Well, as every one knows by now, I am writing a cozy mystery series set in Fort Myers Beach, Florida. There is a cafe. There are book club meetings. There is a cat and there is a kayak. One of the quirkier characters makes jewelry out of fishing line and sea shells. Another character gave him some jeweler’s wire and encouraged him to use it to increase the commercial value of his jewelry.
Of course since I am the least creative/crafty person in the world, while I know THAT he makes jewelry, I don’t really know HOW he makes jewelry. And for the purposes of the story, how he makes the jewelry is not important.
Besides, our Laura K. Curtis is an expert in these things–she actually makes beads for jewelry–and she’s really nice and would help me if I got stuck.
BUT THEN….
The adult education catalog from Queensborough Community College landed in my mailbox. Over the years I have taken water aerobics, watercolor and another course or two I don’t remember at the college. And on page 30, there it was: GET WIRED: Jewelry Making. So I wrote that check so fast the pen nearly broke in my hand.
The class is September 28th and my manuscript is due October 1, so the one will have nothing to do with the other, EXCEPT, I’ll feel all the smarter for having learned something connected to my work.
And you? Have you ever serendipitously come across something related to your writing or research? Something you had no intention of investigating? And then, poof! there it is and you can’t ignore it? Please tell us what happened.
Terrie
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