tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489168146200487747.post821102108515526167..comments2024-01-30T13:57:40.271+11:00Comments on LoveCats DownUnder: Research - for fun and profit! Annie WestAlly Blakehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17352564320902831489noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489168146200487747.post-44904759927848366622013-06-24T08:49:24.766+10:002013-06-24T08:49:24.766+10:00Hi Tash! This way you've got it all to look fo...Hi Tash! This way you've got it all to look forward to. You'll have to plan a couple of big trips. My problem is there are always so many places I want to visit and not enough time.Annie Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16804740491737358014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489168146200487747.post-10404395193987881512013-06-23T10:24:52.941+10:002013-06-23T10:24:52.941+10:00Hi Annie, I'd love to do some research (as a r...Hi Annie, I'd love to do some research (as a reader) of the fantastic locations that are always written about in the books, I've never been further than Australia and I'd love to go see England, France... the US... basically anywhere in Europe. Since I had my kids in my 20s I'm hoping I can do this later in life :DTashNzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02146884245899602417noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489168146200487747.post-13974875001861079532013-06-20T09:58:55.848+10:002013-06-20T09:58:55.848+10:00Rachel, I'm glad you enjoyed the pics. There w...Rachel, I'm glad you enjoyed the pics. There were so many to choose from it was hard deciding which ones to include.<br /><br />What a marvellous experience, visiting Barbara and the vineyard and getting the low down on it all. That's one book of yours I haven't read. Must search it out. Good to see you worked hard in support of your writing!Annie Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16804740491737358014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489168146200487747.post-82699071285705329932013-06-20T09:57:11.295+10:002013-06-20T09:57:11.295+10:00Jennifer, being on a reality TV show would be such...Jennifer, being on a reality TV show would be such a font of information and inspiration for stories, I'd imagine. As for Venice - yes, please. It's an amazing place, isn't it?Annie Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16804740491737358014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489168146200487747.post-47005718566952733312013-06-20T09:34:59.727+10:002013-06-20T09:34:59.727+10:00Annie, I love all those photos - thanks for sharin...Annie, I love all those photos - thanks for sharing. I've added a couple of things to my bucket list too. :)<br /><br />My second book, The Blackmailed Bride's Secret Child, is set in New Zealand, in and around a winery. I was staying with Barbara DeLeo when I was creating the characters and story, and she not only brainstormed it with me, but she took me around to see the local scenery and the wineries. Her husband even gave me a tour of the behind the scenes of his winery and Barbara let me sample lots of the wines. Hard research, I tell you. ;)Rachel Baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08200504088343160284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489168146200487747.post-7715824003434017372013-06-20T09:18:29.563+10:002013-06-20T09:18:29.563+10:00Great post Annie. I don't know if this is my ...Great post Annie. I don't know if this is my most interesting but my favourite bit of research so far was visiting Venice. It was wonderful to be able to include lots of detail about the city in my story. I'd also been on a reality TV show which was the inspiration for my second book.Jennifer St Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15115014191040562984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489168146200487747.post-58130246807599559922013-06-20T07:54:25.939+10:002013-06-20T07:54:25.939+10:00Louisa - isn't google wonderful? I've been...Louisa - isn't google wonderful? I've been researching all sorts of little bits and pieces on the net - often just niggling things that I need to sort out in my own head before I proceed. Some of the travel books with lots and lots of photos are marvellous too. Annie Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16804740491737358014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489168146200487747.post-87288244592817946102013-06-20T07:52:27.633+10:002013-06-20T07:52:27.633+10:00Hi Michelle,
It's definitely one of the perks ...Hi Michelle,<br />It's definitely one of the perks of writing. my last two trips were tailored around research, though I'm glad to say I also fitted in a little private time too. I'm still amazed at how much I've drawn on the information I got on those trips, even down to inspiration for particular scenes.Annie Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16804740491737358014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489168146200487747.post-16550273623137820332013-06-20T07:50:38.888+10:002013-06-20T07:50:38.888+10:00Joanne, research can be tricky at times, can't...Joanne, research can be tricky at times, can't it? Good on you for finding a way around that particular difficulty to get more info! I've occasionally found people quite close to home who can help me with tricky research points.Annie Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16804740491737358014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489168146200487747.post-62945829154148980302013-06-20T07:48:37.988+10:002013-06-20T07:48:37.988+10:00Anna, I'm glad you enjoyed the post. Wasn'...Anna, I'm glad you enjoyed the post. Wasn't the uniform terrific? There were others too and I had a marvellous time imagining my princes wearing old style uniforms (much to their annoyance).<br /><br />I know you do lots of research for your historicals. I find it's often the tiny details that bring a place or a scene alive to me, though often I don't get to put a lot of it in the writing.Annie Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16804740491737358014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489168146200487747.post-59616813844827077162013-06-20T07:32:45.967+10:002013-06-20T07:32:45.967+10:00Wow, Annie, you've certainly gone the extra mi...Wow, Annie, you've certainly gone the extra mile for your research! Sadly I mainly google places and things for my books- although I'm always on the look out for any opportunity to travel and count that as research!Louisa Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02516084905261935607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489168146200487747.post-36505550390369864302013-06-19T22:35:15.400+10:002013-06-19T22:35:15.400+10:00Hi Annie
Great post and pics!
One thing I love ab...Hi Annie<br /><br />Great post and pics!<br />One thing I love about writing is that we can travel far and wide in the name of research :) And it sounds like you've done just that.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing your experiences.<br /><br />MichelleMichelle Somershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12456587199949658362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489168146200487747.post-52905763418937553912013-06-19T20:05:04.801+10:002013-06-19T20:05:04.801+10:00Fab post! I love your pics :) How lucky to travel ...Fab post! I love your pics :) How lucky to travel all in the name of research!!<br /><br />I've always been fastidious about my research however, with my current WIP my hero is a superstar. It's a little hard to make contact with one to check details when they have millions of fans ;) <br /><br />I was lucky to recently chat with the lovely Jess Dee who's written a (fabulous) series where the heroes are rock stars. She was a huge help - thanks Jess :)Joanne Dannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13860484505716962263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489168146200487747.post-959873932988922072013-06-19T19:39:05.577+10:002013-06-19T19:39:05.577+10:00Annie, what a fab post. I'm envious of all tho...Annie, what a fab post. I'm envious of all those wonderful experiences you had seeing all those beautiful places and things. Particularly taken with the uniform - that's how I pictured your lovely Prince Alaric and Prince Raul when they were all dressed up! One of the many things I love about your books is how vividly you write settings - I can always picture exactly where all those passionate scenes are taking place! Anna Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06695579361323275316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489168146200487747.post-73383087033717267192013-06-19T19:00:10.402+10:002013-06-19T19:00:10.402+10:00Amy, that research trip to the Amalfi Coast sounde...Amy, that research trip to the Amalfi Coast sounded fantastic. It's on my list and has moved higher since your visit. How nice to start growing herbs as a result. I love the smell of basil!<br /><br />I can recommend the Rhine castle and I'd definitely recommend a winter visit even if the skies are grey. Then you get that sense almost of ownership because you can wander around without being disturbed - magic!<br />Annie Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16804740491737358014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489168146200487747.post-17174293571420434812013-06-19T18:55:07.597+10:002013-06-19T18:55:07.597+10:00Ooh, Michelle, I remember your book about the dolp...Ooh, Michelle, I remember your book about the dolphin watching! So good...<br /><br />Laughing here as, when I read your comment, my eye caught on 'grill' then 'dolphins' and I was thinking: no, no! <br /><br />I'm looking forward to finding out what you've done with the Hobart setting with your upcoming book. Isn't it fascinating, the way places inspire us?Annie Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16804740491737358014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489168146200487747.post-50226437888213863822013-06-19T15:24:35.275+10:002013-06-19T15:24:35.275+10:00I travelled to the Amalfi Coast in Italy to resear...I travelled to the Amalfi Coast in Italy to research a book a few years back.<br />Oh my.....it was fabulous! And I was so inspired by their regional food I came home and started to grow basil!<br />And now I'm definitely going to have to spend the night in a castle overlooking the Rhine! It's now #1 on my to-do list - thanks Annie for the inspiration :-)Amy Andrewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12690419732247281048noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2489168146200487747.post-80393771854218030422013-06-19T11:03:57.737+10:002013-06-19T11:03:57.737+10:00Annie, I hope you do travel a whole lot more becau...Annie, I hope you do travel a whole lot more because I could just gobble up your photographs. :-)<br /><br />Staying in Hobart for a couple of weeks last year became the inspiration for my book that will come out this October. That was certainly fun. One of the most interesting things I've done in the name of research was go on a dolphin watching tour where I was able to grill the tour guide not only about dolphins, but about the day-to-day running of the business and the style of boat we were on. He had so much to say he hosted me to a whole second tour. :-)Michelle Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07748538761711892080noreply@blogger.com