You are: A professional author who writes novels set in the past.

And you know that accurate historical details are integral to the feeling of truth in historical fiction. You’re always in search of material that makes your novel special.

I am: Dr. Barbara, and I specialise in research for novels with a historical setting.

I bring together a historian’s brain and an author’s instinct for gripping plots, extraordinary protagonists and remarkable historical details.

Researching together means: We work together to find the historical material that your book requires.

When we collaborate, you will receive…

… several well-ordered material dossiers

… books and selected reading material, with annotations relevant to your plot

… assistance when preparing your research travel schedule

… if needed, a personal introduction to experts in history or archaeology, museums, libraries and archives.

All the material I find for you is exclusive to you, so I will never deliver the same information to any other client.

Then you’ll take the material. You make it your own. And you’ll tell your story.

***

If you contact me, I’ll be excited – however, I won’t say »Yes« right away.

I only take on projects when I am confident that a collaboration can clearly accelerate your writing process. Usually, I work with professional authors who already have a contract and an estimated publishing date for a book.

But if it’s a »Yes«, then it’s with all my heart.

From the very second we agree to work together, I’ll begin my quest for material — soon after waking up, I’ll think about your protagonists. They will accompany me through the day, while I browse through book catalogues or discuss your time period with a fellow historian. When visiting museum exhibitions, I will photograph original objects from the exact time period that you are writing about. When walking between the library shelves, I will discover books that are a perfect fit for you.

On a daily basis, I will note down special bits & pieces that will enhance your plot. And I will also read your latest novels. This ensures I really get to know your writing style and your way of telling a story.

To find material for you, I’ll use my knowledge and intuition as a historian, as well as my experience from writing books and ghostwriting historical novels myself.

Finding just the right information — quickly and thoroughly — is my expertise.

I’ve collaborated with selected bestselling novelists, including those from Hachette Australia, Dover US, Pan MacMillan, Random House Australia, Random House Germany.

And other German publishing houses like Blanvalet, Lübbe, Rowohlt, Blessing, Adeo, Diana, Baumhaus, S. Fischer, Heyne, Weltbild, Aufbau, Piper and DroemerKnaur.

Read what former clients say about me here.

For you, I will decipher spidery old handwriting, or unearth the secret telephone number of the expert or contemporary witness that you need to speak to.

Titus Mueller “Barbara Ellermeier is nothing less than a research genius. She found everything for me.

Even the number of cows that my protagonist Wilson Bentley kept in his cowshed.”

— Titus Müller, author of 14 books, including the biographical novel »The Snowflake Man«
Random House Germany

“A fountain of knowledge. To know Barbara is to be gifted with and to have access to unusual bits and pieces of research, all of them tremendously useful.”

— Esmé Weijun Wang, author
San Francisco

I want you to know: if I were to conduct research for you, I would treat all your material as confidential, as is my policy with all my research clients.

Manuscript assessments start at 400 Euros.

Our research collaboration starts at 1,500 Euros. Most clients book the 2,300 Euro package.

Think we’d work well together? Then please contact me and tell me more about your novel.

> Inquire about a collaboration

“Dr. Barbara’s response time is lightning fast, and always upbeat and positive.”

— Erin Hook Kelly, Winston-Salem, USA

“Barbara knows the direction that the plot of the novel is meant to take and therefore keeps to it. Nevertheless, she does intervene: She points out any errors in the general plan as well as any misunderstandings and pitfalls. She also suggests alternatives and possible additional scenes. She understands that an entertaining historical novel must have a factual background — while putting the focus on an exciting, lively story.”

— A writer, signed with one of Germany’s largest publishing houses

“Your material just arrived, and I feel so touched that someone who understands me so well should be pulling in the same direction as me.”

— Author, Random House