When psychic sleuth Sabine Rose was introduced in the first of The Seer series, Don’t Die Dragonfly, she was hiding a guilty secret about the tragedy that forced her to leave her last school. She’d had a horrifying vision of the death of a popular football star, only no one took her warning seriously — until her deadly vision came true. Rumors spread that she’d caused the boy’s death with witchcraft, and even her best friend and mother turned against her. Sabine was sent away to live with her grandmother where she successfully started over at a new school. Hiding her psychic powers, Sabine hoped to put her past behind her forever.

But in the fourth book of the series, Sword Play, the past isn’t so easily ignored. In the dead of the night, the ghost of the deceased football player appears in Sabine’s bedroom. He has a mysterious request for Sabine: “Help her,” he whispers. But he vanishes before telling Sabine the identity of the unknown girl. Sabine is torn between guilt over his death and a desire to be a normal teen who doesn’t see ghosts. But she has no idea how to help an unknown girl. Besides, she has problems of her own with friends, family and confusing romantic feelings for the wrong guy. Forces beyond Sabine’s control send her back to her hometown where she uncovers more than a few ghosts of her past and finds out what really happened on that deadly prom night.

When I created Sabine Rose, aside from her psychic skill, I gave her a talent for fencing and mentioned a strong friendship with her fencing teacher. I didn’t know the exact plot details, but I knew this teacher would play an important role in a future book. I also knew that Sabine would uncover the secrets behind the tragedy at her last high school. But I didn’t know what these secrets were until I started plotting Sword Play. As the dark high school tragedy unfolded, even I was surprised by the betrayal, romantic complications and hidden despair of my own characters. Sword Play is an emotional tale of guilty secrets as well as a swashbuckling adventure with sword fights, jousting and ghosts. Sabine returns home and discovers that friends, family and enemies are not what they seem. Even the most trusted people harbor disturbing secrets that will change Sabine’s life forever.

Writing Sword Play turned into a thrilling adventure for me, beginning with my decision to take fencing lessons. Yes, fencing lessons! Me — middle-aged, mild-mannered author — striking innocent opponents with a sharp-edged blade. Luckily no one was injured in the research of this book.

When I checked online for fencing classes, I found one in Sacramento and signed up. I was really nervous going to my first class. I kept thinking I was too out of shape and middle-aged to fit in. Still I was determined to learn about fencing so I could write realistic scenes for Sword Play.

Nervously, I entered a large room where experienced fencers were practicing. They wore white canvas protective jackets and pants, and covered their face with wire-mesh helmets. Many of them were preparing for a national fencing competition, and were as young, thin and athletic as I expected.

Then I gathered with about 20 students in my first fencing class. I was pleased to see a variety of students, from a young boy with his mother to a distinguished silver-haired man in his sixties. The teacher, Paul, had a fun sense of humor, and put us at ease with jokes and a friendly attitude. In the first lesson we practiced body positions, safety rules and footwork. I left feeling really jazzed and proud of myself, and I couldn’t wait for the next lesson when we were going to start hitting each other.

Fencing was only part of my research for Sword Play. An important final scene takes place at a renaissance fair, so I took my family to a Jousting Fair in Calaveras County. These living history events are so fun! Everywhere you look people are dressed up in historical costumes and speaking Old English. There are wonderful booths and medieval entertainment like archery, fire-eaters, fencing and jousting. The jousting tournament turned a bit too real when one of the competitors was seriously hurt and rushed off to the hospital (we later heard he was fine).

And who thought writing was a quiet, boring job? Research turns words on paper into everyday adventures and adds realism to The Seer series. I hope you enjoy Sword Play!