tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post6810433364172921074..comments2024-03-28T06:20:48.661-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: WOULD YOU DO IT AGAIN?Jungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-789260666136241472013-01-25T00:32:03.242-05:002013-01-25T00:32:03.242-05:00I am so late and so sorry I missed this fun blog a...I am so late and so sorry I missed this fun blog and comments.<br /><br />I don't know what I've ever done that was very scary. Maybe bouldering on the beach was, especially the climbing back down part. The day I failed to consider splash-off from more distant rocks made mine slippery and someone from a local boatyard came by to tell me where to put my feet. Next to swimming the harbor it was my favorite activity as a girl.Maureen Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03499876353651763590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-56719769077682603812013-01-24T21:13:07.902-05:002013-01-24T21:13:07.902-05:00I've worked a fatality accident with the DPS, ...I've worked a fatality accident with the DPS, dug up dinosaur bones, inspected toxic waste dumps, ridden along on witness transfers, and hung out with a wide variety of rock musicians--most of whom were sober. Someday I ought to work some of that into a book.Gigi Norwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00495357787099352860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-39622205838034413702013-01-24T20:26:36.770-05:002013-01-24T20:26:36.770-05:00I didn't know that I was being adventurous in ...I didn't know that I was being adventurous in pursuit of the perfect picture: I climbed part way up a fence for a better shot of a ship in New Orleans & was informed by one of their employees (a relative) that I was lucky I wasn't shot. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-43892215312924390852013-01-24T18:03:43.115-05:002013-01-24T18:03:43.115-05:00My daughter used to row, in high school and for a ...My daughter used to row, in high school and for a season in college, so I know how hard it is and admire anyone who would row! Sharon Shorthttp://www.sharonshort.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-57626329441819268922013-01-24T17:30:28.939-05:002013-01-24T17:30:28.939-05:00So far it wasn't for research (but might yet p...So far it wasn't for research (but might yet pop into a story), and it wasn't really THAT dangerous, but in 1992 I took a solo trip from the capital of Mali (yes, same Mali that's falling apart right now) by train for 8 hours into the bush, then found the truck I was supposed to meet up with and bounced with them for two hours, then found the moped driver I needed and rode behind him for another hour to reach a remote village where a USAID training was taking place for traditional midwives. I had an American Peace Corps volunteer host (a woman who had earned her white hair) as translator, and I learned so much from these hardworking women with barely enough to eat in a HOT dry part of the world who were working so hard to save the lives of birthing moms and their babies. Four days later I reversed my steps and made it safely back to my husband and two little boys. One of the richest experiences of my life.<br /><br />Already dreaming up a future series with a world-traveler protag so I can say it was for research!Edith Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01388006370860482509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-65297996439005439692013-01-24T17:19:25.277-05:002013-01-24T17:19:25.277-05:00LOL Leslie, it's a tough job, but some of us p...LOL Leslie, it's a tough job, but some of us persevere...Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-24735956095196647042013-01-24T15:05:42.330-05:002013-01-24T15:05:42.330-05:00Like Hank, most of my scary encounters have come w...Like Hank, most of my scary encounters have come with the day job--lawyers do occasionally deal with some unnerving people! Or outdoor activities -- there was that rattlesnake, and that time with the sail boom ... . <br /><br />But now I'm writing foodie cozies. Will eat almost anything for research!Leslie Budewitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11942314846112875042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-41270865777260233482013-01-24T14:35:45.379-05:002013-01-24T14:35:45.379-05:00And right, I so agree. NO jumping out of anything....And right, I so agree. NO jumping out of anything. Really, I could NOT do it.Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-84675980580309583412013-01-24T14:34:42.371-05:002013-01-24T14:34:42.371-05:00SO behind!
I did this all backwards..I did the &...SO behind! <br /><br />I did this all backwards..I did the "research"--going undercover. in disguise, hidden camera, little plane in scary places, going with firefighters, being in tear gas, white-water rafting the Chattooga---before I knew I was doing "research!"<br /><br />My scariest was the time we were going in a tiny plane to northwest Vermont..and I noticed the pilot was falling asleep!Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-59832882386680144242013-01-24T14:21:13.687-05:002013-01-24T14:21:13.687-05:00I haven't really done anything scary for a boo...I haven't really done anything scary for a book. I did ride a zip line forty plus feet in the air because my daughter wanted to try it and had to have an adult with her. That was fun. <br /><br />And I was chased out of Tiananmen Square at gunpoint by soldiers, which was not fun. Sofie Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16830230500527705589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-84293044691915071692013-01-24T14:14:45.634-05:002013-01-24T14:14:45.634-05:00I have a fear of heights, or maybe it is more bein...I have a fear of heights, or maybe it is more being at the edge of a big drop. Anyway we went on a zipline tour in Roatan 2 or 3 years ago. I actually did all right and enjoyed it.Patnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-10397955969947922112013-01-24T14:11:47.683-05:002013-01-24T14:11:47.683-05:00We adopted our daughter in Peru. Part of the lega...We adopted our daughter in Peru. Part of the legal paperwork had to be done in the county seat where she was born. That meant taking a 7 seater plane into the "eye" of the Amazon. We landed on a dirt strip and road partial cars into town (window, doors, etc, might be missing, but they ran). As the afternoon progressed and our departure got closer, a lightening storm came in. We rode back to the airstrip with rain pouring down (and in!). Once the plane showed up (that's a whole other story) we flew back in the midst of a rollicking thunder and lightening storm. The co-pilot told us that God was taking flash pictures of us.<br />It was well worth it to get our fabulous girl.Libby Doddhttp://www.libbydoddart.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-22322748113471602952013-01-24T13:11:12.945-05:002013-01-24T13:11:12.945-05:00Roberta/Lucy, I keep wanting to put that scene in ...Roberta/Lucy, I keep wanting to put that scene in a book, but it never works for whatever book I'm doing. May have to build something around it, I guess. Since I know it took many years off my lifespan in sheer terror, I need to get something back from it. :-)Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-22024468993406838812013-01-24T13:09:01.492-05:002013-01-24T13:09:01.492-05:00Wonderful stories! You have to use the lions someh...Wonderful stories! You have to use the lions somehow Linda! Jack, hope we see that one in print soon!<br /><br />No skydiving or cave spelunking for me either. Did anyone read Nevada Barr's BLIND DESCENT? I can't believe she didn't go caving to get those details. Absolutely terrifying!Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-81945877489480921382013-01-24T12:35:05.666-05:002013-01-24T12:35:05.666-05:00Rowing is my favorite sport. I was never any good ...Rowing is my favorite sport. I was never any good at it but I never enjoyed anything so much. Being good was less an issue than surviving the row, anyway.<br /><br /><br /><br />See you all tomorrow! GinG.M. Malliethttp://gmmalliet.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-49514317941039714922013-01-24T12:08:02.687-05:002013-01-24T12:08:02.687-05:00Omigosh, Linda. That is seriously scary to conside...Omigosh, Linda. That is seriously scary to consider what may have happened. Karen in Ohiohttp://seetheusablog.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-58617711076865592042013-01-24T11:43:02.124-05:002013-01-24T11:43:02.124-05:00For the novel I'm working to get out there in ...For the novel I'm working to get out there in the world--keep changing the title but for now it's called A BONE-STREWN GROUND--I snuck around a hospital in Ireland to get the lay of the land. I felt like a filthy voyeur in the midst of all that pain. Though I did manage to talk to one of the nurses for awhile.<br /><br />I also hung out with the matchmaker who resides over the annual matchmaking festival in Lisdoonvarna, County Clare. Terrifying? Cramming myself into the "The Matchmaker Pub" that was packed to sardine-level with shag-seeking singles. :-)<br /><br />I also sat down with a couple of sergeants, complete with my tape recorder, and picked their brains about local police procedures. The tour of the local garda station was fun.<br /><br />None of this was terrifying, but it was outside my comfort zone because for the first time I was approaching people as a novelist. I felt like an imposter. You know what I mean? <br /><br /> Lisa Alberhttp://www.lisaalber.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-52750703870538074132013-01-24T11:35:34.138-05:002013-01-24T11:35:34.138-05:00I could never match you all in bravery in going to...I could never match you all in bravery in going to adventurous places, but I have (for years) been doing research on an idea for a writing project. The scariest thing for me was contacting the Library of Congress looking for a specific 30 second piece of film from the Edison Studios from 1896. I was scared to ask them, sure that they wouldn't reply and, worst of all, that I was wasting the time of the LIBRARY OF CONGRESS! I was thrilled to receive a swift response (there are no known extant copies) and once I looked up extant, I was happy that I had made the inquiry and was not made to feel silly about it. <br /><br />--Marjorie of ConnecticutAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-47547073333811280412013-01-24T11:34:24.602-05:002013-01-24T11:34:24.602-05:00I'm with Rhys and Debs on the sky-diving and c...I'm with Rhys and Debs on the sky-diving and caves. I am very claustrophobic! Even MRIs leave me shaky and tearful (and I've had to have a number of them).<br /><br />I've toured a prison, including the death chamber. I used to teach writing classes in a big urban jail, and I've been all through that puppy. I've ridden with a campus police officer and an urban police officer for my books.<br /><br />The scariest ever was not for my books, but because my late first husband insisted on it. We'd been on a vacation to the Ozarks where it was pouring rain all the time (which somehow became my fault). It was pretty miserable with a high schooler, a middle schooler, and a newborn, all on my hands. My husband insisted we do an African safari park "so we'll at least have a little fun." Near closing time, we pay and enter in gray, muddy weather. No other car or anyone seen for miles. And the animals are not fenced off from the road. We're driving a tiny Fiat. One herd of water buffalo almost overturned the car. And then it started to rain and get muddier yet. The car stuck, and a pride of shabby lions surrounded us. The kids are screaming. I'm holding the baby and praying. My husband's revving the tires deeper into the mud and cursing. The lions start nudging the car with their bodies (they are really big, much bigger than they look like on TV) and we almost go over on one side. Fortunately, we didn't, and that dislodged us enough to get traction. That pride of lions surrounded us all the way to the exit. Went into the gift shop/ticket office at the end because the kids were about to pee their pants. Found out someone let us in after the park was closed, and if we'd delayed five more minutes, we'd not have been able to get out.<br />Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-27223517650378498952013-01-24T11:00:16.172-05:002013-01-24T11:00:16.172-05:00Melissa, I'd take male rowers over football pl...Melissa, I'd take male rowers over football players any day:-)<br /><br />And, yes, Jan, did I mention that Stevie Williams is a wee bit good looking?? He's also about 6'4, which you don't get in the photos. Since he retired from rowing after two gold medals, he's climbed Mount Everest. Now that's something I wish I was brave enough to do.<br /><br />Rhys, with you on the sky diving and the caves. Shudder.Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11519514786198185277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-41009328090507233172013-01-24T10:51:58.365-05:002013-01-24T10:51:58.365-05:00There are two things I would never, never do, even...There are two things I would never, never do, even if there was a million dollar prize at the end.<br />1. skydive<br />2. crawl through caves like Karen. I'm not horribly claustrophobic but squeezing through a tiny hole in a cave? No way<br />Oh, and I once wrestled my husband on the kitchen floor in the name of research. The children were bemused and embarrassed.Rhys Bowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06663634889908752121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-61124747908835771832013-01-24T10:34:34.522-05:002013-01-24T10:34:34.522-05:00Jack, I wouldn't do it again, that's for s...Jack, I wouldn't do it again, that's for sure. For one thing, now I would actually think about what it meant to be underground like that. <br /><br />My boyfriend at the time pestered me to death to go. I resisted for weeks, and can no longer remember how he wore me down. Afterwards, I was glad I did it, but man, was I sore. For a solid week! Karen in Ohiohttp://seetheusablog.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-16423888726168130102013-01-24T10:10:52.261-05:002013-01-24T10:10:52.261-05:00Okay Debs, VERY VERY BRAVE,
but hmmm.. am I the on...Okay Debs, VERY VERY BRAVE,<br />but hmmm.. am I the only one who is noticing how good looking your rowing instructor was/is? <br /><br />I can tell you the most fun thing I ever did for book research was drive in the passenger seat of a police cruiser as it careened through East Greenwich after someone - for Yesterday's Fatal. I am not usually a speed kid - but I have to tell you, it was exhilarating.<br /><br />I think the scariest things I've ever done were not in research but hanging out with my husband - sailing the tail end of a tornado - threw up 7 times and I don't usually ever have seasickness - and flying with him in a small plane best described as a Volkswagen with Wings. <br /><br />Jack - I think that running off the road through the desert to the border sounds pretty cool. I think, in fact, you win the pushing-the=envelope contest. <br /><br />Kaye, I tried to surf once when I was young. I didn't get too far. I am pretty impressed you rode all the way to shore and IN HAWAII!! I wind-surfed for a bit, but that is much, much, much tamer.<br />Jan Broganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11323983086318138814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-87758753101419822622013-01-24T10:03:24.916-05:002013-01-24T10:03:24.916-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Jan Broganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11323983086318138814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-68709977098618948002013-01-24T09:24:19.580-05:002013-01-24T09:24:19.580-05:00I rowed in high school and loved it. My mom was a...I rowed in high school and loved it. My mom was all concerned because you don't wear life jackets when you row and your feet are strapped in. I never fell in, but a certain medical college crew rammed a boat into the bridge and sank it. I loved the teamwork aspect and your crew became your family. I preferred male rowers over football players. ;0)Melissa Robbinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11660227475140255088noreply@blogger.com