What do carpet beetles, Plato, and the diary of a politician from the 1600s all have in common? You can find all of them on the website Project Gutenberg for free. If you are unfamiliar with the website, buckle up—we are diving into the public domain! Project Gutenberg is a website that offers over 60,000 … More Use Project Gutenberg for Research
Award-winning nonfiction author, Annette Whipple, discusses writing inspirtaiton. … More WHERE DO WRITING IDEAS COME FROM? by Guest Blogger, Annette Whipple
Where Do Writing Ideas Come From? by Guest Blogger, Theresa P. Pierce About ten years ago, as a Curriculum Coach, I met children’s writer and curriculum instructor Lester Laminack. Over dinner, at the Wrenn House in Salisbury, NC, he taught a room full of educators how to inspire and instruct student writing. It was a great … More Where Do Writing Ideas Come From?
Being Thanksgiving Day, I want to show my gratitude for technology. If it weren’t for the Internet, Zoom, and our devices, we would be isolated indeed! Virtual Research Are you working on a manuscript, but finding it difficult to do the research you need, since many libraries and museums are closed or have limited … More Writer, Do You Have the Cabin Fever Blues?
Paris is one of my favorite cities. Its history and ambiance intrigue me. There is something about strolling down the streets of Paris, crossing the bridges, or walking along the Seine, even in the rain, that can’t be experienced anywhere else in the world. It has a certain “Je ne sais pas” (I don’t know … More Inspired by History by Jarm Del Boccio
I had the privilege of visiting England the last week of February — one of my favorite destinations before the coronavirus situation became a deterrent for travel. Â I am so grateful! Since I am a historical fiction author, researching the location in person is a real treat, as you can imagine! The day … More Researching for Historical Fiction in Bath, UK by Jarm Del Boccio
When I was 14 years old, I won the grand prize in a contest: a set of encyclopedias. I know—not very exciting, is it? But this was in the ancient days before computers, personal or otherwise. You’d have thought I won London’s crown jewels! I was so proud of that prize. It replaced the 25-year-old … More Do You Google? by Ava Pennington
As part of my research for my YA novel Half-Truths, I read a lot of books.  And I mean A LOT. Read my pitch and I think you’ll understand why: In the heavily segregated South, fifteen-year-old Kate Dinsmore’s world is shaken when she realizes she’s related to her grandmother’s black housemaid. This knowledge leads Kate to truths … More Celebrate Black History Month
They say the life of a writer is lonely. That’s true in some ways, but the advent of the Internet has connected us in ways we could never have imagined. It has also made research easier than ever. However, easier is not always better. We’ve all heard warnings about verifying the accuracy of our sources. … More Friends and Experts