What's it like to visit an active volcano doing research for your next novel?

[Karen Dionne]

Here's my report!

What cool things have YOU done in the name of research?

[Albert Tucher]

STOP!!! :-)

[I. J. Parker]

Good one! We need another subgenre.

[I. J. Parker]

I should add my congratulations.
Since Japan has many natrural disasters, including earthquakes and volcano eruptions, I use these, but only as background to the events (a thousand years ago!). They play a fairly minor role and are researched through contemporary texts and a good encyclopedia.

As for global warming (and always excepting outright pollution caused by greed), I tend to look at much of this as a part of evolution. We cannot go back, because there are too many of us.

[Albert Tucher]

Yes, my congratulations also, Karen. I just noticed the link.

[Karen Dionne]

Thanks for the congrats, all! It's a real kick to have a second contract and know I get to do this again. Hopefully, again and again and again, but I'm happy to take it one at a time!

[RONALD FEASEL]

i sky dived without a parachute to get the feeling for my novel (in my dreams of course)

[EDWARD C MORGAN]

Well, the things I've done as research are quite boring, but I draw upon my journalism career as a beat reporter (before opting for money and moving into management) for my fiction. Some of the notables:
*I rode out a category 4 hurricane.
*Squatted behind the sheriff's SUV as it was absolutely shot to shreds in a shootout (five officers were shot that day).
*With a group of firefighters, got caught and surrounded by flames in a forest fire.
*Leapt (for my life) off the roof of a Dominican Republic brothel.

And while I've the chance to interview a lot of people - some famous all fascinating - the best interview ever was in the late 90's, with the man who photographed Elvis' autopsy. He was pretty sure Elvis had died.