When I learned about an event that is held every year in the area where I set my Gabriel Hawke novels, I decided I would write a book around that event. How hard could it be to have my character, who is a Fish and Wildlife State Trooper, become involved with finding a person or a killer during a sled dog race competition?
Well… Let me tell you, now that I’ve been digging into the logistics, the multitude of volunteers, the less than 60 hours for the total of the 200 mile race, and that doesn’t even count the weather conditions, I’m starting to wonder if this was a good idea.
I’ve had my first interview with a person who has volunteered for this event for 20 years. She gave me some good insight into logistics and more people I will need to interview. This book won’t be ready to write for at least two more weeks as I talk to the head of technology, mushers, the race marshal, and judge.
What had started out as a “fun idea” has now blossomed into much more of a project. I can’t even start my suspect chart or decide how someone would be murdered or missing without doing all the research. There are so many uncertainties that I can’t even begin to fathom what the motive would be.
This is so out of the norm for what I normally do when writing a book in this series. By the time I’m ready to start writing the book, I have mulled over every aspect of the death, did the bit of research I needed and am ready to roll.
Now I sit, watching one more video, reading one more blog, and waiting to interview people so I can start this book. The next book my fans are waiting for me to publish. But as I dabble in the research, waiting to do the interviews, I may have to start working on the next Cuddle Farm Mystery book or even the next Spotted Pony Casino Mystery book, because my hands and imagination can’t sit idle for that long.
I’ve already learned a lot that I didn’t know. Especially, about the dogs. A good mushing dog isn’t big and thick. It’s long and lean, like a marathon runner. They have high energy and stamina. The Alaskan Husky is nothing like the Siberian Husky. The Alaskan has been bred through the centuries to be fast and tough. They have a multitude of breeds in them that make them the marathoners that they are.
Now I need to learn more about the tracking of the participants during the race, the area where they sleep, and why someone, in a sport where you are dependent on one another to survive, would kill.
Ladies of Mystery 
I was smiling as I read through this entire post. I know only too well the iceberg syndrome in research. Whatever time you think it’s going to take, 9/10ths of it is hidden from view. I did 8 months of research on The Drop-Dead Temple of Doom before I could write a single word. And I have to add, the research you are doing on sled dog racing sounds fascinating! This is one book I look forward to reading. I had no idea the Alaskan Husky was different from the Siberia Husky, either.
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Thanks, Heather. I had two interviews yesterday. One with the Race Marshal which was so much good information, I came away with several different scenarios that could happen. Then I interviewed the Head of Communications for the event and he gave me even more things that would be plausible. I’m busy writing them all down on cards and spreading them out to decide which way I want to go and how I can make the story suspenseful.
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This post alone gives me more information than I’d get from a blog specifically on the race–you’ve teased out so many essentials. And the map is a stunner. This is why your stories are so good!
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Thanks Susan! I gathered even more great stuff yesterday!
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Great post. I am deep in research mode for book 3 in my series and it’s time consuming, but both fascinating and fun. I am learning something new all the time – like you did about the Alaskan Husky.
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Karen, As I told the Race Marshal I met with yesterday. I’m writing down a lot and asking lots of questions and only a fraction of what I learn will be in the book, but at least I know I am making the story sound plausible and have my facts. That’s what I love about writing, I learn things and then can share that with my readers. Thanks for commenting!
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One of the most interesting things about writing mysteries is the research you have to do to keep your story authentic. I know more about the history of cat litter and how it might mummify a body, redwood trees, and the year, make, and model of a Woodie to use to facilitate a murder. People are great. Don’t you find once they understand you’re not a crazy serial killer, they are only too happy to help with facts?
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LOL Nancy. Yes, once they realize you want to make your story sound reasonable, they are really good about helping with information. And I love talking to people because it’s easier to ask them to elaborate on things when you are talking to them than in an email. And they usually while talking give me a sweet tidbit that will make my story better. Thanks for commenting!
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