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| Nancy with Bosco Verticale in background |
Today we continue the series
in which award-winning nonfiction authors discuss the joys and challenges of
the research process with an essay by Nancy Castaldo. Thank you, Nancy.
I
love research. It’s my favorite part of the nonfiction writing process because it enables me
to explore everything that interests me. Research can mean spending many hours
in a North Carolina forest observing
detection dogs and their handlers, or traveling to faraway Russia to
explore a seedbank storing
precious food crop seeds from around the world, or being eye-to-eye with
an ancient Galapagos tortoise in Ecuador.
All
of my research trips excite me. But perhaps my favorite research is the
research I’m currently involved in—just like my favorite book is always the one
I’m in the midst of writing.
As
I write this blog post, I’m in the process of finishing up books that will
release in 2022. All
three—When the World Runs Dry, Buildings that Breathe, and The Wolves and Moose of Isle Royale—have
brought me a diverse mix of research opportunities in the United States and abroad.
A research trip to Italy in 2018 connected two of
these books.
I
journeyed to Mantova, Italy, to attend the United Nation’s World Forum on Urban
Forestry as I was researching Buildings that Breathe. The trip
included a fantastic week of in-depth symposiums and discussions on global
urban forestry projects. I had the opportunity to meet with world leaders of
urban greening projects and innovative architects, such as Stefano Boeri.
I had been following Boeri’s groundbreaking architectural projects for years, so
to finally meet him in-person was a personal and professional highlight. His
award-winning design of Bosco Verticale in Milan, Italy, is a leading example
of urban green architecture and the inspiration for my book.
I
was thrilled when Boeri invited
me to visit his office in Milan during my trip. I photographed the tree-filled skyscraper,
Bosco Verticale, and learned first-hand about his objectives for future designs
and their impact on climate change and the health of our world.
While my time in Italy provided me with the research and contacts necessary for writing
Buildings that Breathe, it also
furthered my research for When the World
Runs Dry.
I
traveled to Venice, a city greatly impacted by regular flooding that has
increased due to climate change. I spoke with locals about recent flooding, such as the hostess of the famous Florian café in
St. Mark’s Square (Piazza San Marco). She described floodwater lifting the flooring right up off of the
historic café’s interior. I also
learned more about the city’s mitigation plans during my visit.
First-hand interviews are an integral part of the research for all of my books.
And while I usually interview scientists,
most of the interviewees for When the World Runs Dry were people dealing with water crises head-on.
As
the photographer for both of these books, this trip also afforded me the
opportunity to capture many important images. For example, I visited the historical botanical
garden in Padova and photographed a unique solar active building (below) that
incorporates a green roof and a water reservoir.
Planning research trips can be fun and challenging. I’ve
learned over the years to be flexible
and carry a notebook. You never know what is waiting around the corner that
might inform your book or inspire the next one. Besides contributing to my two current projects, my
trip to Italy also served as inspiration for a couple you might see in the
future.
Nancy
Castaldo has written award-winning books about our
planet for over 20 years including, The Story of Seeds, which earned the Green
Earth Book Award, Junior Library Guild Selection, and other honors. She strives
to inform, inspire, and empower her readers. Nancy is a certified National
Geographic Educator. Her 2022 releases include, When the World Runs Dry
and The Wolves and Moose of Isle Royale: Restoring an Ecosystem.
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4 Responses
What a wonderful story about your travels – and the research (and photos) you were able to do. Thanks, Nancy.
Nancy, you set a high bar for research! Thank you for sharing how the process informs your fascinating and important books.
Bosco Verticale is both beautiful and practical. Excited for these new books. Congrats, Nancy!
I completely second what Carrie said!