I do a lot of school author visits. Just last week alone, I presented to roughly 340 middle grade learners across two districts. I told them about the type of book I usually write (narrative nonfiction) and a little bit about the business of publishing. This content usually goes over just fine, though it’s not exactly knocking anyone’s socks off. That’s fine. I like the buildup. It’s when I tell learners about how, exactly, I do my research that I begin to feel the energy in the room shift.

I’m a big fan of what I call hands-on research, which basically means that in addition to more conventional research methods, I also I try to do the thing I’m writing about. (And why I probably shouldn’t write a murder mystery.) If I’m writing about pilots, I’ll take flight lessons. If I’m writing about the Iditarod, I’ll learn to mush my own team. If I’m writing about the Loch Ness Monster, you guessed it; I’m headed to Scotland to hunt for the old girl myself. I’m no tech whiz, but I’ve thrown together a pretty good slideshow of research trip photos, and let me tell you: it leaves these middle graders absolutely shook. By the time I reach the last slide, half of them are raising their hands so high that they’re half-standing.

Other than the first few weeks with a new book idea, when I’m buzzing with curiosity and excitement, teaching learners about nonfiction research is my favorite part of this job. I love the moment when they realize what goes into a nonfiction book, and the adventures that lie beneath each paragraph. Their enthusiasm is infectious. I leave each school author visit brimming with gratitude and ideas, wondering where my research will take me next.

Rebecca Siegel is the author of several nonfiction books, including To Fly Among the Stars and Mayflower, which was named a 2021 EUREKA! Nonfiction Children’s Honor Book. In 2022, she traveled to Scotland to conduct research for Loch Ness Uncovered, a book that was named to the New York Public Library Best Books for Teens 2024 list, the 2025 Texas Topaz list, and is a 2024 CCBC Children’s Choice. She currently lives and works in Chicago, IL.