Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Something Is Coming: On Googling Strange Topics for Research, and Preparing to Publish a New Fantasy!


Welcome to November, everyone! I got to say, last month was a wild and productive one. The busted foot is much better now, and I am walking fine for the most part. Anime Banzai was an absolute blast, and my state just set a new record October low for the continental US. Hang on a second--did I just start talking about the weather?

Instead of the weather, I have some news to share. But first:

Need A Little Support?
November Question: What's the strangest thing you've ever googled in researching a story?

As in, the weird or bizarre, or even the outright dangerous, that may prompt a visit from my local FBI?

Maybe I'm fortunate that most of my online research has gone into old timey things, like castles and windmills and ancient weapons for fantasy, or theories for space travel and zombie viruses for the sci fi side of the spectrum. However, I once had a POV character experience a stabbing and I wanted to be accurate in what that experience is like, so I looked up accounts of people who had survived a stabbing, and how they described the experience in remarkably great detail. You can be sure that this search raised an eyebrow or two in my household.

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Update: Formatting is mostly finished for The Dragon's Heart, and the cover is underway! I'm still planning an early 2020 release, but haven't pinned down if it will be January or February. But if all goes well, there will be a cover reveal in December. For as the famous genius Senku Ishigami would say, "It's time to get excited!"

Once the release is prepped, I'll return to writing zombies. For those of you waiting on Part II, I appreciate your patience. I needed to work on something different for a while, but I'm ready to start again.

As always, thanks for visiting my corner of the interwebs!

What strange topics have you looked up on Google? What's the lowest October record in your area? You seen the FBI lately?

I'm David, and who's ready for some TURKEY?!

26 comments:

  1. I imagine stabbing depends in large part what size and type of blade you're stabbed with and where you're stabbed. Anyway, good luck with your new releases when they come out!

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  2. Castles would be a fun one to research.

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  3. I can't wait for both of those books! Glad your foot is better!

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  4. I'm sure your household would have been shocked to see your browsing history. Like the title The Dragon's Heart, sounds cool.

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  5. Congrats on your busy, productive month, and your upcoming release. You have some really fun research topics. I particularly enjoy castles and ancient weapons.

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  6. Way to go on all of your hard work!!!
    I like researching ancient weapons, too. :)

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  7. Yes, I find the weapons and castle research interesting. Lived in Europe a while and walking through the spaces in real castles gives one an interesting feel. Also on one museum visit two of the boys and I started discussing which weapons in the case we would want to try and use. All the girls and the other chaperon were off somewhere else. It was one of the best bonding moments I had with those guys.
    Congrats on your writing.

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  8. I do love me some dragons! I did them quite a lot in my translating career, Eragon being the most famous one.
    The In-laws must have been thrilled with the stabbing research!

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  9. Love the humour, but zombies... I’d stick to researching castles, much safer and no nightmares... 🤗

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  10. That would be creepy to read people's accounts of stabbing. Something about knives is so chilling.

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  11. Awesome that you're getting ready to publish a new book. It's pretty cold here too.

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  12. REcently I google about my home area.Life in rural towns pulls out some strange stories.

    How about cow chipping contest (cow poop)? Throwing Punkins? Dwile Flonking? Ferret Legging? "Oh the games people play!" is a long list.

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  13. Good luck with the new release(s). Our October weather was more about Santa Ana winds and wildfires. We would have loved some cold.

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  14. I'm ready for turkey and a new DPK novel!

    Glad to hear the foot is healing.

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  15. Good luck with the upcoming release!
    I've got a story that will involve a stabbing but I haven't researched it yet. And another one involving a bullet wound. Why must I keep hurting my characters? Lol

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  16. Snort. I'll pass on the turkey since Kramer doesn't look that delish. hehehe

    Anna from elements of emaginette

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  17. That is exciting news! Anything with a dragon in it grabs my attention. I can't wait to see the cover I am sure it will be amazing.

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  18. I'll pass on that turkey, for sure! I enjoy stories with dragons, so I'll enjoy learning more about your upcoming book and seeing the cover reveal, David!

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  19. Good for you for getting so much done. Let me know when you're ready for the release. Would love to have you as a guest and Happy Turkey Day, soon.

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  20. Best wishes for getting your fantasy ready for publication. I'm looking forward to seeing the cover.

    Gotta love research!

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  21. I'm sure most of us have some eyebrow-raising search history somewhere! Good luck with the release and the cover. Great way to start the year.

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  22. Best wishes on getting your new release out.

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  23. Congrats on getting the novel finished. Explosives and drug cartels are probably my most eye brow raising research.

    Good luck with the release David.

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  24. How exciting about The Dragon's Heart! Best of luck with this release!

    And stabbings are something I've researched before, too, so...you're not alone! XD

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  25. Glad to hear your foot is better and awesome job with The Dragon's Heart! How exciting.

    Research topics are definitely interesting!

    Happy Thanksgiving!
    ~Jess

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