Happiness is Research

Well, first let me say, Happy Chinese New Year! It’s the year of the wooden horse, promising lots of freedom and success. Yes. More. Please. Thank you.

Now then, what’s this about happiness being “research?” Truthfully, I was reminded of how much I love research this week when Mayor Sue Fuchtman of Norfolk, Nebraska let me interview her about her experience running for and being mayor of a community about the size of Dare Valley, Colorado in my first series.

I used to interview people all the time for my old career, and no, I wasn’t a journalist, even though I am from a long line of them stretching back to my great-great grandpa winning our family newspaper in a poker game in 1892, the rebel. I used to rebuild war zones in my old job, anything from communities to political systems to the rule of law. When I visited these wild places, I interviewed a ton of people, anyone from a village woman to a Member of Parliament. I probably averaged about thirty interviews with people on my trips. And let me tell you, it was fascinating. I had forgotten how much I love it until this week…

When I interviewed Mayor Sue. 

This time I’m not rebuilding a warzone, but creating a fictional setting. Real information is still critical in making it come to life. Be real. Resonate with people. 

It finally hit me why research makes me so happy, or should I say interviewing. Because I get to connect with people and hear their story. It’s about listening. It’s about being heard. It’s about having a short peek into their life, their passions, their journey, their victories. And in the case of Mayor Sue, what a victory. She’s the first female mayor of Norfolk. Yeah for her and women everywhere!

What’s also wonderful is when the person you’re interviewing strikes a chord in you. As you probably have guessed, community, family, and connecting are all important values to me. And I could tell the same for Mayor Sue.

My novel, THE PARK OF SUNSET DREAMS, isn’t only going to be better because of this interview, it’s going to rock. Why? Because like with all my characters, there’s some spark of the true, the real, the higher vision–critical to what I believe my writing is all about.

So, next time you have a chance to research something, try interviewing someone. Or even when you meet someone new, think of it as “life” research. You might be surprised not only by how happy it makes you, but by how much you learn.

Spread the joy.

Ava

 

 Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net