Here we go again

As I write this, I am half awake along with my best friend in the world right now… a box of Puffs tissues. Yes, I got the cold that has been spreading around town as of late. Yet for some reason, I got sick right after my younger brother came home from University feeling a under the weather.

The circle of life of a cold germ, it is always started by the youngest in the family who touches everything! So, in order to not get blamed for anyone else getting sick, I’ve made frequent trips to the bathroom… not for the reason you may think. After watching Myth Busters, I learned how much a cold germ could spread when someone doesn’t wash their hands after each time it comes in contact with their face. So lesson of the day everyone, wash your hands after you blow your nose, no matter how annoying it maybe. Just do it!

Alright, now on to the more important stuff.

I have sent Mythic Blood off once more to a different publisher in hopes of getting my novel off the ground, that right I took the plunge again! I have made alteration to the novel and condensed the first chapter and merged it into one with the second chapter. You get to the vampires quicker to put it mildly. As well I got some wonderful advice from the woman who really got me into writing about my immortals.

Anne Rice.

What a wonderful person she has been to me. I have written her about three times now, and she has responded to me three times. Recently, I was feeling rather down due to the rejection letter I got from the last publisher, one of the errors they pointed out with my manuscript was the historical inaccuracies. I asked Mrs. Rice for any suggestions and she came through for me greatly, and allow me to pass that on to anyone else who has encountered the same problems as I have been.

When I asked her how she got information for the time frame she was writing in for her vampires, this is what she suggested.

“Go to Amazon.com and put in suggested titles like "Every Day Life in Medieval Rome." or Every day life in Renaissance Rome." See what turns us.

Keep trying. "Daily Life in Medieval Rome." Medieval Rome.

Rome in the late middle ages

(The 1300's is not ancient times at all, but the late Middle Ages.) Google aspects of life. "Economics in Medieval Rome."

"Working conditions in Medieval Rome."

Amazon will keep searching and dredging up titles for you, throwing up suggested titles. Order the books that look good or to the point. There are many specialized books on Italy and many general books for a popular historian. Keep using combinations of words to snare different titles. note that you can order used books on Amazon for low prices. Keep searching.

That's the easiest way to do research. "Art in Medieval Rome." "Architecture in Medieval Rome." "The Medieval City." "Italy in the late Middle Ages." "Italian architecture in the 1300's." Go on and on like that.

When you get your first batch of books, study the footnotes for other sources. Buy the books cited in the bibliography if they are more focused on what you need to know.

"Economics in Medieval Rome." "Trade in Medieval Rome."

"The Rise of bankers in Medieval Rome." Just keep hitting it.

Amazon is fast, flexible and huge.”

This was fantastic advice, I mean books do have to name their sources for historical facts right?

By the way, I did some research, one of the inaccuracies for my novel was that they didn’t have two level houses in the 1300s in Rome…

UNTRUE!

I got my history books and one especially on Rome, two level houses existed since 300 A.D, it was the Romans who were pioneers in architecture, were they not? If I am still wrong on this topic, please someone point me in the right direction! But so far, I think I got this right.

Anything else to update?

Not at this time, but I will once again, keep you posted on what I have learned, what there is to know and if Mythic Blood will have a home. From there, the world is limitless! The possibilities are going to come.

Come to think of it, this is really starting to sound like J.K Rowlings when she first started writing Harry Potter. Granted, I have been very blessed with the fact that I still live at home, I have a job and no real responsibilities besides pitching in wherever I can in the house and paying part of a bill each month. But only time will tell.

Until next time…