I’m sure writers find a thousand different methods and techniques to hone and develop their craft. I read once that Agatha Christie became somewhat of an expert in poisons. She served as a voluntary nurse during World War I, where she was stationed in a hospital dispensary. There, she studied under a pharmacist, a bit of an eccentric, who appeared as a thinly veiled character in one of her novels. But for her in her writing, research was essential.

In my case, many of my books are interjected with and explore metaphysical and esoteric philosophy, Research, I find, is key for me as well. Just to mention a few, Sanctuary of Echoes was heavily influenced by the writings of the Theosophist Annie Besant. The Broken Vow leaned heavily into the history and philosophy of the Cathars from the Languedoc Region of Southern France. Dumaine Street was shaped in part by the work of Charles Leadbeater in The Astral Plane.

Research and reading are essential components of writing for me. So, if you also have an interest or even a thirst for esoteric knowledge, I’d like to direct you to my publisher, Cornerstone Book Publishers, who happen to have a huge selection of classic New Age/Spiritual Books. More than once, I’ve tapped their inventory for inspiration. I encourage you to take a little time to drop by and check them out.