Board Thread:Writer's Workshop/@comment-35911608-20181127145453/@comment-36393004-20181127154410

Second read through:

"Regardless, I began to step backwards to the hall, and the man gave me a tip of the hat before walking to the fireplace of the room."

Something about that structure seems a bit off. It might just be me though.

Maybe? "Regardless, I took a step back into the hall. The man gave me a tip of his hat before walking to the fireplace."

I really think this needs breaking into two sentences and you don't really need to mention that the fireplace is in that room. You have already set the scene/location. (And usually that's where the fireplace is within a home.)

Just food for thought.