Today’s question:
What's the strangest thing you've ever googled in researching a story?
I really can’t think of anything strange. I’ve had to research several sports and locations. I researched a ton of items for my two non-fiction books.
Probably what other people would think was a strange thing for me to research was pregnancy and childbirth. (I actually sat down with a friend rather than Googling it.) But I’ve never been through it and I needed to know for my five book series.
Here are the prompts for November’s IWSG Instagram:
* * *
Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. has a new audio book available:
Music Boxes
Narrated by Nance Weber
A Barnes & Noble “5 Spooky New Middle Grade Books for Campfire Chills!”
“I only desire your talent...”
Twelve-year-old Lindsey McKay's biggest dream is to be a famous ballerina. But after moving to New York, she ends up at the Community Center with a teacher who’s a burly bear in tights.
When she meets Madame Destinée, the teacher of a top dance school who offers her classes for free, Lindsey can't believe her luck. In exchange, she must perform in the school’s exclusive midnight shows, ones sure to make her a star. But something’s not right...
One by one, the other dancers disappear. Each time they do, a music box with a figurine just like the missing ballerina joins Madame Destinée’s growing collection. If Lindsey doesn’t discover the truth about the dance school, she might end up a tiny figurine herself.
Find the audio book on Audible / iTunes / Amazon
Find the print and eBook on Barnes & Noble / iTunes / Amazon /Kobo / Books-A-Million / Goodreads
Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. also has a now monthly newsletter! Sign up at the bottom right corner of the home page for special updates, industry news, and tips every month from our authors. (This month was gifts for writers and readers.) Plus be the first to hear about special sales such as Small Business Saturday and our Christmas Special.
What is the strangest thing you’ve ever Googled?
That "Music Boxes" cover is great!
ReplyDeleteI'm always Googling murder techniques and motives and poisons. I likely have an FBI file. :)
Great post Diane and a great "Music Boxes" cover.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
Such a beautiful cover. A lot of research would be involved in pregnancy and childbirth. In my WIP, all the babies are grown in test tubes, so I circumvented the gorier details!
ReplyDeleteOooo, fun!
DeleteCongratulations to Tonja!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Tonja on the new audiobook!
ReplyDeleteThe scariest part of pregnancy and childbirth? Maybe that those two experiences are not the hardest part of being a parent.
LOL!
DeleteI don't think I've googled anything really strange, but I have done some interesting research on things like chocolate and Tibet.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Tonja!
I'm always googling strange things then feel like I'm doing something wrong.
ReplyDeleteTeresa
My online search history has probably earned me an FBI file. I promise, I've only ever murdered on paper! Happy writing in November.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Tonja!
ReplyDeleteProbably the oddest thing I've ever researched is if a person has ever lost all five senses, and how such a person would live and communicate.
That is really odd. Did you find anything?
DeleteI had to research pregnancy and childbirth while writing Frozen Crimes. :) Odd one for me to research, too. lol
ReplyDeleteBig congrats to Tonja!
You know where I'm coming from.
DeleteCongrats to Tonja on the new book.
ReplyDeleteI used to research pregnancy and infant care when writing for a diaper brand. The worst part was being the target of ads for maternity dresses and all the other paraphernalia.
I had two babies over 20 years ago but STILL had to do research for a pregnant character and infant because I've forgotten so much...maybe intentionally, ha.
ReplyDeleteOne thing about pregnancy- I did four times and every single one was something different. Given that, no one could ever say you're wrong.
ReplyDeleteLOL - good to know!
DeleteAwesome that Music Boxes is in audio version. I will keep checking to see if I can get it through my library.
ReplyDeletePlease do, and request it.
DeleteMusic boxes sounds lovely. Like the books you are bringing out.
ReplyDeleteYou have the perfect search history to actually BE a serial killer!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the audio release of Music Boxes.
Awesome cover! That doesn't sound like an entirely strange topic, but I can imagine the search results would reveal some curious answers. :)
ReplyDeleteMy search history is varied. I always get a little antsy when I'm looking up explosives or guns right before or after I've been at a law enforcement or government agency site. Congrats to Tonja!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Tonja & DLP on the new audio - fun!!
ReplyDeleteI did a few interesting searches when I was playing around with steampunk :)
Congrats on the new audio book!
ReplyDeleteI have researched some interesting things, but I spent a bit of time reading through my mom's nursing books as a kid so I guess, even now, I don't think of looking up stuff about that kind of thing - when I see everyone else's "strange" research, I think ...hmm. I guess no one else's mom sat down and told them about rigor mortis when they were little kids. In my mom's defense, she wasn't trying to be creepy - I had seen two dead bodies by the time I hit seven, so she was trying to explain things to me calmly so I had a better understanding of death in a scientific fashion.
And no, my childhood was not as traumatic as all that sounds ... erg. At least, I don't think so. I just happened to have older grandparents and I happened to be there when they died or I was taken to some of the funeral home proceedings (I was an only child so I went everywhere with my parents).
Woot on the audiobook! That's awesome (and how I primarily consume stories).
ReplyDeleteResearching pregnancy and childbirth sounds interesting to me. I’ve never been through it either, so I can relate in that sense.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I've googled anything weird. Gross, yes, but not what I'd call weird.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the new audio book. They're so neat.
ReplyDeleteTonja's cover art is lovely and it sounds like a great read!
ReplyDeleteChildbirth would not be something I'd have to google. I've never done it, but my mother was a labor and delivery nurse for 40+ years. It's nice to have sources.
ReplyDeleteThe Music Box looks great. Happy Release!
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
That Music Boxes audio book sounds like fun. I hope it has music in the tracks. Do they even produce music boxes anywhere now? I have never seen one, only read about them. I should google it, right?
ReplyDeleteYes, music boxes are still a big industry.
DeleteSure a great cover. Hey, if one has never done it, then best to research indeed.
ReplyDeleteHa! You can ask me. I've had 3 kids. Ugh. Not fun!!
ReplyDeleteThat's why I'm glad I don't actually know.
DeleteCongrats Tonya on the audible, Yeah!
ReplyDeleteIt's great to see Tonja having such success with her book! It was a great read!
ReplyDeleteHa! Childbirth is full of horror stories and wonderment at the same time. A very in-depth subject. Congratulations on your new Music Boxes audio book!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on
Every mother has a unique story about childbirth but also they have a lot of things in common. Signing up for that newsletter.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I can't do this without your help
ReplyDeletehttp://www.hazardonlinecon.com/
http://www.internetowaonline.com/
http://www.najlepszastrona.com/
http://www.hazardoweonline.com/
http://www.aayetiayokele.com/
Congrats to Tonja!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I've never been pregnant either.
How wonderful that Music Boxes is an audiobook. The story is intriguing. And **tee hee**... I originally wrote, 'how wonderful that Tiny Dancers is an audio.' Funny how my mind remembered the title by the cover art.
ReplyDeleteThat's okay, I've referred to it as Magic Boxes more than once!
DeleteSmart thinking interviewing someone instead of relying just on the internet.
ReplyDeleteElsie
Congratulations, Tonja! I bet you got an earful when asking about pregnancy. It's definitely an interesting way to spend nine months.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy a good audio book, especially on those long trips. Congrats on this one!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Tonja on the audio book!
ReplyDeleteHey, I wouldn't know anything about pregnancy, either, but it hasn't come up in a story yet. I'd have to do some research, too.
I would need to research pregnancy and childbirth as well!
ReplyDeleteMany congrats on the audio.
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned at the blog you had a BB gun growing up...so did I and shot myself in the toe. Haha.
LOL! Ouch. I didn't actually have my own. A neighbor across the street taught me on his.
DeleteI really like talking to someone who is knowledgeable about the subject. And getting stories about the experiences they had. More fun than reading a laptop screen!
ReplyDeleteHi L. Diane...
ReplyDeleteI think it is much better to talk to someone who has had the experience than randomly googling on certain subjects. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
CONGRATS Tonja!
The cover looks great! And I do have a soft spot for music boxes.
ReplyDeleteCongrats Tonja! Sometimes going directly to the source would be the best for a writer. At least you had someone to go to ask questions about pregnancy.
ReplyDeleteThere must have been a wealth of information on pregnancy and childbirth! Often too much.
ReplyDeleteWhat I learned about pregnancy and childbirth is something will surprise you every time!
ReplyDeleteI betcha you didn't lack for women clamoring to tell you alllll about pregnancy and childbirth. Most of us love to talk about it. HA
ReplyDeleteThere are times I've started researching something normal like name meanings or clothing brands and devolved into the occult and Native American superstitions. And one person's experience with anything can be vastly different than another. So many many things can go wrong with pregnancy and child birth, even in modern society. Women are making even that normal process strange - like giving birth in a swimming pool. Seriously? I think showing the changing birthing practices is a good way of dating an era, showing generational gaps and shifts.
ReplyDeleteResearch just shows how strange life really is, lol.
You know, there are some things that just get translated better through an interview than research online. Good idea.
ReplyDeleteWe all need to check your browser history.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Tonja! That must be an awesome feeling to hear your book for the first time!!
ReplyDeleteThat's a creepy story. I like it. Congrats, Tonja!
ReplyDeleteI've selectively forgotten all the strange things I've googled, though I'm guessing there have been many.
Be well, Diane.
I'm over the moon that Dancing Lemur Press made Music Boxes into an audio book :) As to research...oh wow. I've done some pretty strange things on that front.
ReplyDelete