Sometimes You Have to Stop and Smell the Research – Guest Linda Castillo

JordanDane
@JordanDane

I’m excited to have my friend, New York Times & USA Today bestseller Linda Castillo, as a guest today at The Kill Zone. I’m a huge fan of Linda’s Kate Burkholder series set in Amish country. Highly recommended. Her debut thriller in this series (one of my favorite books), SWORN TO SILENCE, earned starred reviews from Library Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, and Booklist—and spent four weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. The book was also adapted into a two hour original movie re-titled AN AMISH MURDER, starring Neve Campbell as Kate Burkholder. I really liked the film adaptation. Linda is here today to talk about the special research she does on this series. Welcome, Linda!

NYT & International Bestseller Linda Castillo

NYT & International Bestseller Linda Castillo

Linda Castillo: Website & Twitter

Nothing gets a writer’s creative juices flowing like research. Okay, that’s not exactly true for everyone, but the importance of solid research should never be underestimated.

There are three camps when it comes to that aspect of writing. First, there are the writers who love it. The obsessive-compulsive types who spend days or weeks or even months completely and happily immersed in whatever subject matter they’re about to embark upon.

Then there are writers like me, who walk a center line (not necessarily a straight line.) I research the central external theme of my book. For example, if the story involves a cold case and there’s a dead body in the mix, I’ll read everything I can get my hands on about decomp, forensics, and police procedure regarding old cases. For the smaller details, I research as I write.

And, finally, there are those writers who detest research. Writers who would rather . . . well . . . write than bury their noses in tomes of seemingly extraneous information for weeks on end. They want to get to the story already, and who can blame them if said story is burning—or a tight deadline beckons? Well, slow down, Mr. Type A, because in the end, solid research can save you hours of re-writing—and maybe even save the book.

One thing is certain: A writer can never know too much about his or her subject matter. That is an indisputable fact. Do your research and take the time to do it right. Thorough research will help you write the book. It can help you find that brilliant twist your story is begging for. It adds confidence to your voice. It adds power and credibility to your writing. In the long run, it can save you time. Knowledge and/or expertise cannot be faked, no matter how good a liar you are. If a writer tries to write about a subject he or she doesn’t know squat about, it will show. Readers will know.

A couple of quick caveats:

While it’s true that a writer can never do too much research, keep these two points in mind. Your research should never show. And you shouldn’t hide behind your research because you’re afraid to write the book. Writers, you know what I mean.

Image provided by Linda Castilo

Image provided by Linda Castilo

I write an Amish-set thriller series. My protagonist, Kate Burkholder, is the police chief of a small farming community in Ohio’s Amish Country. Kate left the plain life when she was eighteen and eventually found her way into law enforcement. Years later, when her mother passed away, Kate returned to her hometown to bury her. While she was there, the mayor and town council approached her, informing her that the police chief had retired and asking her to fill the position. The Amish are a large part of the local economy and they believed Kate could help bridge the gap between the “English” and Amish communities. Not only did she have big city law enforcement experience, but she knows the Amish traditions, the religion, and she’s fluent in Pennsylvania Dutch.

Does anyone see a few research challenges lurking in there? Believe me, there were many challenges, especially early on. As a writer, it was extremely important to me to depict the Amish correctly and honestly. I wanted to write a protagonist who could immerse us not only in the world of a small-town chief, but in the Amish culture as well. I wanted my police procedure to be spot on. I wanted to paint a vivid picture of this bucolic small town. I wanted readers to see it and hear it and smell it. I wanted them to feel as if they’d walked the streets and seen the endless cornfields, heard the rustle of the stalks and clip clop of shod horse hooves on pavement.

Here are some of the things I did to get it right:

I’ve always enjoyed writing cops. Early in my career, while I was still writing romantic suspense, I enrolled in and graduated from two citizens police academies. The experiences were incredibly fun and a tremendous learning experience. The classes and field trips were exciting and in many ways, real eye openers. The things I learned and the contacts I made have served me well in my writing life. If you’re writing a character who’s in law enforcement or a police procedural, I highly recommend you grab a buddy and enroll in (and graduate from) a citizens police academy (or two!)

On the forensic side:
I’ve had the opportunity to tour two morgues. The Charity Hospital morgue in New Orleans and the Collin County Medical Examiner’s office and morgue near Dallas. I was invited into the “cold” room of the Collin County Morgue. Luckily, there was only one “customer” there that day. One of the more unforgettable aspects of the tour was the smell. I was surprised that even with a separate, state-of-the-art HVAC system, the smell of death was unmistakable and strong. It was a fascinating, disturbing and enlightening experience that has been a tremendous help with my writing.

I also scored an in-depth tour of the Criminal Investigation Laboratory at the Institute of Forensic Sciences in Dallas, which was utterly fascinating. This is a bit of an inside joke, but I’ll never look at a lunch-size brown paper bag the same way again. Who knew the storage of forensic evidence could look so benign?

Writing a different culture:

As you can imagine, writing an Amish-set series required a huge amount of research. The Amish culture is complex with a long history. They’re also somewhat of a “closed” society. Many Amish prefer to stay separate from the rest of the world. While that made them infinitely more interesting to my writer’s mind, it made making contact with them and learning about their culture more difficult. I took advantage of several in-depth and well-researched books. But I needed more . . .

A librarian from Ohio to the rescue . . .

Don’t ever underestimate the ability of a librarian to help you find exactly what you need in terms of information. During my first book tour in Ohio, I met a wonderful librarian and we’ve become fast friends. Denise lives in the heart of Amish Country and has generously shared her infinite wisdom of the Amish culture. She has gone above and beyond, planning research trips, sending me books and articles (and apple butter!) She’s friends with many of the local Amish families and has introduced me to them, included me in social events with them. (Yes, I even got to drive a buggy!) She is a dynamo, fun to hang out with—and a good friend. She’s been indispensible in terms of research and I’m so lucky (in so many ways) to have made contact with her. Writers, get to know your librarians. They are a wealth of information, and they love to help.

That brings me to my next research topic: Know your locale. Familiarize yourself with the area in which your book is set. That’s especially true if your locale is unique, such as Ohio’s Amish Country. While it’s true you can learn quite a bit about a place by reading about it and by looking at pictures, nothing beats boots on the ground. When you’re there, all five senses are engaged. When you talk to someone, you not only hear their voice, but their inflections. You see their mannerisms. You notice so many things all around you that can add richness and depth to the world you’re building. Of course, there are times when you can’t visit your locale. Travel is expensive and time consuming. But if you get the chance—go and experience your locale.

I’m a firm believer in that this kind of hands-on research is a vital part of writing a more powerful, credible and vivid novel. Research becomes part of the creative well from which we delve when we set our pens to page. It becomes part of our muse, and that’s a precious thing. Keep your muse happy and refill the well often.

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BIO:

Linda Castillo knew from an early age that she wanted to be a writer—and penned her first novel at the age of thirteen. She’s published thirty books for three New York publishing houses and won numerous industry awards, including a nomination by the International Thriller Writers for Best Hardcover, the Golden Heart, the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence, and a nomination for the prestigious Rita.

Her debut thriller, SWORN TO SILENCE, garnered starred reviews from Library Journal, Publisher’s Weekly, and Booklist—and spent four weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. The following books in the series also hit the NYT and USA Today lists and became international bestsellers. Last year SWORN TO SILENCE was adapted into a two hour original movie re-titled AN AMISH MURDER and starring Neve Campbell as Kate Burkholder.

In her spare time, Linda enjoys trail riding, and dabbles in barrel racing. She resides in Texas with her husband, two rescued Blue Heelers, and two Appaloosa horses. She’s currently at work on her next novel, a thriller set in Amish Country and featuring Chief of Police Kate Burkholder.

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About Jordan Dane

Bestselling, critically-acclaimed author Jordan Dane’s gritty thrillers are ripped from the headlines with vivid settings, intrigue, and dark humor. Publishers Weekly compared her intense novels to Lisa Jackson, Lisa Gardner, and Tami Hoag, naming her debut novel NO ONE HEARD HER SCREAM as Best Books of 2008. She is the author of young-adult novels written for Harlequin Teen, the Sweet Justice thriller series for HarperCollins., and the Ryker Townsend FBI psychic profiler series, Mercer's War vigilante novellas, and the upcoming Trinity LeDoux bounty hunter novels set in New Orleans. Jordan shares her Texas residence with two lucky rescue dogs. To keep up with new releases & exclusive giveaways, click HERE

36 thoughts on “Sometimes You Have to Stop and Smell the Research – Guest Linda Castillo

  1. Good to ‘see’ you here, Linda. Your book, “The Shadow Side” gave me the inspiration I needed when people told me the mystery I was writing was a romance, and I was breaking all the “rules.”

    And, everyone, Linda is a most gracious and supportive author. Way back when I was still trying to figure out what I was writing, I met Linda at a conference where she was keynote speaker, and told her that she’d given me the confidence I needed to keep writing what I wanted to write. That was years and years ago, and she still remembers me and gives me little boosts when I need them.

    • Thanks for the warm welcome, Terry. Nice to see you here, too. Yes, I’m a firm believer in that rules are made to be broken. Especially when it comes to writing books.

    • About rules-breaking: I wanted to do a novel on a paranormal subject that was not a run-screaming-from-the-monster kind of story. I wanted it to write it
      as a story about a young woman–I’m a guy–who spent time in the U.S. Marines as a very small military police officer. (She takes on the issue, too, of the fable that women are not already involved in combat. Many American females inadvertently wind up in battle simply because of their military jobs.)

      Well, as you can imagine, the screams were loud and long: nobody would believe the whole concept, women are useless in a fire fight. How could a small female, who is still more girl than woman, take on a paranormal creature and beat it? How could the same female have three fathers? (Yes, there is a way.) And what the is horseman, and why would she have one?

      Well, my novel is due out in the fall or early winter. I had to ask the publisher for various time extensions, and they were great about granting them. (They, too, wanted to know what a horseman is.)

      So, it seems to me, that writing rules are more guidelines than anything. I used to be, once upon a time, an acquistions editor for a small west coast publisher. The owner of the house and the cheese editor (our name for the chief editor) was exacting in her demands and did not brook certain things. Yet, there was always a way to get this or that manuscript into her reading pile. When she fell in love with a book, none of her rules mattered.

      And since those awful days, I have seen my job as a writer is to get people to fall in love with my story. Story overcomes, I think. If not, there are others to tempt with my tale.

      • Hey Jim–Totally agree with you that writing rules are more of a guideline kind of thing. I don’t think rules should keep us from writing the stories that are burning to be written. Within reason, of course. Thanks for sharing your insights on that.

  2. I think a writer is ALWAYS researching. Just keeping your eyes open for useful and interesting details is a major part of the writing process, not to mention fun.

    Your comments about the pitfalls of writing about a different culture are right on target. What trips many of us up are those “fact” about others we just know are true, but aren’t. It’s a real challenge to see the world through different lenses, but as you say, it gives your finished product authenticity and makes it more enjoyable to read.

  3. I second what Terry said about Linda being a gracious & supportive author. She just finished her next book in the series and I can’t wait to read it.

    Welcome, Linda. How are the horses?

    • Hey Jordan–Thanks for the welcome! Ah, you ask about the horses. I went out to feed this morning and my mare was having a pretty severe allergic reaction. (wasp stings maybe??) Her head was so swollen I almost couldn’t get halter on her. I had to load her into the trailer and haul her to the vet across town. Hence my absence (apologies!) The good news is she’s home now and doing fine. Thanks for asking!

      • I’ve never heard anything like that. I had horses when I was a teen. Nursed a few but wasp stings is a new one for me Your poor baby. Glad your mare is bstter.

        I’m having trouble with one of my rescue dogs. He’s a “hoover” when it comes to eating garbage in the yard. Apparently oak tree leaves and acorns are poisonous for dogs. We’ve ruled out the severe stuff but if I can’t get him back to normal (ie no bile vomiting and off his usual food), his condition could develop into something worse.

        I know how you feel about dogs. My two are like my children. Such good company.

        • Poor pup! (the little Hoover!) We used to have a lab who would eat anything he could get into his mouth. I didn’t know about acorns and oak leaves. Hope you can get the little guy straightened out. They are, indeed, like our children. 🙂

  4. I have found a new series to read and am looking forward to reading your books, Linda. I was once at a Sisters in Crime dinner at which a woman said she didn’t believe in research. She felt research would get in the way of her creativity. Oh, my! I’m still revising my first mystery and I could not have written it without a good dose of research. I discovered that I, like you, am the middle variety of researcher. Start with the core theme and then research details as I write. It’s not a straight line but, oh is it ever interesting. It boosted my creativity a number of times. Thanks for stopping by at TKZ and sharing your experience.

    • Research gets in the way of creativity? Ha! Thanks for the chuckle, Jagoda.

      Definitely read Linda’s series in order. I write my YA books in 1st person and loved that Linda dared to write her adult suspense series in first, expertly. It encouraged me to see such excellent writing in first person for adult readers.

    • Hey Jagoda–I got a chuckle out of that, too. I totally agree with you that research can be a huge boost to creativity. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read something interesting in the course of research or heard a police officer tell a story and I later embellished upon and added to a scene.

  5. Thanks for a great post, Linda. Your balanced approach to research is refreshing. Most writers I know tend to fall into one extreme camp or the other: either OCD researchers who never write the book b/c they haven’t researched enough, or writers who think their vivid imagination is a substitute for knowledge. Loved your line:

    “Knowledge and/or expertise cannot be faked, no matter how good a liar you are.”

    Librarians are the best. They’re EMTs for writers. They hook up IVs of information, perform CPR on stalled story hearts, and transport us where we need to go for advanced treatment.

    • I love your quote about librarians, Debbie! It’s so true. My librarian friend from Ohio is such a wealth of knowledge and so passionate about books. I just love her. Glad you enjoyed that line, btw.

  6. Hi Linda.

    I know you have a strong critique group you’ve worked with for years. With your quick and many deadlines, how do you utilize the feedback from your group and work with the timing? Any tips for how to work effectively with a crit group or beta readers?

    • Great question, Jordan. I am part of a dynamic critique group (we are a group of five) and I love them. We’re pretty diverse in terms of genre: YA, literary, romance, and suspense. We meet once a week and read a chapter or two aloud, red pens flying. We also have brainstorming sessions, which I find immensely helpful. I think one of the most important aspects of a successful critique group is trust. As writers we really put ourselves out there. We show them our writing many times before it’s ready. And while critique group should be kind, they should also be honest. When something stinks, they should feel comfortable enough to tell you and offer up advice on how to fix it. We’ve all got a common goal: make the book as great as it can be.

  7. Love that article. Nice to see what all you do behind the scenes to write. I have read all of your Amish books and always on pins and needles to start the next one. Thanks so much and your my favorite writer and you were my first to read about Amish mysteries and I am now hooked big time!!! Thanks again, Rowena

  8. I’m an over-researcher. I love pulling the threads and seeing where it all leads me, and often it is to things, places, clues, and such that I never saw coming. But I know that for me, at least, research can be a distraction and excuse to not get down to the hard work of actually writing. I’m working on that one…

    Your point about too much research and letting it clog up your story is well taken. I can’t remember who said it, but it sticks with me — that you should do as much research on your story subject as you can but should only actually use, on the page, about 1 percent of it. The rest is there in your subconsciousness and between the lines of every sentence, a sort of background hum of authenticity.

    • That’s such a good rule of thumb, PJ. How many times have we read passages in ms (and even published books) where you know immediately it’s there solely to relay some interesting piece of research that doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with the story? Your knowledge of your subject matter will come out in many different ways and none of them should “show.” (or be there for the sake of research.)

  9. I love how you write Kate’s love life over the series. You have new avenues to explore with John Tomasetti and Kate. How far ahead do you decide their story arcs and what you want to reveal about them? John has his own demons that I find really compelling.

    • I’m a huge fan of demons, too. And baggage. That combination can make for a very interesting character. (You can probably tell I enjoy writing troubled characters.) As far as their story arcs, it depends on how big the turning point. I don’t want to give anything away, but in AFTER THE STORM they reach a momentous turning point. I planned that long before I began the book. Some of the smaller turning points, especially with regard to their relationship, happen spontaneously, which I love.

      • I loved that momentous turning point for them. You write them with as much care for each as an individual, as you do for them as a couple. I feel as if I know them. So well done.

    • Thanks for the rec, Michelle. Going back to the latest, AFTER THE STORM, I had to do quite a bit of research on forensic anthropology. That kind of research is fascinating and can really suck you in. Brings me to another point: Get your research questions answered by experts. (not everyone’s an expert.)

  10. clip clop for hooves on pavement or clop clop? Or does it depend on how fast the horse is moving? I wrote clop clop clop clop as a horse pulled a dray with a casket down main st.

  11. Welcome, Linda. I’m a huge fan of your writing. Your small town feels authentic, and so does your information about the Amish. My husband grew up in Iowa and there’s more to that complex community than quilts and apple butter.

    • Thanks, Elaine. I love writing Painters Mill. I grew up in small town Ohio. You’re right. They’re not all quilts and apple butter. (unless you’re writing a cozy?) Like characters, towns can have a dark side and still be outwardly bucolic. If you dig a little chances are there’s also meth and, if you dig deeper, maybe even a dead body at some point.

  12. Welcome Linda and thanks for the post! As a writer of historical mysteries I tend to be one of those writers who gets fully immersed in my research – sometimes so much so I have to stop myself otherwise the actual book would never get written! As a lover of history though I also find inspiration in my research so it works both ways and, wherever possible, I also visit and walk the streets of the locales in my books…of course, any excuse to visit London is fine by me!

    • Thanks for such a great post, Clare! Good points all. Of course, I don’t write historical, but I read it and I imagine that kind of setting requires a TON of research. But you know when to stop yourself to write the book and that’s always a good thing. Walking the streets of the locale where your books are set is the ultimate.(and you can’t go wrong with London!)

    • Thank YOU Jordan for the invitation. I’m just sorry I was AWOL yesterday afternoon!

      Thanks to everyone for the thoughtful and kind comments.

      Jordan, best of luck with THE LAST VICTIM! It sounds fabulous and I can’t wait to read it!

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