Who is the God of Rain

[erastes]

And where can I sacrifice something to him? I’m getting very very sick of this weather. Is it Impluvia? Torrentius? I could sacrifice a couple of cats, specially the type that consider me to be a hot water bottle in the night when it’s already 70 degrees. Had to have a cold shower last night at 4am. Have discovered that if I get really cold and then jump into bed under the duvet the duvet can insulate the cool in.

I’m finding that with I Knew Him I’m not having so many research issues as I did with Muffled Drum. Or perhaps I’m more relaxed about looking things up. I simply put CHECK THIS next to what I need to know, and then in the evening, I do a “find” search for CHECK THIS and look up the things I’m not sure about.  So far, if you are interested, they have included the following:

- What, if any, activity the English would have had in South Africa in the 1900—1910 time slot.

- When was the term “silver screen” coined?

- When did Johnny Weismuller make his screen debut as Tarzan?

- When did shingled hair become the “norm” in the 20s?

- What are (were) end of term exams called in Oxford.

- Factory made cigarettes in 1921?

- what local beer would a Somerset pub serve in 1921?

By the way – don’t go looking these up, these are questions I’ve answered, just thought you’d like to see the level of idiocy I have to look up! :D

DO please add your own questions though, if you do this kind of thing!

Seriously though, I do love research, even though only a very small percentage of what I actually learn goes into the books. I remember when I learned about Newgate Prison my hair was literally standing on end, the things I found out about that place. I know I probably prettied up Newgate Prison more than it deserved, especially after reading Cornwell’s Gallow’s Thief, where he really did it justice. I love the incidental things that I find out while researching one fact. For example, when researching the area where I Knew Him is set (Minehead and its environs) I discovered that there’s a world-class Polo club in the area, and in the 1920’s it was definitely in its heyday, with Maharajah’s playing and the like. this then gave me a further plot bunny for a sub-plot for the book.

Dad: driving me mad today. He has £50 in his wallet and has asked me 8 times in an hour whether he should go to the bank and get some more out. ARGH.Nine. Now Ten. I’ll sacrifice him, not the cats.

Comments

[cyane-snape.livejournal.com]

Glad to know I'm not the only one who marks their work for research. My latest notes to self:

How much is an order of beignets and coffee at Cafe DuMonde in the New Orleans French Market?

Would a teen be able to find a way to sneak into the Aquarium of the Americas [like jump a barrier, etc.] or is there too much security these days?

What is the date for Mardi Gras in 2025?

The story is set in New Orleans, obviously.

Hang in there. It looks interesting, just from the questions.

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

I think the old Mayan rain god accepts human sacrifices. personally, I just burn some sage. It may not help, but it smells lovely.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

*heads off to find some sages to burn*

[erastes.livejournal.com]

LOL - it's great to know I'm not the only one! I like your questions too!

[tiggothy.livejournal.com]

The God of Rain lives in North Wales. We had over 2 inches yesterday. Not made it much colder, but then we weren't as hot as you guys to start off with...
(As for names, try Jones, Roberts, Williams etc.)

Other thoughts: find out if there's any agricultural shows in your area. Rain likes falling on them.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

We had about four drops today. It's cooler now, but it gets really unbearable - and today I wrote nothing. Yes, I used the heat as an excuse but still!

LOL

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

The rain god is vacationing in Kansas City, according to both the Weather Channel and my parents. Maybe he went for good BBQ.

My questions:
When were hovercrafts first used?
What do you take on an Arctic expedition?
What did the Berkley Horse look like?
and how easily can I build one?

70? That's beautiful sleeping weather. It's getting down around 80 at night here, which is almost bearable, except for the humidity. We Memphians apparently prefer breathing soup.

[lee-rowan.livejournal.com]

Oh, noes!

[gehayi.livejournal.com]

Okay, I KNOW you're joking, but because I am just this obsessive, I'm searching for gods of rain on Godchecker.com.

Your choices so far are Ahurani (Persian/Zoroastrian goddess in charge of rain and health; Ajok (chief god of the Lotuko tribe, specializing in rain and resurrection); Apu-Matangi (Polynesian god in charge of whirlwinds and "howling rainfall"); Bunbulama (an Aboriginal rain goddess, supposedly no longer around as she and her brother and sister were eaten by the Rainbow Serpent Galeru); the Caneques, who are small Mayan forest spirits who cause rain; Chac (a very important Mayan god in charge of agriculture, rain, fertility and lightning); the Chiccan, four rain serpents in Mayan mythology--yeah, the Mayans liked rain gods a LOT;Chiuta, a creator god AND rain god of Malawi; Cocijo, an Aztec rain god; Copijcha, another Mayan rain god, this one with a jaguar's head; Domfe, god of water, rain and wind to the Kurumba tribe; the four Dragon-Kings of China, who are in charge of water in all its forms and who absolutely ADORE parties; Engai, a Kenyan sky god who seems to specialize in rain, lightning and the world's cattle; and the Hyades, a.k.a. rainy day nymphs, a.k.a. raindrops. There are a lot more, but I think that's enough to be going on with. Start with those and if they don't work, I'll post some more you can appeal to.

The Incan thunder god Ilyapa has a recipe for forcing him to make it rain--find a black dog and tie it up until it's collapsing with thirst. Then Ilyapa is supposed to take pity on it and make rain. I'm not sure why Ilyapa feels sorrier for thirsty dogs than he does for thirsty people. (Though I can picture James Potter and Sirius Black trying this recipe at some point.)

Questions I've been asking lately:

What was Lady Macbeth's name in real life?

Did she have any children? If so, what were their names and what happened to them?

How was the throne passed on in eleven-century Scotland? (Note: primogeniture did NOT come into it

What was the first Scottish castle that was made of stone? When was it built?

What was the attitude toward women rulers?

[josephine-myles.livejournal.com]

I remember learning a native American rain dance song years ago, but can't remember which tribe it was from. Went something along the lines of "Yen ah weh, nee ma wee en eh, yen ah weh", repeated many times. The one time I've remembered to try and use it, it did rain the following day - I'd have been more impressed if it had done so while I was singing...

And what local beer did Somerset pubs serve back then? And at what time of year? Traditional ales are often seasonal.

When did shingled hair become the “norm” in the 20s?

[cassiopaya.livejournal.com]

The shingle or the "boyish bob" introduced in 1923 featured hair which tapered into a V-shape at the nape of the neck with either waves or spit curls at the sides. According to a 1925 article published in a New York City paper, "some devotees of the hair-bobbed fashion are complaining of ‘shingle headaches.’ " The medical profession believes this is nothing but a form of neuralgia caused by the sudden removal of hair from the tender nape of the neck, thus exposing it to the blustery winds. In any event, a new medical term — shingle headache — was coined from the bobbed fad. By 1927, the shingle bob would no longer be a big controversy.

Re: When did shingled hair become the “norm” in the 20s?

[erastes.livejournal.com]

lol--you must have missed the bit where i said i'd already answered them all--but thanks! i changed it to a bob in the end.

Re: When did shingled hair become the “norm” in the 20s?

[cassiopaya.livejournal.com]

Oh. ::sad face::

Well, it's weird because three weeks ago I was researching vintage hair styles to give to my hair dresser and when you mentioned the shingled bob I was all excited 'cause I totally remembered looking at it.

FYI - I went with something Rita Hayworth would have worn.

Re: When did shingled hair become the “norm” in the 20s?

[erastes.livejournal.com]

It was still kind of you - it's funny how "shingle headache" has now become part of the language - but related to shingles the illness, not the hair!!

Mine is set in 1921, so bobbed hair is safer. I love RH though..

[charliecochrane.livejournal.com]

All your correspondents are mistaken.

It's this bloke http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denis_Howell

[erastes.livejournal.com]

I'm confused. Why?

[mylodon.livejournal.com]

Don't you remember the great drought of 1976? They made him Minister for Drought and almost immediately the heavens opened!

[erastes.livejournal.com]

LOL - no, I remember the summer, but not politics.

[jenniferkoliver.livejournal.com]

Research stumps me more often than not. I'm in awe that you like it so much! To be honest, I would love to be able to employ somebody to do research for my stories - I just flail and don't know where to start.

May I ask - do you generally get in contact with people/libraries/universities/etc when trying to find something you haven't been able to locate online? I'm interested in hearing the best ways to approach people with questions and interviews, as it's something I'm sure I'll have to do at some point in the near future, and I'm bricking it a little. :)

[erastes.livejournal.com]

It depends what you are writing, I suppose. I always did a lot of research, even when I was writing fanfic, because I was rabid about getting the facts right - not just the canon ones. If I wrote about an area, i wanted to be accurate, or if I was talking about Muggle laws i wanted them right.

I wrote in the Regency to start off, because that was my comfort zone, I felt I could at least start writing that without having to sit and research the era for weeks before writing a word. I like to research as I go, and I know many historical authors would probably frown at that--I have friends who read an era for a year before writing a word!! But no, I write, and when I find something I don't know, I go and look that up. It's mildly more irritating now I write at Dad's because I can't get connected whenever I feel like it but now I make notes on a separate sheet and ask myself the questions which I can answer later on.

As to asking other people and professionals - definitely!!! I've asked many people - I've emailed the Church of England head office to get historical details about marriage and special licences in the Regency, I've contacted small churches to ask about historical details, the museum at Mistley to get details for Transgressions, The Sealed Knot and the English Civil War Society have both helped me with Transgressions too. I got in touch with the Lighthouse Keeper's Association who sent me a huge list of books to read, and I once joined a yahoo group of railway model enthusiasts who helped me out with the details for Junction X. And many more.

Usually people are thrilled to be asked - I've never had anyone say no!

[jenniferkoliver.livejournal.com]

Usually people are thrilled to be asked - I've never had anyone say no!

Oh wow, that's awesome! And it makes me feel a little more comfortable about approaching people and places out of the blue. And to see you've contacted so many and varied organizations, too - that's also reassuring. I guess it's down to plucking up the courage, eh? *g*

I like to research as I go

*nods* Same here. If I stop for too long, I start to lose the thrill and excitement about the plot and characters, and I'd never want any tedious research to put a dampener on the feel and grasp of a story. Plus, quite often the story is desperate to be told so there's really no choice. They can be persistent buggers. ;)

Thanks!