Gabaldon rocks in a serious way and is one of the few authors that I actually make the effort to purchase when a new book comes out.
I take my notes from DG's approach--I do all my own research, look for something I can twist to suit my purpose from a fictional standpoint and run with it.
(Believe me, I've come up with some shit, too. I once called a pharmacist and asked questions about killing someone with anti-freeze because I was wondering if that were a plausible way to commit murder for the story I was writing. Then I offered them my name and address so they could turn me in if someone turned up dead. Now that I know an M.D. up in Jersey, I don't have to call the pharmacist with strange questions like that any more.)
no subject
I take my notes from DG's approach--I do all my own research, look for something I can twist to suit my purpose from a fictional standpoint and run with it.
(Believe me, I've come up with some shit, too. I once called a pharmacist and asked questions about killing someone with anti-freeze because I was wondering if that were a plausible way to commit murder for the story I was writing. Then I offered them my name and address so they could turn me in if someone turned up dead. Now that I know an M.D. up in Jersey, I don't have to call the pharmacist with strange questions like that any more.)