One of the challenging parts of writing a book is the research you unwittingly thrust upon yourself. When I began writing Courting His Favorite Nurse for Harlequin Special Edition, I saw a pivotal scene play out in a hot air balloon. For someone who has a fear of heights, I needed to do research! I spent the morning surfing the net learning three basic things Hot air balloons are based on a very basic scientific principle: warmer air rises in cooler air. They only travel as fast as the wind blows. You can’t really steer them. So how the heck did that guy go from place to place and around the world in eighty days? Think of a gas grill, and how the more you open the valve, the bigger the flame to heat the air in that colorful fabric envelope, the faster the balloon rises. To bring the balloon … Continue reading →