Dan:
One source of information is the timber frame business council at
www.timberframe.org. You can contact them and ask them to send you a copy of "Building a Timber Frame Home - A Client's Guide" booklet. This booklet will help you understand what the process is all about.
Also, there was an article in the "Timber Framing" magazine recently about designing a timber frame home that listed 10 steps or areas you should look at in planning a timber frame home. The issue was number 62. You can get/buy a copy of that issue, by going to the online store threw the guild’s home page search box, click on publications, and click on back issues, and read that article, by Will Beemer titled “Timber Framing for Beginners” part 2) Ten Factors in Timber Frame Design”, you'll have a better idea of the planning process in building your timber frame home. Good luck with your research and project. Jim