I don't remember any other mentions at the moment, but plan on 'looking into it' (read, watching more Castle!) once the weekend rolls around.

LIES! I just remember that Castle said he got the plot of his first novel from One Life to Live (?), so this happened presumably while said nannies were around? This leads me to what's been bugging me for a while now: how did Castle become a writer, why, and when was he first published. I'm just wondering because he couldn't have been very old when Alexis was born (she's about 15, so he would have been in his early twenties), and to be dating a very materialistic actress he must have had some money already. So, was he a young superstar on the mystery scene (see, it sort of ties in to the childhood bit!) or did Martha have enough money (Castle alluded that her husband ran away with all her money, that's why she's living with them) that he was able to write 'for fun' until he made a name for himself.

I agree, I always just assumed that Castle was supposed to be Nathan's age.The timeline fits, but isn't early twenties still really young to be successfully published? I guess if he was really good (which we know he is) then it makes sense but I still want to hear the story.

He also says that he's written 26 best sellers. Just because something is your lesser work doesn't mean it's not a best seller.

Gordon Korman, an awesome writer of young adult books, published his first book when he was about 12 as a school assigment. While it's rare to be a young writer, it's not impossible.

I agree that Castle is probably suppose to be mid to late 30's. Which puts him in his early/mid twenties when he had Alexis. I don't think he necessairly was well off when he first had Alexis, just that he had already started his career as a writer and that's why he got custody – he was home all day and not travelling like Meredith. It's not clear that Meredith was always like she is. Probably she was, but she was also probably starting out as an actor when they first met. I also got the impression that Meredith was never an A-list actress.