1. I'll agree with Dan that "laying" the books would be putting them down flat. Also, in American English we would say "put them on the bookshelf" not "in" it. 2. That's a very formal and poetic way of saying that. The closest thing to saying it that way would be to say "there are eleven hundred miles between the two cities", but it's neither natural nor very clear in meaning. I would recommend: a) The two cities are eleven hundred miles apart. OR b) The distance between the two cities is eleven hundred miles. 3. The best equivalent is "whatever is across from it."

There is a difference. "Laid" sounds like you are placing them flat - laying them down. "Put" does not say in which way they are put, so I would assume they're stacked tall, not laid flat, but it could be either way, because it's not specified. Between the two cities span eleven hundred miles. She didn't turn to the Woods, she turned to whatever sits across from it.

Hi Agustin. I think laying the books on the shelf implies you’re doing it more carefully, thinking about what you’re doing, maybe in some sort of order, whereas putting them back simply means just that, putting them back on the shelf

Words that can be used in place of "lie" and "lies": "are/is", "were/was", "stand(s)", "stood" "Stand" is especially good for buildings, but could be used for miles as well.