Starting a New Book

I wrapped up my third book and finished my own edits on the second book, so it's time to get going on the fourth novel. This one moves away from the Olson family and out of the Loess Hills. The setting is Carroll County, mostly in Templeton, Iowa.

With every new book, I need to do a bit of research. For the first two books, most of the research was done through interviews with my mother. I also used Soldier's Centennial book for history on Soldier. The third book, which takes place in Denison, had a few book sources. This book, however, is going to take a mix of things.

I started with an interview. There were many families making rye whiskey during Prohibition, and this particular family was heavily involved. I interviewed one of the original owners of Templeton Rye Distillery. He was eager to share his family stories with me. And, I got a great tour of the distillery. It's one of the best places, in regards to booze, that I've visited, and I've visited a lot of wineries in California and outside of the United States. I'm planning to reinterview him once I have enough background information, so my questions can be better directed.

I then went on the internet as I have done with the other books. I always search the local newspapers for stories. I like to incorporate as much history into my books as I can even if I have to change those involved so that it fits into the storyline more smoothly. I can't make up stories as good as the actual events.

With this book, I'm planning to visit the Iowa Historical Museum and ask for some help. Again, I'm planning to read newspaper articles about Iowa Prohibition from across the state. I can also get some help with the research, so who knows what I'll be able to dig up?

I assume this book's research is going to take me a little longer. It's worth it, though. The more I find, the more the book starts to evolve in my head. As of now, I only have vague ideas about the plot and characters.