You're right of course about the research. It's a little different to be reasearching witchcraft and lesbianism though. I'm afraid genre writers don't go in ready to sacrifice all for their art, just their obsessions :p.

I don't know about catering to the straight audience. I think she'd go there if she thought she could do it right, otherwise she wouldn't be writing this kind of stuff in the first place.

do we know for sure that KH is 100% straight?
I was wondering about that after reading some of the Rachel/Ivy scenes because she really teases us. But if I remember correctly her back page bio or dedications in the books pretty much convinced me she's straight. Would love to be wrong about that though.

I totally hear you about how tiresome it is to be reading mainstream fiction with 100% straight characters all the time. That's why I read less and less of it. KH is the first new writer I've read in a while.

So yay for fanfic!