Lindsay Horton asked Steve Piacente:

Before you ever sit down to write a novel, what kind of prep work do you do in advance?

Steve Piacente Research is critical, Lindsay. Even the smallest error can cause a reader to close your book and never open it again. My novels are inspired by a long career as a political reporter, so I start off with a good understanding of journalism and politicians. Once out of that comfort zone, however, I spend lots of time doing research. I'm working on a third novel, for instance, and need to spend time this summer learning all the ins and outs of managing a Laundromat. Without that knowledge, I'd never be able to write convincingly about what my character does, and why he does it. Thanks for your question!

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