Background Notes

Bewitching The Baron...

The idea to add a talking raven to this book came from dimly remembered family stories of pet ravens. A bit of research soon showed that ravens, captured at the right age, can indeed learn to mimic human speech as well as myriad other sounds, from dogs barking to sirens wailing. They are one of the smartest birds in existence, and have a penchant for collecting small items.

Research for Valerian's healing herbs was a bit more complex, as herbals have a confounding tendency to contradict each other on the proper uses of plants, and very few offer any scientific evidence for their claims. I tried to include only those herbs that seem to have some actual, salutary effect, but even so I would hardly try any of Valerian's potions on myself. Besides for herbs and her own innate abilities, she also relies upon hypnosis and placebos to effect her cures.

- Lisa