Readers, please join me welcoming Misa Ramirez, author of Hasta la Vista, Lola!: A Lola Cruz Mystery who’s guest blogging here today! All in the Name of Research Writers are willing to do a lot in the name of research. I’m no exception. My name is Misa, and I’m a mystery writer. Mysteries with a touch of romance, that is. I wrote Living the Vida Lola, the first book in my mystery series, without having to do anything outrageous. I visited the marina, took notes and pictures of the boats docked there, the rickety steps leading to the water, the color of the metal rooftop. Tattoos figure prominently in the book, but I didn’t actually go out and get a tattoo. A belly button piercing has a starring role, but no, I didn’t go out and get my belly pierced, either. In book two, Hasta la Vista, Lola!, there’s identity theft. I didn’t go out and steal anyone’s identity (though I did become WAY more cautious about my own papers and private information as a result of my research) and no one st