If you have read the first chapter of my novel, A Passion for Prying, then you know that private investigator Natalie North, against her preference, has followed Horace Grewall, a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge, to a local strip club in an attempt to catch the married, cheating judge in a compromising position. Of course, Natalie is following the lying Horace Grewall after Horace’s wife Zola has hired Natalie’s PI services, that consist of busting  adulterous, lowlife partners.
I recently had a reader ask me that since authors are known to conduct thorough research while writing their books, did I visit a strip club to ensure that my first chapter was authentic?
I must say that I did not. However, I would like to state that as a writer, I do detailed research to be sure that all of my facts are correct. Since my novels involve crimes, I need to be absolutely certain that my data mirrors California law. Also, since my stories take place in Los Angeles County, I want well-known street names and freeway numbers to actually exist. However, a large part of being a novelist is using my imagination, and there are times that scenes and dialogue that develops in my head is just as authentic and real as if I did indeed live out the incident in perfect technicolor reality.
Imagine how much fun I could have as a fiction writer if I did experience every detail that transpires in my stories! I could get away with murder, literally, under the pretense of “I was doing my research as a writer to ensure that my murder scenes are factual!”  I wonder what would happen if I got caught stealing a car and I told the officer, “I have a great defense. I am an author and I am doing my research.”  Do you think that I would get a free pass and get off?
I was once auditioning for a movie role as the female lead. Of course the script had a love scene, and I was told by a Hollywood producer that as part of the audition, we were going to act out the love scene, in vivid detail. He said, and I quote, “In order to look real, the scene must be real!” Luckily I knew better!
I must admit that there are story lines and scenes in books that are much easier and descriptive to write if the author has played out the experiences in real life. But, fiction is make-believe stemming from truth. Many times, the written word that is our tool for building a riveting, moving scene and unforgettable characters is brought to life through our colorful, vibrant imagination which many times, trumps actuality! Â
After deep contemplation of the reader’s question, perhaps in future novels I will study Natalie’s meandering messes more thoroughly. It would make my writing experiences much more interesting for me. Â Who knew that homework could be so much fun? Â After all, I will merely be conducting imperative author research!
