@@ -497,9 +497,10 @@
 			-- handle editing request
 			local rpp = sorcery.cookbook.constants.recipes_per_cookbook_page 
 			if p.mode then for idx=1,rpp do
 				if fields['recipe_' .. tostring(idx)] then
-					local recnr = (bm:get_int('pagenr')-1)*rpp + idx
+					local pg = math.max(1, bm:get_int 'pagenr') -- handle unset page
+					local recnr = (pg-1)*rpp + idx
 					local rec = book.pages[recnr]
 					local bookchanged = false 
 					if p.mode == 'delete' then
 						p.operstack:take_item(1)
@@ -529,9 +530,9 @@
 						-- the recipe into the book, or inserting the paper
 						-- directly. if there is no ink available, we use the
 						-- latter mode. in effect, this means deleting the
 						-- recipe item is insufficient ink is available.
-						if charge_ink(constants.op_cost_insert_rec) == false then
+						if (not p.has_pen) or charge_ink(constants.op_cost_insert_rec) == false then
 							p.operstack = ItemStack(nil)
 						end
 						bookchanged = true
 					elseif p.mode == 'cut' then