Ride-Along for Researching The Contemporary Novel

What an exciting week. Sandra here, to tell you about my research for my current work in progress (wip).

If any of you follow my Facebook page, you will know that my hero is a county sheriff for Yavapai County in Arizona, which includes the Sedona area. I have family members who have or are working in the police force and county sheriff’s office in the city. But it is very different in this sparsely populated county that is 8152 square miles. Many of those miles are rugged red rock canyons and cliffs. Tourists attracted to the famous Sedona area often venture out beyond their experience level and become lost. This keeps the sheriff deputies busy and provides wonderful grist for the plot and story.

View of Sedona from Airport Mesa Trail

My story starts with an Alzheimer’s patient from the heroine’s adult day care center wandering out into the desert. He is an avid hiker so was able to travel far when he wandered out of the facility. The hero is the deputy who finds him. Well I certainly need to know the procedures taken for search and rescue.

I got to sit in the front seat. Very exciting.

To learn more about the extraordinary work of my hero, I went on a ride-along with a Yavapai County sheriff’s deputy.  Guess what our first call was? A mountain bike rider was lost in the desert outside of Dead Horse State Park. Within the park, there are miles of trails and they connect with trails into the adjacent national forest and he had ventured out and become lost.

All calls in the county show on the computer in the car.

We answered the call and I was able to meet the deputy in the Forest Unit, which is the unit that conducts search and rescue. I observed and learned first hand the procedure for searching and rescuing a lost victim. How about that for “asking and receiving” exactly what I needed for my wip.

I didn’t even know they had a unit designated specifically for search and rescue. It makes sense, especially in an area where so many inexperienced tourists venture out on trails, unprepared for the high desert and the rugged terrain.

Back pack gear and First Aide kit ready for search and rescue operations.


After the ride-along, I was privileged to have lunch with the Lieutenant in charge of the region. He was a wealth of information. I learned what my hero will need to do to become a lieutenant, what it means to be a sergeant. We also discussed some of the major issues in this region.

The Lieutenant presented me with an official Yavapai County Sheriff coffee mug.

Join me for a cup of coffee.

Did I have to go on a ride-along? Did I have to visit the Sheriff’s substation in Oak Creek Village?

Sub-station in Oak Creek Village

No, I could have gotten most of the information by researching on the Internet. But for me, it makes it more real to be there. I loved riding in the car. The beeps and sounds of the computer would not be in the Internet. Nor would the reaction of the deputy when a hot tone sounded. The hot tone was an alert to a dangerous and serious situation and he explained that whenever he heard that tone, his adrenalin pumped.

Swat helmet and vest ready to go.

We traditionally think that we need extensive research when writing historical novels. We do. But we also need extensive research for contemporary novels as well.

Here are some quick tips that are a help to follow when doing research:

1.     Find out all you can about the setting.

·      Go there if possible.

·      Or call on someone who lives there. If you belong to RWA or ACFW, there are bound to be members in the area.

·      Look at photos, travelogues, weather reports, etc.

·      What you find out can turn into a plot twist. Or conflict.

2.     Research the occupation of the major characters:

·      Interview people in that occupation.

·      Find out their motivation to pursue that occupation.

·      Find out the procedures to achieve positions in that occupation.

·      Ask about the difficulties they face and the rewards they receive.

·      This will give you ideas to deepen your characters and plot.

·       

Can you share some exciting research events you have experienced that changed your manuscript?  Please comment and share. Your name will be put in the sheriff’s mug for a chance to win a surprise package of Seeker books.

Sandra Leesmith writes sweet romances to warm the heart. Sandra loves to play pickleball, hike, read, bicycle and write. She is based in Arizona, but she and her husband travel throughout the United States in their motorhome and enjoy the outdoors. You can find Sandra's books here on Amazon. Three of Sandra's most popular books are also audio books at Audible. You can read more of Sandra's posts here.