Our Research Notes series invites authors to describe their research for a recent book, with “research” defined as broadly as they like. This week, Jeff Vande Zande recounts the connections he made while working on his latest novel. + The Unexpected Gifts of Doing Necessary Research for American Poet My new novel American Poet was…

Our Research Notes series invites authors to describe their research for a recent book, with “research” defined as broadly as they like. This week, Kirsten Kaschock shows us the moving parts and magic behind her novel Sleight. Sleight: the underpinnings The art form at the heart of my first novel, Sleight, does not exist. Since…

Our Research Notes series invites authors to describe their research for a recent book, with “research” defined as broadly as they like. This week, Lars Iyer reveals the elements of Dogma, sequel to his 3:AM Novel of the Year Spurious. + Dogma Dogma, like its predecessor, Spurious, is based on real events, even if I…

Our Research Notes series invites authors to describe their research for a recent book, with “research” defined as broadly as they like. This week, Megan Stielstra describes the lengths — and depths — she went to for the sake of a story. + The Right Kind of Water The first hour is great. I’m in…

Our Research Notes series invites authors to describe their research for a recent book, with “research” defined as broadly as they like. This week, Ben Nadler reflects on writing Harvitz, As To War, a novel about military experience, without having military experience of his own. + Harvitz, As To War When people ask what my…

Our Research Notes series invites authors to describe their research for a recent book, with “research” defined as broadly as they like. This week, Ben Tanzer considers how being simultaneously true to an experience and true to a story can be more complicated than it first seems. + Tonic I suppose one could ask what…

Our Research Notes series invites authors to describe their research for a recent book, with “research” defined as broadly as they like. This week, Jane Roper shares some of the bricks of experience that became the foundation for her novel Eden Lake. + Searching my memory for Eden Lake When you write a novel, you…

Our Research Notes series invites authors to describe their research for a recent book, with “research” defined as broadly as they like. This week, William Walsh writes about working with source texts from James Joyce in his new collection Unknown Arts, available from “Keyhole Press”:”:http://keyholepress.com/authors/william-walsh/books/unknown-arts/. Rejoyce: Unknown Arts Unknown Arts is a book of texts…

Our Research Notes series invites authors to describe their research for a recent book, with “research” defined as broadly as they like. This week, Corwin Ericson reveals the “truth” behind his postmodern maritime epic Swell, available from Dark Coast Press. + Cetology in Swell Research? Pshaw. I made it all up. Here, the publisher swears…

Our Research Notes series invites authors to describe their research for a recent book, with “research” defined as broadly as they like. This week, Ryan Bradley reflects on combining autobiography with imagination in his novel Code For Failure, which is available for preorder now from Black Coffee Press. And in the meantime, why not listen…

Our Research Notes series invites authors to describe their research for a recent book, with “research” defined as broadly as they like. This week, Berit Ellingsen shares some background on her philosophical novel The Empty City. + Philosophies and spiritual traditions from all over the world, mention a silence or an emptiness. Through a direct…

Our Research Notes series invites authors to describe their research for a recent book, with “research” defined as broadly as they like. This week, Rusty Barnes writes about the complications of writing from family memory for his collection Mostly Redneck. + The Perils and Pratfalls of Researching Fiction One of the ways you can tell…