Wild Things I’ve Done for Research

When I write a story, I like to get the details right. Wouldn’t it just be embarrassing to find a mistake in a technical detail of a story? You know someone, somewhere is going to call you on it and then the public humiliation will follow. To avoid all that, I check the facts and try to live the experience. Just so you know, I won’t be riding a bucking bronco no matter how many scenes I may write with one in it. Nope. Not gonna happen.

 

When I wrote Dark Isle, I included the McKnights, a human family who liked to fly airplanes, little Cessnas to be exact and in one scene, the airplane is piloted by a winged Nimway. The Nimway knew how to fly with his wings, but flying a machine was another matter. Naturally, he stalled the engine and the plane began hurtling toward the earth. I know nothing about airplanes except they are supposed to stay in the air and I still don’t know why. It just so happened that one of the doctors I worked with in the ER was a licensed pilot. Dr. Sonny Morton was my go-to guy for details about flying—and stalling—an airplane. He showed me how to read an aerial map, what things needed to be checked before each flight and what would cause a plane to go into a spin. Well, next thing ya know, Sonny said the only way I was really going to write about a flying experience would be to actually go on a flight with him. I have to stop and tell you right here and now I am terrified of flying on a big plane, but on a little Cessna…there isn’t a word beyond terrified to describe my feelings. My heart raced and I broke out in a cold sweat. I shook my head unable to even say the word no. Then this little writer’s voice in the back of my mind said, “Is that all you got? You can’t even be brave enough to get the story right? Surely you have some courage deep down inside somewhere.” Before I knew what I was about to do, I agreed to go.

I loved how thorough Sonny was about checking the plane and telling me each detail of what he was checking—and then he checked everything again. I should mention here that Sonny is a meticulous and methodical person. It’s just his nature and as much as I found that annoying at  work, on this particular day I was glad for his perfectionism. We got into the plane and put on our headphones. The engine is very loud and headphones provide a convenient way to communicate. My camera hung around my neck while I clung like a monkey to the back of his seat with one hand and the scaredy-cat bar with the other. He called to the tower our serial numbers and flight plan, found out what runway we’d use and off we went. I learned all about the transponder that is set for the destination and what the term “step on the ball” means when the plane goes into a spin and you have to pull it out. Before we reached our destination in Asheville, NC, he turned to me and said, “You know, if the plane goes down, clinging to it won’t protect you.” Well, I hadn’t thought of that. I had just gone into protective mode like I do when I’m in the car with my nephew. I also learned there weren’t any parachutes on board and no airbags. We hit a crosswind as we landed and hit the runway hard. All I knew was that I was back on the sweet earth. I could have dropped to my knees and kissed the runway. I didn’t know until later when Sonny told me, that the landing had been the most dangerous part of the flight.

When the flight was over, something in me changed. A feeling of accomplishment almost like euphoria took hold of me. I had done something I didn’t think I could do and I did it for the sake of my story. I can’t say that I’d pop into a plane and do it again without an ounce of fear, but I can say that I felt good about myself for pushing my fear aside to do something I would have never thought I could do.

Have you ever done something that was difficult for you for the sake of something or someone important to you? Did your experience change you in any way? Would you do it again? I hope you’ll share your experience with me.

THE DARK ISLE coming soon from Publishing by Rebecca Vickery

Find out how it all started at the beginning of The Legends of Winatuke series: THE DARK ISLE

Can love abide when evil awakens?

The queen of the Dark Isle has taken the Nimway prince, Gabriel, prisoner and is determined to send him home in pieces. Her daughter has only a little time to save him, but even if she does, will he want someone born of evil?
Once told of his brother's captivity, Raphael must go to the modern world to ask for help to rescue his brother. But his true love, a human, has accidently crossed over into Winatuke. The chances of her survival are slim to none.