The gestational period of a book is enough to make an author cry. Between research and writing, I’ve been working on my current historical novel for well over a year. I felt pretty confident about the manuscript until the moment I sent it to my editor. Now I’m biting my nails with worry. Will she like it? Will she suggest a complete rewrite? Will she ask if I’ve lost my mind for tackling this particular person? I’ll know about two weeks from now.

While I second-guess myself, I thought I’d offer a few more photos from my research trip last spring.

The house of the woman I chose to write about is definitely off the beaten path. This is one of the allures the property held for the fascinating person who inspired my story. Of the many (both American and European) places she lived throughout her life, this is the one she loved most. I can understand why.

Here’s a glimpse of the little side-entrance to the house. Doesn’t it look like a place where you’d find a ton of fascinating and mysterious things inside? Let me tell you, I certainly did.

Using this particular entrance takes you into the dining area. The dining area sits adjacent to a kitchen/laundry area, a living room, music room, library, and a small water closet. As you may have surmised, the house is large (three stories), and able to accommodate a fair number of people. Hey, when you’re in the middle of nowhere, if guests take the trouble to visit they usually stay a while.

This lovely room is my protagonist’s bedroom. It’s simple and uncluttered with what appears to be a white wrought iron bedstead. I can imagine her sitting in front of those windows dreaming up ideas that would wow the world.

Windows abound in the home. Bringing in plenty of natural light didn’t only provide her with inspiration. It was important to her profession.

The second floor of the home has the designated sleeping areas, although I imagine when visitors showed up accommodations were modified to make sure everyone had a place to sleep.

I think one of the most comfortable rooms in the house is the library. And why not? The family spent a good deal of time there.

The library has a beautiful stone fireplace, desks, plenty of seating and exactly what you might expect. Books, books, and more books.

See what I mean about windows?

How I’d love to read a good story while lounging on that window seat. The view is pretty darn awesome too.

My final image from this mini-tour is a very special place on the property. At the end of a gravel path, a walkway crosses a stream taking you to a tiny but beautiful cemetery. It’s where my protagonist is buried, along with several of her family members. I’m standing near the burial site and the image is taken toward the opposite side.

There’d been a lot of rain, and the stream had risen enough to cover the concrete walkway. I can imagine how loud the stream roars during heavy storms.

It is, however, a most peaceful spot, and one I know she and her family held close to their hearts.

At tour’s end, I can only say I hope to stop being cagey soon and fill you in on the name of my mysterious protagonist and title of her book. For now, suffice it to say, the better I got to know her, the  more I grew to love her.

I daresay this was an impact she had on many people she met throughout her life.

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Pat Wahler is the author of Western Fictioneers’ Best First Novel of 2018 and Walter Williams Award-Winning I am Mrs. Jesse James. She is also the author of The Becker Family Novels, an award-winning contemporary romance trilogy; and a Readers’ Favorite Christmas anthology, Let Your Heart Be Light-A Celebration of Christmas.