Do research now or press on regardless?

Having done another mind map to develop the parts of the story where Judith interacts with the other characters, I realised that some research was needed. Some people can press on with gaps and notes to remind them to go back to look things up but I can’t do that. I need to know things, maybe because I don’t like wasting time pursuing something that I will have to change later.  The notes I made on 31^st July 2010 were:

·           Find out how an accountant can swindle money from a client and not be found out for a long time

·           Find someone to talk through a scam in a supermarket cash office

·           I need a map of Carlisle to confirm road names

·           I need to visit Hexham next time I go across to the northeast and walk around with a map

·           I need to visit some cafe-bars to get clear in my mind what Cafe Bar Sierra looks like

A twitter-friend who is an accountant helped me with the first point and also gave me a list of things that might make people have doubts about the viability of the business. I don't think he likes to be known as my consultant for dodgy accountancy so he will remain anonymous until I have his permission to thank him when the book is published. (Still keeping the faith).

I worked out the cash office scam myself – I didn’t know I could be so devious.

I used the internet for road names in Carlisle.

The trip to Hexham worked out really well. A lot of questions answered and I took photographs of where Judith Dillon’s office now is, where her friend’s antique shop is, the location of the main car park and the path leading from the town to the station.

Much as I fancy the cafe-culture lifestyle, I didn’t visit enough cafe-bars to find the perfect setting so I have roughly drawn one. This means that I can add more detail about what it looks like, sounds like and smells like in the next edit.