Every author has to do research in order to write a book. The amount of research depends on the type of story. For the Rose series I had to research the history of the Idaho Territory as well as the current workings of the legislature.
Idaho has a very colorful history and several historical figures and events were incorporated into the book. Several of my characters were written as participants in some of these events. The political issues raised in the books are all real and had either been brought up during a session or in an interim committee after the legislature has adjourned. Idaho has a part-time legislature. They are in session from the second week of January through the end of March. In THE KISS OF A ROSE, the political issue was sales tax on food. It came up this year in the session, passed both the house and the senate only to be vetoed by the governor just like in my book. When I wrote the story I didn’t think it would be prophetic.
I am currently working on a new time travel series. The first book, A SECOND CHANCE, will release on October 10th. I had to do a lot of research for this book because most of the story takes place in 1876 in the mining town of Atlanta, Idaho. Yes, there really is an Atlanta, Idaho. It was founded in 1864 after gold was discovered there and named after Atlanta, Georgia. The research was a lot of fun to do. I worked with the Idaho Historical Society and actually traveled to the town so I could get an accurate feel for the place. I even bought a Monarch wood cook stove at an auction there.
I have enjoyed doing the research for each of my books. I hope you enjoy reading them.
Augustina Van Hoven
Proving Love is Strange
THE KISS OF A ROSE
THE THORN OF A ROSE
THE BLOOM OF A ROSE
A SECOND CHANCE – Coming October 10th
