The Life and Travels of da Vinci Series

Who are the Medici brothers? And who is trying to assassinate them? Why was the Pitti Palace never completed? And what part does Leonardo play in all of this? Leonardo da Vinci is remembered as an artist and inventor. But who was he before anyone knew his name? This family-friendly novel explores the history and legends of his early years in Florence. It also weaves a mystery of politics and power.

Leonardo da Vinci came to Milan a broke, unemployed artist. He left Milan 16 years later as a broke, unemployed artist, fleeing the French. But in the years in between he worked for Duke Lodovico, painting the Last Supper, designing an Equestrian Monument, planning several wedding festivities, and much more.

The story begins in a small town in the Italian Peninsula in 1503. Leonardo has been working as a military advisor for the ruthless Cesare Borgia for almost a year, and that employment is about to come to an end. But first, Borgia wants Leonardo to accompany him to Rome to see his father, Pope Alexander. Leonardo enjoys his first time in Rome in the company of his old friend, Donato Bramante, before returning to Florence, his home of many decades. Once back in Florence Leonardo is finally ready to return to painting - to take up a paintbrush once again. Over the next several years he will tackle two of his largest projects - the Battle of Anghiari and the portrait we have all come to know and love as the Mona Lisa.

Join Leonardo da Vinci as he returns to Florence, works on several painting commissions, and then joins the ruthless Cesare Borgia as his military advisor. This family-friendly historical novel covers about two and a half years of Leonardo's life - and his interactions with a number of contemporary luminaries: including Luca Pacioli (mathematician), Donato Bramante (architect), (Niccoli Machiavelli (Florentine ambassador and writer) and Cesare Borgia. Much of Leonardo's time with Borgia was spent travelling through the countryside of Romagna (central Italy) - examining fortifications and making military recommendations. This novel takes a look at the other things he was doing at the same time - sketching bell towers, examining interesting windows, sketching pigeon houses, and much more!

The year is 1499. The French are invading Milan and the Duke is going into hiding. What will Leonardo da Vinci do? Will he heed the advice of his good friend Luca Pacioli and flee the city also? Or will he stay and try to live in the same city with the likes of Cesare Borgia? And once he has decided to leave, can he really bring himself to go to Mantua, and be at the mercies of Isabella d'Este? Join Leonardo and Luca as they leave Milan and make their way to Mantua and eventually Venice.

Troubles seem to be the new normal for a busy Leonardo. The Signoria in Florence have threatened to sue him to finish the Battle Painting he had started and walked away from. The friars in Milan are suing him to redo an altarpiece he had done for them almost two decades before. And his eleven half-siblings are suing him to keep him from inheriting their uncle's property. Meanwhile he has caused the injury of a trusted assistant who had test-flown his flying machine, and Giovanni Rustici, a good friend in Florence, needs his assistance with a major sculpture commission he has won. Can Leonardo keep himself out of jail long enough to satisfy the various litigants, assist Rustici, and still help the young Raphael who has come to Florence to learn from him?

How many more losses can they endure? The year is 1508. After several years of dealing with lawsuits, Leonardo may finally get to make choices of his own. But will those choices by interrupted by a seemingly endless time of loss? The death of a friend, the death of a collaborator, the death of a patron, and more, all disturb Leonardo's fragile peace between 1508 and 1511. Add the recent plague scare and the seemingly constant fear of war, and life for Leonardo and his assistants is not as quiet and serene as he had hoped it would finally be.  As Leonardo grows closer to his own sixtieth birthday, he also ponders his own mortality. Will he ever be able to finish his unending list of projects: his water studies, his study of the human body and animal anatomy, astronomy, and so much more?

Three Novels – One Book: Historical Fiction starring Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo the Florentine: Who are the Medici brothers? And who is trying to assassinate them? Why was the Pitti Palace never completed? And what part did Leonardo play in all of this? Leonardo:  Masterpieces in Milan: Follow Leonardo as he works for the Duke of Milan, paints the Last Supper, studies architecture, and much more! Leonardo: To Mantua and Beyond: The French have invaded Milan,  the Duke has gone into hiding, and Leonardo is without a patron. He travels to Mantua and then on to Venice with his good friend Luca Pacioli.  These family-friendly novels have delighted readers of all ages.

Three Novels – One Book: Historical Fiction starring Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo: A Return to Florence: Join Leonardo da Vinci as he returns to Florence, works on several painting commissions, and then joins the ruthless Cesare Borgia as his military advisor.   Leonardo:  A Return to Painting: Borgia requests Leonardo accompany him on a quick trip to Rome before finishing his role as Borgia's military advisor.  Leonardo is ready to return to Florence and begin painting again. During the next several years he takes on two of his most significant commissions - the portrait that will someday be known to the world as Mona Lisa, and the wall mural of the Battle of Anghiari - even larger than his previous mural, the Last Supper. Leonardo and the Looming Litigation: Troubles seem to be the new normal for a busy Leonardo. The Signoria in Florence have threatened to sue him to finish the Battle Painting he had started and walked away from. The friars in Milan are suing him to redo an altarpiece he had done for them almost two decades before. And his eleven half-siblings are suing him to keep him from inheriting their uncle's property.  These family-friendly novels have delighted readers of all ages.