Research, Clues, and Discovery

Oftentimes a write needs to know something, some fact, some name, number, or ...

Diane Diekman, the author of Live Fast, Love Hard: The Faron Young Story, has embarked on the research for another biography, this one of another country music performer born Martin David Robinson.

In a recent newsletter to fans of her work she wrote ...

Marty once told Ralph Emery he got the name Marty Robbins from "a Russian kid by the name of Harry Tomichov" [phonetic spelling]. He wanted to change his name "because I didn't want anybody to know it was me playing. Because I was ashamed. So Harry says why don't you just shorten your name to Marty Robbins, and nobody will know it. And, he said, it will make a nice name, too. I had dreams of becoming a singer and being on record, and I thought Marty Robbins would look better than Martin David Robinson on a record."

When I transcribed that interview, I didn't have any intention of trying to find this person named Harry -- until I went to Phoenix. One of the friends I interviewed from Marty's youth told me the correct spelling was Tolmachoff, and there was a colony of Russian immigrant farmers in Glendale. He said Harry died several years ago. I then did an Internet search and found an article titled "A Russian Farmers' Village in Glendale, Arizona". I emailed the author, who put me in touch with Steve Tolmachoff, who helped me find Harry Tolmachoff, Jr. Oh, the wonders of the Internet!

This sort of imagination and perseverance applies whether a writer is researching for nonfiction or fiction. There's nothing that destroys author credibility quicker than inaccuracies.

"Maxine'izing" Your Research

I never trained as a reporter, but I try to find the truth and adhere to it. Life is simpler that way. But I also like to add color and references to my writing. Thus, when I began my review of Marian Henley's THE SHINIEST JEWEL: A Family Love Story for The Internet Review of Books with ...

We all know about graphic novels — okay, yes, they’re the 21st century comic book equivalent to Classics Illustrated, which were the literature crib notes of my generation. But the cover of The Shiniest Jewel, “a memoir written and illustrated by Marian Henley,” announces that the genre has moved from science fiction, fantasy, and superhero heroics toward something more serious.

The author is the creator of “Maxine,” an acerbic cartoon wherein a fan might read such bons mots as “Family reunions really make you sit back and appreciate those other 51 weekends.”

One minor problem: I learned today that the "Maxine" is not the acerbic "Maxine" I quoted twice in the review.

No, Ms. Henley's "Maxine" is younger, and "different in tone and intention."

I am embarrassed. It was a stupid mistake, one made because I deliberately did not want to learn too much about cartoonist's career as a graphic artist before I undertook to read and review the memoir.

That's no justification or excuse, I know. What must be said is "I apologize."

I did. And I promised myself what must be done next time is better research.