One of my many favourite things about writing is getting lost in research. Tracking down a fact, or answer to a question that might be useful or essential in taking the story forward.
I rarely share any of this because I’m terrified of giving the plot away. But is that just a wasted opportunity?
Would you be interested in joining me on some of these trips down a rabbit hole?
I wonder if it’s possible to share at least some of what I’ve found out on my research trips without giving too much of the game away.
Today’s (or yesterday when this is published!) fascinating expedition was to the Caribbean island of Jamaica. I just wish it had not only been virtual!
I found this article by Professor Geoff Palmer: Slavery, the Scottish Caribbean connection, which has given me an insight into one of my characters in the sequel to Fallen Warriors. It’s a fascinating read in any case, diving into Scotland’s connections with the slave trade, our hypocrisy in ignoring how many in Scotland benefited from slavery and tried to prevent abolition, and also revealing that in spite of a dreadful past, and maybe even because of it, there are thriving communities and people that have much to contribute.
It’s a complex and messy world out there. Have you ever been to Jamaica? What do you think of Professor Palmer’s article?
