The flagship Barnes & Noble at Union Square, where Katie goes to buy a gift for Owen. I'd originally planned for them to shop together there for a present for Owen's foster father (which is why I took this picture) but then changed my mind when I was writing and had them get a rare book at The Strand. A friend who lived nearby went to The Strand to describe the rare book department for me, then when I visited New York again before turning the book in, I checked it out for myself. Her description was good enough that I didn't have to revise anything in the book. It only changed the mental picture I had as I read.

I dream of one day having a booksigning at this store, though their events area is a little overwhelming because it's set up for really big-name people and I'd probably end up feeling a little pathetic in comparison. As of December 2005, there were two autographed copies of Enchanted, Inc. available there. The staff didn't seem too excited by the fact that I'd used their store as a setting. I guess famous authors drop by there all the time, so they were less than impressed by me.

Owen's cat was inspired by my neighbor's cat, who seems to have adopted me. She sits in their upstairs window and keeps a constant watch on my front door, so she can see all of my comings and goings. If she gets out of the house, she'll end up on my front porch, sitting under my bedroom window, like she is here.

I don't know this cat's real name. Owen's cat is named Eluned after a character in the Mabinogion. In the story of Lord Owain and the Lady of the Fountain, Eluned (or, in some translations, Luned) is a handmaiden who serves Lord Owain and helps him hook up with his lady love. I thought that was appropriate in a meta sense, and Owen's the kind of guy who would name his pets after characters in Welsh mythology.