Savoring Serendipity by @karilemor #RomanceGems

 For many years, I loved going to writer conferences and reader events, looking to make connections with others book lovers like me. Obviously, that has been stalled for the past year. But this weekend, I have the chance to get back in the saddle, so to speak.

In the colder months, I live in the beautiful town of St. Augustine in Florida. My husband and I fell in love with the place a few years ago during a six-month RV trip down the east coast. And right here in my glorious town is the Book Obsessed Babes Author Signing Event on March 19 and 20. I don’t even have to get a hotel room as a few of the events are right in downtown. Walkable from where I live.

There’re a few fun social events, and I’ve already got my mask so people will know who I am.

 

 The book signing is much of the day on Saturday, and I’m so excited to meet new readers who love romance as much as I do. I’ll also get to meet other authors of this fabulous genre. These new authors make me think back to all the fabulous people I have met over the years who have helped me on my journey.

Many years ago, before I was anywhere near publishing my books, I was on a forum for romance writers set up by Harlequin. Here I met some of my closest writer friends. My critique partner, MA Grant, was found on this site. It’s interesting because she writes paranormal and fantasy and often m/m while I write contemporary and suspense and write m/f. Yet, even though I don’t normally read her subgenre, I LOVE everything she’s written (because she’s the most excellent writer ever). We complement each other when we critique each other’s early drafts. We each have strengths and weaknesses and help the other with them.

Two other friends I found online are Kris (Kickstand) and Emily (Firedew). These ladies started as fan fiction writers like me. I had written over a million and a half words of fanfiction before moving onto original work. (I wrote under the names kariesue and darker works under karasel) Kris is a voracious reader of many genres and is essential in letting me know when I need to add something to a book or when characters need tweaking. Emily has been promoted to my editor and is so amazing in suggesting new words or changing the order of sentences and paragraphs to make them flow better. And she adds in all the commas that I forget (probably millions!)

I have another small group of ladies we call The Fab Four. We roomed together at one of the RWA conferences and have remained friends, supporting each other. Each week, MA Grant, Carrie Nichols, Brynn Kelly, and I provide motivation and assistance in whatever we need. It’s so great having these women be available for support and suggestions.

For the past two years, I’ve had another group who all support each other. This is the fabulous Romance Gems and this blog. A few of the Gems are good friends and writers from local events (Peggy Jaeger, Kathy Hills, and Nora LeDuc!!) I get to see these women in person when there are reader and writer events set in New England. I love touching base with them and hope to do so again soon (Fall in Love New England, here we come!!).   And so many other non-Gems that I've connected with!! 

The rest of the Gems have become good friends and part of my stalwart support system. I’m very excited to be a part of a new ‘world’ being created by them. The Last Chance Beach World. The first book releases in May and I will be book 5 coming out early November. Stay tuned to this blog because I’m sure there’ll be lots of information in the next few months about this new endeavor.

I believe all these people have been brought into my life for a reason. Serendipity. They have been essential in getting me to where I am today with the books I currently have published. Take a peek at my website and other social media to find out about my small-town contemporary series, The Storms of New England.  As well as my romantic suspense lite series, Love on the Line.

Until I ‘see’ you again,

Happy Reading!

 

Kari

 

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Thanks for the Memories @karilemor #RomanceGems

 

Five years ago, right after Veteran’s Day I lost someone very important to me. My dad. He was someone who always believed in me and supported me in whatever I tried to do.

My dad and me and our dog, Freckles

He’d had Parkinson’s Disease and genetic heart problems for many years. It was difficult seeing him the last ten years of his life as he had always been a very active person prior. He used to run way back when they still called it jogging. He was one of the first people to waterski barefoot and was even offered a job at Cypress Gardens. Unfortunately, he was drafted and spent the next two years in Alaska. Not much waterskiing there.

In those last years I used to visit him in the nursing home, hoping he’d remember who I was. Usually he did. If he didn’t, it was because he thought I was his sister, Jeanne. I did resemble her so I was never upset. 

My dad had written a few books and attempted to get them published so when I told him I had gotten a story in an anthology, he was thrilled. I remember bringing the print copy to his room and showing him my story with my picture in it. Then I signed it and gave it to him. When one of the nurses came in, he told them about my book and said I had dedicated it to him. Well, I hadn’t since mine was only one of twenty-three stories, but I never said a word and allowed him to believe that.

I went to visit him on Veteran’s Day 2015, and he was remarkably lucid and in good spirits. He always seemed to 'wake up' when we talked about my writing. We chatted about my upcoming book that I had contracted with Kensington Publishing. He was so proud and happy for me. Before I left, something made me hug him and kiss him half a dozen times and repeatedly tell him I loved him. More than I typically did. 

Two days later, I got the call he had passed. Not until after the Patriots had won and he had finished his dinner. Then he just took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Just the way we should all leave this world. At peace. And I was, too. I had said my goodbyes and knew he was aware of how much he meant to me. 

Several months later, I actually had a dream where he called me. He was surrounded by his family and wanted to let me know, "I've never felt better!" And his voice was strong just like it used to be. I truly believe he had sent that message so our family could also be at peace.

When my first book came out, of course the dedication was special.

To my Mom for always allowing me to steal her romance novels from her ‘done’ pile. And for my Dad who always encouraged and believed in me. I hope you can look down now and see how much I’ve accomplished. Because you had faith in me.

I know if he was here now, he’d be beaming at all the books I’ve since written.

 

~~

In my book Elusive Dreams, Tessa was raised in foster care. Her husband, Erik, did some digging using an old picture she had. When he digs up information on her parents, she isn’t sure how she feels. 

 

 Excerpt:

“Your dad wanted you to know he started searching for you as soon as he found out. And that he loved you, even then.”

A father. Who loved her. Had loved her for years. How to handle this. Could she even believe it? She’d never had anyone love her. Too many years of being told she was unlovable had closed her heart to that kind of emotion. Except now she loved Matty and Kiki, and they loved her back.

And she loved Erik. Being held in his arms like this had her hoping maybe he could love her too. But he’d known her for too long. Seen her as her total freak self. Some things you couldn’t un-know.

“He wants to meet you, Tess. But said he’d understand if you couldn’t forgive him for deserting you and your mom. I don’t think that’s what he did, but he’s got some major guilt eating away at him. I’m sure he wouldn’t want you to know, but he was crying when he realized he’d finally found where you were and that you were alive and well. You’re named after his mother, by the way.”

 “He cried? Over me?” Someone had cried over her. No one had ever done that.

The sobs shaking her body couldn’t be stopped. How many times had she envisioned meeting her parents and having them be hysterically happy to find her? Too many and she’d convinced herself she was delusional even thinking it. But her father wanted to meet her.

“Yeah, he never stopped looking. But he didn’t know who he was looking for. Or even if you were still alive. He never lost hope that he’d find you though. I showed him a picture of you. He said you look just like your mother.”

“He wants to meet me.” Her chest constricted at the thought. She looked up at his handsome face, so concerned for her. “What if he doesn’t like me?” she sobbed. “What if he sees that I’m a freak? I don’t know if I can do this, Erik.” Too many rejections in the past had colored her thinking.

“You’re not a freak, and you know it.” He’d put on his fierce Marine face. “And he already loves you, Tessa. When he sees how sweet and perfect you are, he’ll love you even more. You have that effect on people.”

Not on you, though. Swirling thoughts ran through her mind. Her dad, Erik, the kids. Too many and too intense. Okay, focus on one thing at a time. Her dad.

“I have a dad. And he loves me.” Or says he does. She still wasn’t sure she believed it.

She hadn’t meant to say that out loud. Erik slipped his fingers through her hair and kissed her cheeks. “You do, sweetie. You do.”

~~

This book is currently on sale for ONLY 99c. But only until Nov 20. That’s TWO days until it goes back to full price. Get it now! 

Buy it here:

 

Interview with a Vampire by @karilemor #RomanceGems

We’re here at GEMs headquarters waiting to speak with none other than Darcy Marx, from the new release, BROKEN DREAMS. We’ve heard Ms. Marx is quite the character and are so pleased she agreed to this interview.

Darcy struts into the room and shakes her head, causing the short black spikes to rustle like grass in a field. The half dozen earrings in each ear sparkle when hit by the sun shining in the window.

“Darcy, thank you so much for meeting us today.”

Darcy plops into a seat and one side of her mouth lifts, “Yeah, whatevs. I had a few minutes since Tanner’s in school right now.”

“Of course. Let’s start with Tanner since you mentioned him. Why don’t you tell us how you came to be his nanny? I mean, you aren’t exactly the Mary Poppins type.”

Her darkly made up eyes narrow as she smirks. “I don’t carry an umbrella or a carpet bag. But I know kids, especially ones who have special needs. And I know how to provide what they need.”

“Your brother is disabled, correct?”

“No, he’s perfectly abled. He does have some developmental delays. But Zane isn’t on today’s menu, understand?” Her voice gets lower with her words.

“Yes, that’s fine. So, Tanner Storm?”

“Tanner and his needs are private, too, but I can tell you how I got the job. I was paired with the kid’s pretentious father in my friend Sara’s wedding. I got to hang out with the kid then, and he’s pretty cool. I started getting calls to help out whenever GQ needed a hand.”

“GQ?”

Darcy shrugs her delicate shoulders and the cut-out neckline of her black t-shirt slips off one.

“Nathaniel Storm, Esquire.  Corporate attorney to a number of New Hampshire’s big businesses. He looks like a GQ ad most of the time.” She lowers her head and mumbles, “Smells like one, too.”

“Ah, we also understand he has a nickname for you?”

Darcy rolls her eyes and grins. “Elvira. Mistress of the dark. I kinda like it.”

“Why does he call you that?”

“It might have had something to do with the all black ensemble I wore to the wedding rehearsal. Though when he first called me that I was draped in a pastel pink bridesmaid dress, so it really didn’t apply. Except maybe the dark lipstick I had on. Probably gave him the idea.”

“What color was it?”

“Blood Moon.” She makes a duck face to emphasize her dark red lips.

“We’d like to ask you about the small part you played in the earlier story, TRUE DREAMS. You set a lot of tongues wagging.”

Darcy laughs and her eyes light up. “Yeah, the boss wasn’t too happy when I kept sticking my nose into a bunch of scenes I hadn’t been scripted for. But let’s face it, every book needs a little comic relief and some good advice. TJ spent so much time organizing coffee cups and sh…stuff that he and Sara never would have gotten together if I didn’t give him a little kick in the pants every now and then.”

“We didn’t see any vampire jokes in True Dreams. Why not?”

Her face scrunches up. “I don’t give out all my secrets. Especially when the limelight needed to be on TJ and Sara.”

“Secrets? Are there any more you’d like to share with us?”

Her eyes grow sad and glisten with tears. After shaking her head, she clears her throat. “I’ve got to get the kid from school. It’s been real. But not real fun.”

Pushing to her combat boot-clad feet, she gives us a nod.

“Well, thank you for meeting with us. Good luck with your nanny position.”

“It’s just until GQ can find someone better. Not that anyone’s better than me.” She pulls keys from her jeans pocket. “My Beamer, courtesy of GQ. Kinda nice perk for the job.”

As she leaves the room, she peeks over her shoulder and gives us a wink.

~

If you could interview one person, fictional or real, living or dead, who would it be? 

COMMENT AND WIN

~~

Darcy's story, BROKEN DREAMS is available at most retailers.  

AND the first few books in the Storms of New England series, are currently on SALE for only 99c.  

But only until Aug 21 so GET THEM NOW!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B084QBCGM3

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Kari%20Lemor%22

https://books2read.com/u/49ZqLX

~~

Make sure to check out the stories in our fantastic summer boxed set, LAST CHANCE BEACH: Summer’s End. There's something in this collection to suit all readers.   This set is a steal at only 99 cents. 

Plus there’s a free companion cocktail recipe book  Last Chance Cocktail Book

 

BLOOMIN' CRAZY! by Hannah Rowan #RomanceGEems

I am so jealous of my fellow Gems who have gardens to plant during this “stay home” time.

 While I don’t miss much about having a house now that we’ve moved to a condo where all the maintenance is taken care of for us, I do miss having a garden. 

My condo community offers little garden plots we can reserve, with reservations being open for about five minutes at dawn on a cold, rainy day in October for the following spring. Somehow I missed it. 

So the Gems are busy with Romance in Bloom, and I’m trying to squeeze some gardening into a three room condo which at least has some East-facing, large windows and a screened in (very tiny) balcony.

One of my indoor gardening success stories is the rather frightening cactus that began as a small, six inch potted plant given to me for my birthday by my son several years ago. I’ve had many run-ins with this prickly plant. The worst occurred when I carried it to the sink intending to spray some water on its leaves, and I tilted it too far, sending it careening out of its pot. At which point, yes, I grabbed it! I spent several hours pulling needles out of my palms with tweezers, and I tried to follow advice to wrap a towel around it or use a deflated bicycle tire to pick it up. Nope. I managed to get the thing into a box and deliver it to a local florist, who, for extraordinary sums of money, re-potted it in a larger pot. Since we were moving at the time, my cactus remained at the florist for a while, thriving in the shop window. By the time I returned for it, the shop owner had grown quite fond of it, and it was almost as tall as I am.

My other plants live on a rack in front of the window in a crazy jumble of leaves. I water them but I’m kind of afraid to get in there to sort out the tangled mess.

When faced with some garlic that had begun to sprout, I planted the cloves and was rewarded with some tasty sprout similar to scallions. They lasted until the untimely demise of my garlic garden.  Poor, droopy garlic!

But I’m not giving up! I have high hopes for my latest gardening project—mini-tomatoes and a lavender plant that will, with any luck, grow very nicely on my screened in balcony. Let’s just hope they don’t meet the same fate as my garlic.

Our May giveaway and theme are in full swing. First Prize: $20, Second Prize: $15, and Third Prize $10, all paid in Amazon Gift Cards.

Best of Luck to everyone in the drawing! Click: Rafflecopter giveaway to enter!

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So I'm Finally Starting a Readers' Group by Cheryl Bolen

I’ve never had a readers’ group. I sold the first of my 41 published books 23 years ago.  I’ve frequently been asked about my readers’ group, but I always said I didn’t have one.

I was afraid it would be a big time suck. I don’t need one more thing on my busy author/publisher plate. I’d already minimized other things that took my attention away from writing. I have never done a tweet, never been on Instagram, never listened to a podcast, shy away from videos. The only social media I’ve done since I transitioned from New York publishing to indie publishing nine years ago (Gee, has it really been that long?) is Facebook and Pinterest, and those only minimally. I am one of those authors who really believe the best way to spend her time and to build her career is by putting out new books. Quality books. 

Some of my books

I must confess that another reason I didn’t start a readers’ group is because I am afraid that no one would join. I realize now that’s sort of silly, given that I’ve sold hundreds of thousands of books. That must mean there are some people out there who like my books and who would join a reader group—if there was one.

Other authors have convinced me that readers’ groups are worthwhile. And given that I personally answer every single email I get from my readers, I figured answering these questions in a Facebook group might actually take less time. I have always enjoyed communicating with my readers. I enjoy establishing relationships with them, becoming friends with them. Having one big Facebook family of people who read my books would be awesome.

So I’ve taken the leap. I started a group called Lady Cheryl’s Ladies of the Ton where we can meet and discuss Regency England (because my books are set in Regency England).

A huge bonus will be getting a review group out of this. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that some of these ladies will be willing to download digital copies of my books for early reviews.

On Sunday I sent out a special mailing to my 14,000 newsletter subscribers to announce my new group. At this writing, we’ve got 240 members of my Ladies of the Ton. I’m getting really excited about this endeavor.

It’s kind of like what President Franklin Roosevelt meant when he said, “We’ve nothing to fear but fear itself.” I was afraid of forming a readers’ group. And now I’m thrilled to have one. Being an author involves taking lots of leaps. But most of them are worth it.—Cheryl Bolen is currently at work on the seventh installment in her Brides of Bath series. Her most recent release was His Lady Deceived. 

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The Hopeless Romantic by @karilemor #RomanceGems

This was a post I wrote six years ago on my original blog The Hopeless Romantic. Back before I had anything published and had absolutely no people who knew who I was. I thought it might be nice to revisit.  It was one of the most romantic things to ever happen to me!

Feb. 14, 2014

So it’s Valentine’s Day.  That means we must discuss love and romance, right?  Of course.  I originally had this plan for my blog to make a list of the things that I found very romantic.  But when I woke up this morning, my plans changed.  Why did they change?  My husband.  He’s not some debonair Romeo who swept me off my feet or some Valentino with smooth moves.  He’s just a regular guy.  But sometimes he does something so amazing it just blows my mind.  And it happened again today.

Let’s go back in time and I’ll fill you in on our history.  Nothing glamorous.  We met in college in a History class.  He sat in front of me and would always turn around to hand me the attendance sheet.  He’d smile and I’d smile.  I really never saw much except the back of him.  But he had great hair and *ahem* a really cute butt.

I had a weekend job and so during the week I always went to the library every night, to the third floor (the quiet floor) and settled into the cubicles.  Some nights he would show up and sit near me.  It wasn’t until years later, he confessed he wasn’t there to do work.  Unless you call trying to get my attention work.  And often, on Monday nights, I would invite him back to my room to watch Remington Steele.  No, not in reruns, these were the original episodes.  Yes, that makes me very old.   Remember this little tidbit as it will come up again.

So flash forward a few years (okay maybe more than a few) to Christmas and he and I and our three children are sitting around the Christmas tree.  They are unwrapping gifts and he has gotten each of them some dvd from the $5 bin at WalMart.  I open mine, wondering what he has picked out for me.  I stop and stare and the kids just nod and go on opening.  But my heart stops, too.  He’s gotten me a whole season of Remington Steele.  He remembered.  Seriously remembered.

Flash forward a few more years to our 25th Anniversary.  We had a huge party (orchestrated by my oldest with the help of her younger siblings, and apparently my husband) but the thing I loved most was the card he got me.  Here it is:

Yup, cute little picture, but the sentiment is what has made me keep it still.  The inside reads:  

Turns out the millionth kiss is even better than the first.  Happy Anniversary.

But then my husband continues to write:  

Especially knowing there are a million more to come.                 *swoon*

Okay, so I’ve established he has his romantic moments.  No, our marriage wasn’t filled with little things like this every day, but they pop up every now and then.  So let’s fast forward to today.  No, actually I need to give you a tiny bit of backstory first.    I started reading romance novels when I was twelve and loved anything to do with romance.  I had a friend in High School who always teased me about it but one day gave me a cute little poster with a cartoon character riding in a hot air balloon throwing hearts out to scatter and float in the bright blue sky.  The poster was titled:  The Hopeless Romantic.

Yup, that’s where I got the name for this blog.  It describes me perfectly.  I had mentioned this poster one time to my husband when I first started the blog and said I wished I could find something similar again. I honestly didn't think he was listening.

Okay, now we can flash forward to this morning.  It’s yucky with snow and ice, and I’m groggy so when Hubby says good bye in the morning, I haven’t realized it’s Valentine’s Day.  Once I get up and get going, I head to our spare room (now that the kids are all gone we actually have one) and sit down at my computer.  It takes me a while, but I realize there is something leaning against the wall.  It’s a painting.  And as I get closer, I realize it is a hot air balloon with someone throwing hearts to flutter in the wind.  And one of the hearts has some words on it:  JM to KL, Forever and Always.  That’s also what it says on the inside of our wedding rings.

The painting is by my niece who is an artist and it’s obvious my husband has conspired to have her do this.  I had no idea.  And the thought and consideration, and LOVE that went into doing this astounds me.  And I feel guilty because with all the snow we’ve gotten here lately, I haven’t even had a chance to get him a card.  But he has been so amazingly supportive of my writing that I figure a great gift will be my writing something for him.

So here it is.  Thank you, hon, for almost twenty-seven years of marriage, three beautiful children, a life of love, fun, and romance and making me always feel like the sexiest woman on earth (which I know I’m not).  You are the rock that grounds me and gives me strength in times when I feel I can’t go on.  Thank you for loving me as you do and putting up with all my quirks and bad habits.  I love you very much and will continue to love you Forever and Always.

And thanks to all who stuck around for this much too long blog.  Have you any romantic stories to tell?  Let me know.  I’d love to hear them.

Shameless plug: If you happen to be near Jacksonville, Florida, I will be signing books at JAX Bookfest at the Main branch Library on Sat. Feb 29 from 10 - 3.   I will have copies of my new book, True Dreams, even though it's not technically out yet!! Hope to see you there!

Last But Not Least!

Our February Giveaway is in full swing! Check out these great prizes:

First Prize  - ~$20 Amazon gift card

     Second Prize - ~ $15 Amazon gift card

         

  Third Prize - ~$10 Amazon gift card

 Fourth Prize - ~5 Amazon gift card

Enter to win HERE

Coffee and Conversation with the #RomanceGems

It's time for Coffee and Conversation with the Romance Gems! So, grab a cup of your favorite beverage and join us for some fun.

This month's topic is: Describe your writer’s space. 

It’s a new year, and many of us have expressed a strong desire to write more and finish projects we’ve planned. We’re all writers, so that typically means we spend A LOT of time writing and/or thinking about writing related things. So…where’s your favorite place to work? Is it a designated spot in your home? What’s it like? Is there anything special you keep there? Or, perhaps you move around or write in public places? Tell me!


“My writing space is my leather recliner next to the fireplace. I grab my laptop and a beverage, and settle in to write my books. It's warm in winter and cool in summer and I love the coziness.”
~ Karen Whiddon 

Karen Whiddon's cozy leather chair

“One of my bedrooms is my office. I share it with my cat and her litter boxes and food. There’s nothing pretty about it. To write, I use a MacBook Air on a computer desk. That is also shared with the cat.” ~ Jan Scarbrough

Jan Scarbrough's office manager

“While I have a lot of author friends who choose to write away from home in places like Starbucks, that’s not me. I do my best writing in my home office. At a desktop computer—not a laptop. I am blessed that my home office is a sunroom surrounded on three sides by windows, two of which overlook a wooded area. My office has everything I need from a cozy loveseat to stacks of shelves of research books, printers, and file cabinets. My Herman Miller Aeron chair allows me work long days without pain. Yes, I am blessed.” ~ Cheryl Bolen

Cheryl Bolen's sunroom office

“I thrive in total quiet, which is why, as a kid, I loved the library so much. As an adult I still find I need to have the environment around me noise-free, especially when I’m writing. My favorite place to create is in my home office. It’s in the attic behind 2 doors – and believe me, I close them behind me every time I’m writing! I have a big window that overlooks my forest property situated above my desk that I look out and daydream through while I write. Nirvana. Noiseless; people-less; solitary. Love that!” ~ Peggy Jaeger

Peggy Jaeger's "noiseless, nirvana" attic office

“I have always been fortunate to have a dedicated office in my home, although I did (reluctantly) share the space with my day job when I had one. How happy am I to have it back to being exclusively for writing! The room is painted my favorite color, lipstick red. I have framed book covers on every wall space not occupied by bookshelves, and a large window looks out into my jungle of a yard. I’m not very organized and at one point my darling room got into a state where I didn’t want to be in it. Enter a professional organizer who spent a day and a half on what became my best investment lately in my writing future. Now I love my office again and happily spend all day here weaving my tales.” ~ Kathleen Lawless

“I have a small summer camp in New England and an apartment in St. Augustine that I split my time between. Each place has a desk where I keep all my writing stuff. Pens, paper, my planner, goals list, and of course, my laptop. That last one is what I need for writing. I love to be outside, so I typically take my laptop outside and write either looking at the duck pond in New Hampshire, or at the river in Florida. Can you tell water and nature are my inspiration?” ~ Kari Lemor

Kari Lemor's St. Augustine water view office

“My office at home is in a spare room that is dark, has a terrible view and is quiet unless the laundry is going. I don't need to gaze outside for inspiration...just inside my own head, so a view and comfy reading chair etc are not required. However, I do have framed copies of my book covers lining my walls. Sometimes I need to look at them to remind myself that I really can finish this book because I've done it before. Many times.” ~ Bonnie Edwards

“We moved into a new house 6 years ago, and I was so excited to get an office! However, my office is now the kids' gameroom, and my desk their homework desk. I was writing so much in our room, my husband bought a desk that folds down from Ikea so I don't have to write in bed anymore. My workspace is a yoga ball for a chair, a folding desk, and my nightstand. And I love it” :) ~ Laura Hunsaker

Laura Hunsaker's bedroom workspace

“My favorite place to write is at a cafe. It forces me to get up, put myself together, and get out of the house. I'm an extrovert so I find that if I go too many days without social interaction I start to lose energy and wind up in a downward spiral. Besides, leaving the house makes it harder for me to procrastinate. If I'm at a coffee shop, then the call of dishes, laundry, and Netflix aren't as distracting. That being said, one of my New Year's resolutions is to save money. I've been trying to commit to using my home office at least two days a week.” ~ Satin Russell

Satin Russell's home office

“I have my own office space!!! Yea!!! I didn’t realize how much I missed having an office of my own until we sold the house and went RVing for 3 1/2 years. Right now, I’m promoting my new book and about half finished with another so my office is in shambles. I can find what I’m looking for but I doubt anyone else could.”
~ Karen Kelley

“My writing space is much like my brain, slightly, (okay, fine, more than slightly) cluttered, and facing the window... because every easily distracted person should have something distracting in their line of sight, right?! I've even attached a birdfeeder to the window to attract all the little birdies (and a pesky squirrel or two). It's not the most conducive spot for working, but I love it!” ~ Elsa Kurt

Elsa Kurt's writing space

“One of my favorite places is my writing space my family calls my “pink cave”. The computer desk is a Vee that fits into a corner of my tiny office. Beside it is my matching dark cherry desk. For my eyes’ ease, I use a television screen as my monitor. Behind me, bookcases hold books for research and genealogy, my friends’ books, and mine. Hanging over my desk is a three-shelf glass-front cabinet holding a few collectibles. The walls are covered with memorabilia and pretty prints. The room is cluttered but I love working in my personal sanctuary.” ~ Caroline Clemmons

“When we retired and figured out we were going to sharing the house, one of the first things we did was to make part of our detached garage into a "she-shed." It's here that I write and sew and find alone time whenever I need it. I love my husband for many things, and understanding my need for that is one of the biggest.”
~ Liz Flaherty

“Much like me, my favorite writing space is a bit eclectic. I love working in our three-season screen porch, which looks out over our wooded property. Lots of camp-style, comfy furnishings, odd decorations collected during our travels, bird feeders off the back, and dogs. Always dogs! This is an older, warm weather pic, but you’ll get the idea. There’s even a wood stove for chilly fall mornings and more “treasures” on the walls now. Add a big iced coffee and my laptop, and I'm good to go! The vibe is awesome and perfect for my laid-back style.”
~ Kathryn Hills

Kathryn Hills' camp-style writing porch

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