It's hard to say how long it takes to research and write a book because every book is different. Sometimes it's easy to find the information I need and the scientists I want to interview, but other times, it takes more time and effort than I expect. The process can take anywhere from a few months to a few years. It took more than five years to write my first book, Life Without Light.
I collect ideas all the time and keep them in an idea file. Sometimes I know what to do with them right away, but sometimes they just sit in that file for a year or more before I find the right focus. Sometimes my husband, Gerard Fairley, or brother-in-law, Peter Fairley (also a science writer) help me find the story in an idea I have kicking around in my head. And sometimes I develop great ideas into proposals or even sample chapters, but then just can't find an editor who is interested. That can be frustrating.
I often do provide a photo list for my books, but not photos. Those come from professional photographers all over the world. One exception is a photo of a charging elephant in Elephants (Scholastic Library, 2002). That elephant was charging at the jeep I was in! Luckily, he never hit us.
I often do provide the information or even sketches in charts or diagrams, but an artist or graphic designer transforms these into final products that are both visually appealing and easy to read. Books couldn't be made without these people, and, unfortunately, they usually don't the credit they deserve. 3. Your vast science background is diverse. What is your favorite topic to write about and why? I love all the sciences. Before becoming a writer, I considered a career as a researcher. But I couldn't choose one area to focus on. I want to learn as much as I can about all the different areas of science. But I especially enjoy writing about life and earth sciences. I guess this traces back to my love of the natural world as a child. My brother and I spent countless hours playing in and exploring the woods around our home in western Massachusetts.
