Tuesday Late, with Books

[ksmith]

It occurs to me that someone might get an odd impression if they examined a writer's bookcases. I have several books on poisoning, including von Oettingen's. Firearms. Injuries and how to inflict same. HOW TO DISAPPEAR COMPLETELY AND NEVER BE FOUND just arrived today.

I'm staying put. Really.

Comments

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

Heh. Me too. I think I scared one person straight out of my house forever by saying, "Oh, right. The antidote to cyanide poisoning? Hang on, I'll look that up." ;)

There was a list of guides at some point by... mmm. Reader's Digest? Writer's Digest? I don't remember. They did a guide for poisons, for injuries, for crime scenes, etc. Those books were invaluable.

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I have most of not all of the Writers Digest Scene Of Crime books. Quality Paperback Book Club also offers good forensics titles.

[haikujaguar.livejournal.com]

I shall have to look them up!

I don't write much crime/mystery scenes, but I end up doing a lot of medical scenes. I have too many characters working in the medical industry. My shelves are filling up with titles that horrify all my friends, who want to know why I have the cookbooks next to the books about curing deadly diseases. I reassure them that my cooking isn't that dangerous, but somehow we end up going out to eat more than I expect.

But hey, fewer dishes to wash. ;D

Oh! My! God!

[planetalyx.livejournal.com]

(goes straight to library page and puts a request in for this book, chortling madly all the while).

Re: Oh! My! God!

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

I heard about this book on another writers list. Comments were made that internet issues weren't yet covered in the editions folks had in hand--my copy is dated 1986, so I don't know if there are updates. I haven't had a chance to look through it yet. I figure if nothing else, it's a good place to start.

Re: Oh! My! God!

[planetalyx.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it sounds like a great place to start. And it's a very well-timed tip for me, as I've just started thinking about exactly this in relation to a new project.

Did you have other resources on disappearing when you started the Jani Kilian books? (Just wondering, don't answer if it feels too interview-ey).

Re: Oh! My! God!

[kristine-smith.livejournal.com]

Did you have other resources on disappearing when you started the Jani Kilian books? (Just wondering, don't answer if it feels too interview-ey).

No problem.

I reread several John le Carre books prior to and during my writing of Jani. His first titles, A MURDER OF QUALITY and CALL FOR THE DEAD, and two of the three books in the Karla Trilogy, TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY and SMILEY'S PEOPLE.

These books are set in the 60s/70s, and don't offer anything in the way of technology. What they provided me was insight into the state of mind of 1) someone who was in hiding and risked death if discovered and 2) someone who had lived that life for so long that even though they had returned to 'normal' life, they couldn't shake the old habits. Constant suspicion and mistrust. George Smiley's habit of memorizing storefronts and license plates to keep his memory skills sharp. The differences in behavior between the people who think they're doing things properly and the ones who really are.

FWIW, I did receive feedback from a couple of folks with some experience in the field who told me that I got it right. That made me feel very good.

Another thing to bear in mind is that being female, you're used to looking over your shoulder, assessing your surroundings, and gauging your vulnerability in ways that are second nature. I am pretty well convinced that being female helped me get into the mind of someone on the run more easily. Maybe it's hooey, but it's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Re: Oh! My! God!

[planetalyx.livejournal.com]

Doesn't sound like hooey to me--awareness of threat sets in early for women, I think.

I enjoyed hearing about your research, too. Thanks!