Author’s Note

Historical research is one of the most enjoyable parts of writing the Accidental Alchemist mysteries. Although alchemy as described in the book is fictional, the ideas behind alchemy, and its historical precedence when early chemists were figuring out scientific transformations, are real. Nicolas Flamel, Perenelle Flamel, and Edward Kelley were real people, although whether or not they were alchemists is another question. However … Kelley claimed to be an alchemist and sought the patronage of Rudolf II, and after the Flamels spent their life together giving large amounts of money to charity, their graves were indeed discovered to be empty.

Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin and Eugène Viollet-le-Duc are real historical figures, who you can read much more about in the earlier books in the Accidental Alchemist series, especially The Masquerading Magician.

Ergot poisoning is one of the many theories to explain the Salem Witch Trials. A fungus that can grow in rye (a staple crop the people of Salem Village ate), ergot poisoning can cause delusions and hallucinations.

A few research materials of note: The Getty Museum in Los Angeles held an exhibit, The Art of Alchemy, while I was researching this novel. I was fortunate to visit in person, and though the exhibit is over, much of it has been catalogued as an online exhibit, which I highly recommend. My bookshelves are overflowing with research books, and a few that were especially helpful include Noah Charney’s The Art of Forgery, Victoria Finlay’s The Brilliant History of Color in Art, Cennino Cennini’s The Craftsman’s Handbook (originally Il Libro dell’ Arte, a fifteenth-century text translated by Daniel V. Thompson, Jr.), Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs, and Guy Ogilvy’s The Alchemist’s Kitchen.

Why a vegan gargoyle chef? As many readers know, I wrote a draft of The Accidental Alchemist, the first book in this series, while undergoing chemotherapy for an aggressive breast cancer. I was thirty-six years old. At the time, I didn’t cook. My husband bought cookbooks to make nourishing meals for me, which I quickly snatched from his hands. It was the beginning of heading down the wonderful rabbit hole of learning to cook. Through cooking classes, cookbooks, and kitchen experimentation, I learned that healing foods can taste more amazing than anything I used to eat, and helped me feel healthier than ever. While battling cancer, I was going to write the book I wanted to write, which meant that after a lifetime of being fascinated by mysterious gargoyles, I was going to write a fun gargoyle character, even though I doubted anyone besides me would enjoy it. I was thrilled to discover I was wrong, and that readers love Dorian the gargoyle as much as I do. He learned to cook plant-based meals at the same time I did. The process transformed me into an accidental almost-vegan, now six years cancer-free.