While diligently doing my research, I stumbled across the perfect resource: Nikola Tesla: Colorado Springs Notes, 1899-1900. My WIP begins here, in 1899, in Colorado Springs, in Nikola Tesla’s laboratory. Score! Or so I thought. Amazon has a ship date between four and six weeks.
I decided to visit the library and see if they had a copy or could get one for me. After getting a library card (yes, I’ve lived here more than six years and never went to the library, bad Adam), I asked a librarian for help. As it turns out, he is also a fan of Nikola Tesla. He’s also a writer that wanted to write about Tesla, although from a historical perspective.
It turns out that the book I want is owned by only one other library, in Colorado Springs, and they don’t lend it out. The librarian helped me find two other books that should be useful: Wizard – The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla: Biography of a Genius and The Inventions, Researches, and Writings of Nikola Tesla. And I ordered the book from Amazon. Even if it isn’t here in time to help with this story, it will be a nice reference to have. I am, after all, a giant Tesla fanboy, as was made clear as the conversation with the librarian progressed. I know more about Tesla than the librarian/historian interested in him.
As far as the writing goes, I have enough information to tell my story. I’m being extremely picky about making sure I have my historical details accurate, in as much of the story actually takes place in 1899.