| Research |
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I did a lot of research for this book, much of it geographic, including road maps of the route Ruth would have taken to avoid toll roads, and the DC Metro area. I even located the Wal-Mart in Manassas, VA. It was also critical to pinpoint certain government buildings that figure prominently in the story, such as the FBI field office and the IRS building, and to describe the surroundings. You can fudge the details about generic locations in downtown Orlando (as I did in Just This Once), but making up stuff about official government offices will cost you credibility.
Another research area for the book was Information Technology. I’m really not-too-bright about that, and had to rely on some friends to guide me through the technical aspects of the conspiracy Spencer uncovered in her work as a programmer. I knew what I wanted to happen; describing it for the average reader in a way that was technically credible for those working in IT was a bit of a challenge. And finally, there were small details to consider, like how fast a Kawasaki like Spencer’s could go on the open road, how much a 4-year-old Saturn was worth, police gadgetry, and how to mask an IP address. It gave me tremendous respect for those who write detailed stories of mystery and intrigue. |