The way I write leads me to web searches that make sense if you know the story I’m writing. I’m happy to know I am confusing the heck out of any algorithm or shadow government agency trying to get a sense of who I am. I’m also amused by the random things I have to look up. I thought I’d share some of my research – along with the results – with you all.

• Average height of NFL Tight Ends. I know almost nothing about football beyond the few things that have stuck with me from my childhood. When I first started to write The Ugliest Man in Hollywood and realized Matthew was a former football player, I ended up having to do a lot of research. I learned that Tight Ends are tall – 6’3″ on average.
• Average age of a retiring NFL Tight End. There wasn’t as clear cut an answer for this as I wanted, though a lot of resources said most NFL players retire in their late 20s. I ended up delving into fantasy football realms and found a resource that discusses when Tight Ends peak. Decided that my football player retired at the older end of things.
• Restaurants. For some reason, I don’t want just any restaurants in my books. (Except for the one that Amy runs and owns in The Stupidest Man I Know.) When I was writing Amy’s story, I found Gustavo Cuban Restaurant and Cafe in Waltham, MA. I became so obsessed with this restaurant that I talked a friend who lives in that area into going for me. She assured me that it was just as delicious as it looks.
• Abandoned buildings. Part of Getting My Goat takes place in an abandoned factory, but I wanted something real so I could build a good mental picture. There’s a great wiki with details about Rochester, NY, including profiles of abandoned buildings! I ended up picking the abandoned Delco Plant as the setting.
• Champagne bottles. I worked in restaurants for over a decade when I was younger, and as a bartender for part of that. I knew, JUST KNEW, that there were different names for different sizes of champagne bottles. Couldn’t for the life of me remember which one was called what, though. Found this helpful resource that reminded me the smallest bottles are called “piccolo”. So now I know, and so do you.

There’s plenty more I’ve looked up, too. How far is it from LAX to Malibu? About an hour if traffic is decent. Do any colleges in the LA area have a Masters in Philosophy program? Yes, California State University at Long Beach does. How fast do off-road quads go? This one goes 25 mph.

The research I do has to be confusing to algorithms, but I don’t care. I think it’s VERY important that I, and therefore you my reader, know how good the view is at Geoffrey’s of Malibu. All in the name of verisimilitude!