is so much fun! I’ve been learning about the flora, fauna and climate of a region of the Brazilian rainforest. My mother is a tarot card reader and she has several decks of cards. Her Psychic friend, Star, (yes, that was her real name) told her that she was actually a reincarnated shaman and she needed to go on a spirit journey. The journey included my mother traveling to an area near the Grand Canyon, digging a special hole and then sleeping in the hole over night with certain herbs… It was pretty interesting… but my mother never did go on her spirit journey! 
Isn’t it fabulous how much we can learn when we are passionate about understanding how something was or could be?
You have a lovely Thursday, Colleen.
Take care.
February 22nd, 2007 at 9:14 am
You’re kind of my hero.
February 22nd, 2007 at 9:27 am
Wow, that’s some pretty coll stuff you’ve researched!
February 22nd, 2007 at 9:36 am
One of the major reasons I don’t think I could ever be a writer is that I don’t enjoy research. I think I was scarred when I did research for the development of an online game set in the Sahara and had to read tons of stuff on dung beetles. I was haunted by them for a long time after.
Happy TT!
February 22nd, 2007 at 10:15 am
Gaia theory sounds interesting. I wonder how it differed from researching oil industry. From personal experience its hard work researching (especially when its economics)
February 22nd, 2007 at 10:56 am
I love your list!
February 22nd, 2007 at 11:42 am
OMG, what fun! It sounds like it would be awfully easy to just get caught up in all the fascinating research–how do you find time to actually write?
February 22nd, 2007 at 11:42 am
Very interesting list
February 22nd, 2007 at 12:26 pm
oooh, how do you make rose beads??!
February 22nd, 2007 at 1:39 pm
Indian Vampire mythology just sounds cool. There are a lot of things out there I need to research, but just haven’t had the time. I think I may have to change that soon.
February 22nd, 2007 at 2:58 pm
There’s some interesting stuff! I like authors that do their “homework”. Nothing more annoying than stupid errors in a book I love!
My TT shows 13 pics of me. I hope someone takes over TT, so this won’t be our last!
February 22nd, 2007 at 3:50 pm
wow, Indian vampires? India vampires or American Indian Vampires?
February 22nd, 2007 at 7:41 pm
Impressive and interesting list!
February 22nd, 2007 at 8:46 pm
Isn’t research fun? (Usually?) You make me want to research the above, especially the Opera Garnier. Caving is FUN!
I hope this isn’t our last TT, but … Happy TT, anyway!
February 26th, 2007 at 11:41 am
This is why its so cool to be an author. I am into 1 and 2. How fun to make those beads.
Now did you go caving or just research caving?