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The Joys and Perils of Research!
by Teri Brown
I never thought I would write historical. Not that I don’t
love historical fiction, I do. As a child, books like Little Women, The Maud Reed
Tale and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,
had a huge impact on my desire to become a writer. So perhaps it is only
natural that after the publication of my contemporary YA, (Read My Lips, 2008),
that I would want to try my hand at a historical novel.
Sort of.
The research scared me. During my school years, I didn’t do
that well in history…mostly because while I loved reading the text books,
history was all about the stories to me, not the facts or the dates. I enjoyed
comparing the similarities and differences in the lives of people who lived in
other time periods, not debating the importance of individual events. And,
okay, I’ll admit it— I wasn’t that great at the teacher’s nitpicky insistence
that I hand my work in on time. (Thankfully, I’ve become a lot better about that
whole deadline thing.)
When I think of research, I think of serious people sitting
in quiet libraries with giant books on the desks in front of them. I think of
dedicated authors going to obscure places to gain access to hallowed historical
archives.
I’m so not that person. I like loud football parties, rock
concerts and playing Apples to Apples with my friends.
Luckily for me, the Internet has changed research and most
of what I needed was at my fingertips. The problem wasn’t finding good, solid
information—it was retaining, tracking and disseminating the information I
found in a way that enhanced the story.
As far as keeping track of all the details? I
used a combination of Scrivener, (a writing program for writers) to track
online research, a carefully (or not so carefully) annotated notebook for
research taken from books, and of course, the ever popular sticky note method.
Guess which method best suited my scattered haphazard brain? Sticky notes cover
my monitor! The reality is, I can’t organize worth a darn, but the research
itself is pure heaven!
About Born of Illusion
Anna Van Housen has a
secret. A gifted illusionist, Anna assists her mother, the renowned medium
Marguerite Van Housen, in her stage show and séances, easily navigating the
underground world of magicians, mediums, and mentalists in 1920’s New York. As
the illegitimate daughter of Harry Houdini—or so Marguerite claims—sleight of
hand illusions have never been a challenge for Anna. The real trick is keeping
her own gifts secret from her opportunistic mother. Because while Marguerite’s
own powers may be a sham, Anna possesses a true ability to sense people’s
feelings and foretell the future.
But as Anna’s powers
intensify, she begins to experience frightening visions of her mother in peril,
which leads her to explore the powers she’s tried so long to hide. And when a
mysterious young man named Cole moves into the flat downstairs, introducing
Anna to a secret society that studies people with gifts like hers, she is
forced to confront her past and rethink everything she’s ever known. Is her
mother truly in danger, or are Anna’s visions merely illusion? And could the
great Houdini really be her father, or is it just another of Marguerite’s
tricks?
From Teri Brown comes a
world bursting with magic, with romance, and the temptations of Jazz Age New
York—and the story of a girl about to become the mistress of her own destiny.
Born of Illusion
About Teri Brown
Teri Brown is proud of her
two children but coming in a close second is the fact that she parachuted out
of a plane and beat the original Legend of Zelda video game.
She is a word scribbler,
head banger, math hater, book reader, rule breaker, food fixer, novel writer,
kitty keeper, and city slicker. Teri lives with her husband and way too many
pets in Portland, Oregon.
To celebrate the launch of BORN OF ILLUSION,
Teri is giving
away 10 sets of BORN OF ILLUSION earth mineral eye shadow available for a
limited time only from Glamour Doll Eyes.
You, too, can get the glam look of
the twenties!
Eye Shadow Giveaway (10 sets)
Teri will also be giving away not, one but THREE grand
prizes that Cari Cucksey, (of HGTV’s Cash and Cari), picked out from her
RePurpose shop especially for the BORN OF ILLUSION launch!
Grand Prize Giveaway – Vintage Spoon Bracelets
So don’t forget to enter for a chance to win these beautiful
vintage spoon bracelets!
All giveaways are US and Canada only.
Click on the image above for the Tour Schedule!
What intrigues me about born of illusions is the real magic mixed with faked magic. I think it would make for an interesting story line.
I love the 1920's setting!
I love mediums or people who can read the future. I really think they could actually be out there! I'm excited to read about it.