Researching Books: Tough, Honest Work–and I’m Ready for the Challenge!

You’d think a contemporary fantasy novel (fantasy set in current modern times) wouldn’t need much research. Well, you would be wrong.

My next book, Fate’s Immortal Hands (formerly known as All They See is Dust–trust me, the new title fits better), dives into the past a few times (the 1660s, to be more precise) and it features a lot of art, art analysis, some forgery, and some theft. To write this to the best of my ability, I need to know quite a bit about these things, even if I use precious little of what I learn. Every bit of knowledge I gain will inform the plot and characters, even if it’s just by indirect inspiration alone.

Here is what I’ve done so far to prepare for writing this book:

I’ve read:

1. The Joy of Art by Carolyn Schlam
2. How to Read Paintings by Christopher P. Jones
3. What Great Artworks Say by Christopher P. Jones
4. The Rescue Artist by Edward Dolnick
5. Masterpieces of Art Explained by Christopher P. Jones
6. Elements of Art by Susie Hodge

Things I’ve watched:

• One hour and fifty-seven minutes of art instruction

Things I’ve done:

• Attended an art class

Here’s what I have left to do:

I want to read:

1. How to Understand Art by Janetta Rebold Benton
2. Vermeer: A View of Delft by Anthony Bailey
3. The Woman Who Stole Vermeer by Anthony M. Amore
4. The Man Who Made Vermeers by Jonathan Lopez
5. Provenance by Laney Salisbury and Aly Sujo
6. Priceless by Robert K. Wittman and John Shiffman
7. The Art of the Heist by Jenny Siler and Myles J. Connor
8. The Conservation and Restoration of Paintings by John Clifton
9. Vermeer and the Masters of Genre Painting by Eddy Schavemaker
10. Exploring Art History by Christopher P. Jones
11. The Forger’s Spell by Edward Dolnick

I also want to watch twenty-three more hours of art instruction (specifically oil painting), virtually tour the Louvre, watch Close to Vermeer, and attend an art lecture.

Already I’ve started an outline for this project and should start writing it sometime in the fall. I need to get a better feel for my protagonist (she’s being a bit hard to get to know) and the antagonists. I also need to interview a secondary character that is going to play a big part in the story.

Right now, I’m still writing The Face I Wear, and I expect to finish the first draft before September. Only 9,000 words left to write…I’m guessing.

__

What are your plans for the remainder of the summer? Are you traveling anywhere or staying near home?

Keep reading,
Beth

P.S. Are you looking for your preorder incentive? Check out this important update!

P.P.S. Be sure to sign up for my newsletter and receive a free short story!