I love research. I read books to learn about things I never knew, watch documentaries to see places I’ve never been, and interview experts in fields I’ve never worked in. My research field trips are some of the most fun adventures I’ve been on because I always learn something new with interesting people. Of the dozens — maybe hundreds — of things I’ve done or people I’ve interviewed while writing forty-plus books over the last seventeen years, here are my favorite five, in no particular order.
- Touring Quantico. In 2008, I participated in the FBI Citizens Academy, a 9-week program where once a week I went to the Sacramento FBI office and listened to experts in all aspects of federal investigations. The following year, alumni were allowed on a trip to DC to tour Quantico, FBI headquarters, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and more. By far, the Quantico day was the most fun and informative and our guide answered all of my questions. (At the time, they were doing a lot of construction and a scaffolding we passed ended up in one of my books!)
- Viewing an autopsy. Fellow author and friend Brenda Novak invited me to tour the Sacramento County Morgue with her, and we were lucky enough to be able to witness an autopsy. The circumstances were sad — the unidentified homeless man had been stabbed to death by a suspected thrill killer. I’ve used this experience in many, many stories — the sights, sounds, smells of the morgue.
- Ride-along with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department. I set up a ride-along so I could not only interview a deputy, but so I could better understand what a cop does on each shift. I learned far more that day than I had just interviewing cops. One thing the deputy said that stuck with me: “Sometimes, I feel more like a family counselor than a cop.” I’ve definitely used that in my stories!
- Touring Folsom State Prison. Another gift as an alumni of the citizens academy, this time I toured the prison with my friend and fellow author James Rollins. We had to sign away our life (if we were held hostage, they would not negotiate for our safe return), but it was a relatively tame excursion. I wouldn’t want to be in prison, so have no plans to commit a felony.
- Role-playing with SWAT. Another artifact from the citizens academy, every year (until I moved from California to Arizona), I was able to participate in the FBI SWAT training at McClellan Airforce Base. Some of the training was huge, pulling in local SWAT teams from all over Northern California — those were the most fun. I’ve been a victim, a bad guy, and a hostage. The best part of the drills was listening to the debrief — why the cops did what they did. They shared experiences they’ve faced, asked questions of the experts running the training, and freely shared advice and information to their fellow cops. That I could listen (like a fly on the wall!) was amazing, and I learned more from these annual drills than any other research field trip I’ve done.
At the end of the month, I’ll be on another ride-along, this time with Phoenix PD, as I research a future book. I can’t wait!
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Allison Brennan believes life is too short to be bored, so she had five children and writes three books a year. Reviewers have called her “a master of suspense” and RT Book Reviews said her books are “mesmerizing” and “complex.” She’s been nominated for multiple awards, including the Thriller, RWA’s Best Romantic Suspense (five times), and twice won the Daphne du Maurier award. She lives in Arizona with her family and assorted pets.
