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"Interesting" Accommodations as I've Journeyed

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This blog started out as a sharing between me and my book coach over a year of working on the first draft of my novel. Recently I've had questions from friends about places I've stayed while out and about researching my novel. My travels are ALWAYS about research and never about luxury (often not even about comfort). The more money I save, the more I can travel, and travel is something I need to do for my writing. Usually it all works out OK. But here are a few that were a challenge, and more than challenging, for me in one way or another. SMALLEST (Milan) I certainly don't want to disparage this place, as the AirBnB owners did warn me (repeatedly) after I booked about how small it was, and asking if I was OK with that. But the price was right, and the location couldn't be beat. It might actually not be the smallest place (in terms of square footagae) that I've stayed in, but because it was an attic space, the ceiling sloped precipitously down toward the outer wall,...
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Cookbook

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  Here is the cookbook I was telling you about today. It has two parts. The first is about making soaps, toothpaste, etc. The second is FOOD (mostly sweets). Below is a pic of a sample from the table of contents. I love how beautiful this book is - botanical illustrations interspersed with the recipes. Close up of title for cherry jelly recipe (titles were all LONG then). The last two pics just show more of the artistry - bit blurry on the last one - 
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Book Sharing

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  The books above are the ones I mentioned during our session - written by my friend Sarah. The one on the right, The Truth Against the World , is the one set in Wales. These are young adult novels. One of the things that impresses me about her work is that her novels are all VERY different from each other. Above are the epics I mentioned in our session - about 900 pages each - but deeply compelling. The Henry VIII biography is an unputdownable romp through his life - and Bradley's book is the Arthur tale through the eyes of the women. Treachery and Conspiracy are two books from the series I mentioned today that follow Giordano Bruno (16th century "scientist" - like my guys). He is after a book that JOHN DEE, of all people, owns, but he keeps getting roped into solving murder mysteries! The above are my biggest "comps" (though published 13 years ago). This is the author I told you about with whom I've almost crossed paths in libraries (RCP London and the B...
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Codex Model

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 Here is the manuscript I have in mind for the codex. Note the thick wooden covers (and the gouges thereon).
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Behind the Door

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 The "front door" is, for defensive purposes I imagine, on the second floor (American English) aka first floor (British English). Here are pictures of the door from the outside and from the inside.  The thick walls of the castle provide for a handy storage alcove behind the door! (Imagine a step latter a the back here.) Image of interior of front door taken on a tour in 2021 Image of interior of front door taken on Doors Open Days 2023 I'm not sure if the rectangular inner door was simply open (I don't think so) in 2021, allowing me to see behind it to a storage area, or if this inner door was newly installed sometime between 2021 and 2023. NOTE: the room with the 17th-century plaster ceiling is through the door on the left.
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