DD: This depends on the book and the difficulty of the subject. I do some basic research and then research as I go. I do not stop my research until the manuscript is done.
6. SR: How do you know where to begin??
DD: I just jump in. The outline comes from the basic research. However, getting the first sentence of the first chapter sometimes takes awhile.
7. SR: Do you ever have to travel?
DD: Yes, if I need to. Most of the time I can get what I need from the Internet and communicating with sources via e-mail.
8. SR: How do you handle expenses of travelling if you incur these?
DD: I count it as part of my expenses for tax purposes but so far none of my publishers have considered covering any travel expenses. I thoroughly enjoy my research trips so this is not a problem for me. I have not needed to do much.
9. SR: What about photographs? Illustrations, diagrams that are necessary for any books? This depends on the publisher's requirement. I do not like to do photo research. Are you responsible? Again this depends on the publisher and the contract. I did one without a photo allowance, however, I had a good advance. Still the money for the photos was my money. I will not do photo research without a photo allowance now. How do you find photographs? Most of the photos for my books came from the Library Of Congress, the National Archives, Military resources, and museums. I go where I need to depending on the subject. Sometimes I shoot a few of my own.
10. SR: Are you responsible for constructing the index for books you write?
DD: No.
11. SR: What is the very best writing advice you have ever received?
DD: Read, read, read. Write, write, write.
12. SR: When you were first beginning your writing journey what discouraged you the most?
DD: Trying to steal moments to write. Learning to make writing a priority if I wanted to be published. And of course, those 100s of rejection letters. How did you overcome this discouragement? I found time and trained the hubby and kids to let me have it. I learned to count every reject as one toward the number rejects needed to earn an acceptance.
13. SR: What do you say to those who have been writing and subbing for years with no success? This is a hard one because I know so many really good writers who have not sold anything yet. Getting published takes hard work and quite a lot of luck. I never figured out for myself how long I would keep submitting with no success.
