We get asked that question a lot. We probably all have different answers. I’m not sure where some of my ideas come from, to be honest.
I remember first having the urge to write a novel when I was a teenager I didn’t have a typewriter and I didn’t have the confidence or life experience back then. It took many years of living before I actually started writing.
I was shy and fairly sheltered, but back in high school I started learning about things that surprised me. One of my teachers was arrested for statutory rape. The whole school was buzzing with gossip. This was a teacher who had taken the whole class on a bicycle ride field trip to a park and then to a house that he was house-sitting at for a friend. It turned out that the teacher was having an affair with a student and had taken her across state-lines. He was fired. I don’t know what happened with the charges.
Our school also had several ‘streaking’ incidents–a couple of students ran around the outside of the gym during a school assembly one time, others ran through the gym a few days later. I didn’t see any of the incidents but, again, everyone was talking about them. The thing that surprised me the most was learning that two classmates were raped (outside of school). One of them was a freshman and was a friend of mine.
I heard about drug problems on campus, too. Whether that was the reason we had two vice-principals, one for the girls and one for the boys, I can’t say.
Even with all that, by today’s standards, I guess it was a safe school.
Years later, I heard stories about terrible things happening in schools both near where I lived and far away. A few years after we moved away from Littleton, Colorado, I was stunned to hear about the Columbine High School shootings.
I guess all of that worked together to give me ideas. Those of you who have read my books know that I often have teachers in them. In Liars’ Games, much of the book is about a troubled high school and the teachers who work there, especially the principal who has her own personal demons to deal with as well as the school’s demons.
I write about things that interest me, but I don’t know everything that I need to know to bring the stories to life. That’s where my research comes in. Fortunately for me, I love doing the research! I hope you love reading my books.
Susan,what an interesting school you went to. I spent most of my school life at a convent school...I have not plundered those memories at all for anything I have written. However, I did a spell at a state school (not unlike your public schools), and there was a murder there. A young girl was shot in the local woods. No-one was ever caught though the police interviewed everyone at the school. I can recall her face even now. We had out fair share of teachers having relationships with pupils - the 1960s and all that). Our music teacher ran off with one of the girls in our year, she got pregnant and they married after his divorce. As far as I am aware they remain married. Working at the Foreign an Commonwealth Office, and the Min. of Defence, as well as at an Atomic Research Establishment, before doing a stint in Social Services, has given me some great insights into how things work and how people can 'be.' Marriage to a musician and touring and then taking on management of other artists has given me even more insight into the 'human condition.' So, like you, somewhere in the depths of my mangled brain, all this stuff is still resident, ready to pop out at any time. Thankfully, we don't get mass shootings over here; I can think of two only in all my lifetime - Dunblain (Scotland) and Hungerford(England), so cannot use these as an idea to base a story upon. The news is always a good source too. Standing next to people at a bus stop, in a queue for shopping...all good idea-giving situations, provided they interest. :)