Cindi Madsen | Five Ways to Make Research Fun

So, as an author I do a lot of research when writing my books. When I wrote GETTING LUCKY NUMBER SEVEN, I knew that Beck was going to be a hockey player. Admittedly, I didn’t know a lot about hockey, except for there was something hot about hockey players, so I got busy doing my research. Since he and Lyla also share a love of chemistry, I also had to do research on what most people in college level chemistry study, and I found a ton of fun chemistry jokes online that I sprinkled through the novel. Lyla also makes a college bucket list, because she’s sick of being the chemistry nerd who stays at home with her cat, so I looked up what items were on people’s college bucket lists.

So here are my top five ways to make research fun.

1. Pictures of the hero are necessary. Lots and lots of pictures to make sure you get the details right, from scruffy faces, to eyes, to how the guy looks without his shirt. It’s hard work, but someone has to do it.

2. Attend a hockey game. I’d never actually been to a hockey game, but luckily one of the top colleges in the nation plays in Colorado Springs. I booked two tickets and took my husband along with me. It was fun cheering for the home team and eating concessions as I studied the ins and outs of hockey. It was colder than I expected, which hello, it’s ice, but coats & gloves are a must.

3. Pinterest. This has some to do with pictures, but I found a ton of funny chemistry jokes on Pinterest. Most I even got, which made me feel smart. And a lot had chemistry cat, which combines Lyla’s two loves—cats & chemistry.

4. Phone a friend. Or three. I have a lot of friends who are hockey buffs, so whenever I had a question, it gave me an excuse to call or text or FB message them about all the questions I needed to know. My editor also learned a ton about hockey throughout the process.

5. Music. This might seem like an odd research point, but for me, I have to find the right music to set the mood for my books. “Sleeping with a Friend” by Neon Trees had just come out and it was perfect! Thanks to one of Lyla’s bucket list items involving karaoke, Flo Rida’s “Right Round” also ended up playing a bigger part of the book than I’d ever imagined.

So that’s it. When you have a big project, how do you like to research & what makes it more fun?

About GETTING LUCKY NUMBER SEVEN

What's your lucky number?

Lyla Wilder is done being the shy, chemistry nerd extraordinaire. While every other college student is out having fun, Lyla is studying. With her cat. Well, she's played it "safe" quite enough, thank you. So she creates a "College Bucket List"?with item #7 being a night of uninhibited, mind-blowing sex...

But she needs some help from her man-whore best friend.

Hockey player Beck Davenport thought Lyla's transformation would be subtle. Man, was he wrong. With every item she ticks off, Beck finds himself growing seriously hot for his sweet, brainiac best friend. And if he's not careful, he'll end up risking their friendship in order to convince Lyla that he might just be her lucky #7...

About Cindi Madsen

Cindi Madsen sits at her computer every chance she gets, plotting revising, and falling in love with her characters. Sometimes it makes her a crazy person. Without it, she’d be even crazier. She has way too many shoes, but can always find a reason to buy a new pretty pair, especially if they’re sparkly, colorful, or super tall. She loves music, dancing, and wishes summer lasted all year long. She lives in Colorado (where summer is most definitely NOT all year long) with her husband and three children.