Hello, friends and readers.
One of my favorite things about being an author is doing research. When my children were in elementary school, I worked part-time as a features writer for Baltimore’s Child magazine and my local edition of The Baltimore Sun. As a newcomer to Maryland, the job helped me get to know my new community. It also taught me how to interview people, visit an event or location and catch interesting details, and how to write on a deadline.
As a fiction writer, my sources tend to come from four main places: non-fiction books, newspaper articles, personal interviews, and personal observations (sometimes called gonzo research — either going to or participating in an event related to the story). Documentaries and YouTube videos are another go-to resource.
Takedown is about two middle school wrestlers, Lev and Mikayla. It will be published on June 19, 2018 (Random House Kids).
In order to be transparent, I am going to create a list of sources I use for my books, beginning with Takedown.
Takedown is a wrestling story. When I started drafting the book in fall of 2015, it had been several years since my son put on a singlet, headgear, and wrestling boots. I had a lot of research to do in order to relearn the sport.
TAKEDOWN: Sources and works consulted
(I’ll be adding to this list periodically as I look through my notes. It’s going to look informal at first. I’ll come back and use standard formatting later.)
Videos and Documentaries
“Helen Maroulis used lessons learned in London to win gold,” NBCOlympics.com
“Helen Maroulis’ mantra: ‘Christ in me, I am enough’,” NBCOlympics.com
Articles
“Zaccardi: Helen Maroulis’ takedown of a legend has been years in the making,” NBCOlympics.com
Akinnagbe, Gbenga. “A Metamorphosis on the Wrestling Mat,” The New York Times, 3/3/2012.
Smith, Tim. “Focus on NFL, injuries makes ‘X’s and O’s’ a timely entry at Center Stage,” The Baltimore Sun, 11/15/15.
Stein, Betsy. “Editor’s Letter: Lessons learned on being a supportive sports parent,” Chesapeake Family, September, 2016.
Stein, Betsy. “Parenting Plays from the Pros, Touchdown Tips to Help Young Athletes,” Chesapeake Family, September, 2016.
Books
Ditchfield, Christin. Wrestling (True Books: Sports), Grolier Publishing, NY, 2000.
Ellis, Carol. Wrestling (Martial Arts in Action), Marshall Cavendish. Benchmark, NY, 2011.
More sources coming soon!
