Things you don’t know you don’t know…
So today is the release date for Must Love Hellhounds, an anthology featuring authors that no one has heard of before — like Charlaine Harris, Ilona Andrews, and Nalini Singh — and me. (I bet they all cried for joy when they heard I was participating in it, too. Their reaction on the phone with their agents was probably all “Who… whoooooooooo! Meljean!” Whoo hoo!)
And my awesomeness knows no bounds, really. While I was heading over to Amazon to link to the Hellhounds anthology, I saw two reviews up. So — DAMN MY EYES! — I read them. And one pointed out that an important plot point in my novella couldn’t have happened … because South Carolina doesn’t require front license plates on their cars.
Oops. 
The most crazy and frustrating thing about research: You can only look up what you know that you don’t know. I think it was Lydia Joyce who once mentioned that she’d written about one of her characters putting something on a nightstand in her Victorian romance…only to find out afterward that they didn’t use nightstands then. They are just little items that never occur to you to verify when you’re writing, especially if they are things that you take for granted…like front license plates, which are mandatory in every state that you’ve lived in.
Most of the time, all you can do is accept it and move on (or make adjustments with a second printing). It’s a mistake, you own up to it, you do better next time. Unless, of course, you are a paranormal writer. Then you can say: In the Guardian universe, South Carolina does require front license plates. *g*
…and I guess this means my vacation is over. I won’t be posting every day, but probably several times a week (and I will be posting every Friday at Odd Shots.)
Happy Release Day Meljean!!!!!
Hmmm… it would never occur to me to point out a fact error as mundane as license plates….
@VampFanGirl: Thanks
re: the license plate — since a plot point depends on that plate, the reviewer is absolutely right to call me on it. Er, not that a reviewer wouldn’t be right to call me on an item that doesn’t matter, either, but I think special care should always be taken when a part of a story hinges on a detail, and I failed to fact check. Even if I take two plates for granted, I know that not every state does that … I should have checked instead of assuming.
I also assume that most people — unless they live in/near SC — probably wouldn’t ever think twice about it. Some readers will only notice the error now because I mentioned it.
But, bwaha, with my super author powers, SC does have two plates now
Happy Release Day, MJB.
I think all states should require front license plates for safety. That’s my 2 cents. SAFETY FIRST. I knew I liked the Guardian Universe.
Now I just don’t know if I can read any more of your books.
Who knew that? I didn’t. Now if you had said they drive on the left side of the road in SC, then I would be worried.
Meh… perfect is boring. And I know that license plate laws vary state to state and I don’t happen to have all 50 states’ laws memorized; said plot point will not bother me at all.
Except Michigan. They don’t require front license plates here either.
I didn’t even know that was a requirement until we moved to Virginia awhile back.
The review must have been from SC to have picked up that plot point – I never would have known the difference. Besides, it’s your universe…of course SC law requires front license plates.
Ha! You guys are nicer to me than I am on myself.
Sorry to hear about the plate kerfuffle, but I’m glad you’re taking it in stride and with grace.
And, you know, even though SC may not _require_ the plate, that doesn’t mean the character doesn’t have one anyway. The character could have been like LB above and insisted on Safety First. Or be from another state and automatically assumed they should cover both front and back – even if the DMV doesn’t say so. Unless the character was the bag guy – in which case folks are less likely to believe he/she would take the extra step to make someone else’s life easier. *g*
@Venus Vaughn: Hey, Venus! I lurk at your blog! Nice to see you
Nah, the only real kerfluffle was between my brain and my pride. I like to think I can accept it with grace, but instead of grace, it’s really just my dorkery
And I’m totally going with the “Safety First” explanation. We don’t ever know who owns the car in question, so I’m just going to pretend that it was being driven by a Clark Kent-type — Volvo on the outside, Maserati on the inside (with no seatbelts). That type of driver would totally have a front plate.
Welcome back, I’ve missed you.
I hope you had a great release day! I never would’ve picked out the front licence plate thing. Never having lived anywhere where they weren’t required, I would’ve just assumed they’re required in South Carolina as well, especially after seeing so many when I drove through South Caroline.
@Karin: lol, now I think I shouldn’t have mentioned it. Everyone will read it and go, “Oh, so this is where Meljean MADE A GIANT RESEARCH ERROR!!”
@azteclady: Aw. I would say I missed you, but since I lurk everywhere that you go, it wouldn’t be true.
Turn around azteclady … BWAHAHAHAHAH! Meljean = Internet stalker.