Brain Snacks: Tasty Tidbits of Knowledge
Mary Stewart wasn't an historical fiction writer originally, and her publishers threw a fit when she pitched The Crystal Cave to them. Before this, she was a super famous writer of romance thrillers. (Source)
Stewart never wanted to write about King Arthur, because she didn't want to trample on the memory of T. H. White, the author of The Once and Future King, whom she admired. (Source)
Mary Stewart's birth name was Mary Florence Elinor Rainbow. We kid you not. (Source)
Sir Frederick Stewart, famous Scottish geologist and husband of Mary Stewart, found the largest sapphire ever discovered in Scotland. It was 3 inches long. (Source)