So, about Byzantium... (what the writer needs is a brain of her own)

The book I have been mostly not-at-present writing since the end of November is partly not presently being written because of a research issue. The culture I started out with is labeled in my head "pseudo-medieval-France," which is entirely misleading given that it seems thus far to be a relatively peaceful kingdom with a landed peasantry, a church that provides education to everyone, and none of the villages we've thus far heard bits about seemed to have a lord attached to them. Now, there are magical excuses for the peace and prosperity, and most of the action thus far has been confined to the middle of the generally impassible woods, but the real reason it's peaceful is that I don't care for wars, particularly, and the only reason it's France rather than England is that it's not an island. No matter, particularly; I can butcher generic european fantasy settings with the best of them, and at least my heroines will know that it's respectable to keep your head covered.

( Long spoilery ramble/brainstorm about culture concerns while writing things you will probably never get to read. Thoughts welcome if you have any, but I'll be a bit surprised if most of you bother reading... )

Meanwhile, what we also find is that in reading Gillian Bradshaw books, I am once again susceptible to interesting food in fiction-- now I wish to dine upon a supper of eggs, goat cheese, cumin bread, and honey cakes, although perhaps I could do without the flagon of delicate white wine to wash it down. I have found goat cheese at the Amish-Market-Coming-Soon (which is, obviously, now actually open), and a recipe for cumin bread (basic flour/water/salt/yeast bread, plus ground cumin-- who'd have thought?), but I still need to look into the honey cakes. We shall see.