Hi everyone –

 

When I write my paranormals, I always research all that I can. If I can sprinkle in as many true facts it makes the paranormal bits more believable.

 

Researching also helps me come up with new ideas and stories come alive… When I was researching Night Walker, it led me to the oldest building in San Diego, the Mission De Alcala. I discovered that in the 1700’s it was attacked and burned to the ground by the Kumeyaay. There is no other violence on record from the tribes. They also attacked in darkness which was unusual. Why? That unanswered question led me to place an immortal into that situation.

 

 

 

 

 

Before I wrote my upcoming release, Night Demon, I actually took the kids and headed down to the Yucatan to tour all the Mayan Ruins!

 

We even hiked the pyramid on Chichen Itza! Yikes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 2010, my son’s high school choir went on a tour of Belgium and France. I got to see him sing inside of Notre Dame and walk the still cobblestoned streets of Paris! I kept a travel daily travel diary on that trip and used many of my notes when I wrote the Night Thief novella….

 

But making these trips and seeing the places I’m writing about inspires me to bring the experience to life on the page.

 

That brings me to the research I did this past week…

 

I’m currently working on Night Child, the final book in the Night Series. This book includes my first heroine with a psychic gift. Muriah owns an alternative book store, but makes her money on the side in black-market artifacts. She’s the best in the business at locating artifacts, but it comes with a price. Her use of psychometry takes a toll on her physical body.

 

Psychometry is the ability to touch an object and receive flashes of where that object has been. I was lucky enough to have lunch with a psychic this week and pepper her with curious writer questions! I learned so much that my head is swimming with ideas and my fingers are itching to tell Muriah’s story… She sees her “gift” as a curse, but she’ll need to use it to save herself and the Night Walker race.

 

I think it’s tricky to write a character with psychic powers, because you have to be very careful that it doesn’t become a plot device that only comes out when you need the next clue, but you also can’t make it so strong that they become a super hero. It’s a balancing act, so I was excited and super fortunate that I could have lunch with a psychic and chat for a few hours about what it’s like to live with a “gift”. I wanted to understand the perks and drawbacks, and why some might see it as a gift and others as a burden.

 

What are some of the psychic gifts you enjoy reading about most?

 

Lisa J


19 Comments

  1. Teresa Morris-lloyd January 16, 2013 at 9:32 am

    I think that is cool how you add just a little of the real world to your paranormal world! Keep up the great work, because what you are doing is great!
    Happy reading and writing*
    Teresa
    morris1963tess@yahoo.com

    1. Lisa Kessler January 16, 2013 at 6:11 pm

      Thanks so much for stopping by Teresa!!!

      Can’t wait to share the rest of the Night Series with you!

      Lisa 🙂

  2. Marie Andreas January 16, 2013 at 12:15 pm

    Great blog, Lisa! I love different supernatural abilities- esp when they can mess up a character as much as they help! In my current WIP I have a fallen knight (fantasy) who “fell” when her ability to foresee the future was compromised. She sees her visions as a curse, because the truth behind them isn’t clear and they destroyed her life.

    1. Lisa Kessler January 16, 2013 at 6:13 pm

      Hi Marie –

      Sounds like a great concept Marie! 🙂 I’ve never written a “forsee the future” character, but I bet it’s challenging since free-will makes the “future” a more fluid than concrete event…

      Sounds like a great concept! 🙂

      Thanks for commenting!

      Lisa 🙂

  3. Angela Roquet January 16, 2013 at 9:33 pm

    Wow! Sounds like you’ve been to some really amazing places. And how awesome that you can write those trips off on your taxes! The last book I read about psychic gifts was Jennifer Skully’s “Sheer Dynamite.” It was about a whole family of psychics. So much fun!

    1. Lisa Kessler January 16, 2013 at 10:00 pm

      Hi Angela –

      The trips were amazing!!! 🙂 I use internet research a lot, but if you can actually go to the place, I think the setting comes alive when I write it… Makes a big difference! 🙂

      Thanks for the book recommendation! I’ll have to look for that one!

      Lisa 🙂

  4. Mary Galusha January 17, 2013 at 7:46 am

    You are fortunate to be able to travel and do research. I loved your photos.

    1. Lisa Kessler January 17, 2013 at 11:09 pm

      Thanks Mary!!! I feel super fortunate to be able to go visit the settings… 🙂

      Thanks for stopping by to check out the pictures!

      Lisa 🙂

  5. Janice Seagraves January 17, 2013 at 10:49 am

    I have one character in a series that I wrote and never subed that was empathic and saw her gift as a curse.

    Good luck with your release. I wish you many sales.

    Janice~

    1. Lisa Kessler January 17, 2013 at 11:11 pm

      Thanks so much Janice!!!

      I think it’s an interesting thing to ponder if some psychic abilities would be a gift or curse. In Charlaine Harris’ Sookie books, Sookie can hear people’s thoughts and it’s usually a curse to her too…

      Lisa 🙂

  6. Caridad Pineiro January 17, 2013 at 10:52 am

    OMG, lots of fun! Sounds like you had a wonderful time doing the research.

    1. Lisa Kessler January 17, 2013 at 11:13 pm

      I did have a blast! Except that I got stuck on top of the pyramid on Chichen Itza! Yikes! It was super high and the steep narrow stairs were SO scary!

      I told the kids I might need a helicopter and was just about to cry when my son (who was little at the time) saved me by saying “Mama just sit and I’ll scoop down with you.” He and I polished the stairs of the pyramid with our bums! LOL

      Thanks for coming by and commenting Caridad!

      Lisa 🙂

  7. Stephanee Ryle January 17, 2013 at 11:20 am

    You are a brave woman, Lisa! I can do spiral steps like the ones in the Notre Dame tower, but those steep Mayan steps would give me vertigo. I love incorporating my travels into my writing, though I’ll leave the psychic stuff up to you, lol! The new book sounds great.

    1. Lisa Kessler January 17, 2013 at 11:14 pm

      Ha! The pyramid gave me vertigo too! See the comment above about how I told the kids I needed a helicopter to get down… LOL

      Thanks for stopping by! I’m having a great time writing this book… 🙂

      Lisa

  8. Sylvia January 22, 2013 at 9:08 pm

    Tough gig writers have–research and travel. Lucky you, Lisa. Loved reading about your adventures.

    1. Lisa Kessler January 22, 2013 at 11:19 pm

      Thanks for stopping by Sylvia!!! 🙂

      I’ve been really lucky to travel to my book spots… 🙂 Lots of fun and good memories!

      Lisa

  9. Sylvia January 22, 2013 at 9:11 pm

    Tough gig writers have–research and travel. Lucky you, Lisa. Loved reading about your adventures

  10. Pamela Moran January 24, 2013 at 4:52 pm

    Fun blog and photos, Lisa!

    I was at Chichen Itza during the fall equinox a few years ago – interesting times. Loved your comment about your son and polishing the steps of the pyramid! I can so see that …! ;o)

    Pam

    1. Lisa Kessler January 25, 2013 at 1:52 am

      You got to go to Chichen Itza during the equinox??? LUCKY!!! I’m super jealous! Did you see the light pierce through the back of the pyramid?

      And yes, the pyramid was shiny clean by the time we finished scooting down each step! LOL

      Thanks for commenting Pam!

      Lisa 🙂