Banner designed by Twoscoopz
Where Stories Are Made is a regular feature here at Book Chick City. It’s where the author takes us on a tour of their writing place, be it an office, coffee shop or park and tells us about their writing day and rituals. My guest today is urban fantasy writer Faith Hunter…
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Fans and readers love to know the secrets in a writer’s life, like how and where they write. The coffee shop where JK Rowling writes has become a tourist attraction. Photos of the space where Kim Harrison writes has been shown in magazines. The place where I write … well, my space is a mess! And how I write is … Well, see for yourself.
HOW AND WHERE I WRITE:
I don’t listen to music when I write except when writing scenes when Jane Yellowrock is exploring her American Indian heritage. Then I might play AmIm music, especially drum and flute melodies that relax and uplift. It’s a bit new age mixed with ancient traditional.
I drink excessively when I write. Not beer or wine. Not stronger stuff. I drink tea. Golden Monkey, Gunpowder Green, sometimes GreenTea Lemondrop, sometimes Rooibos Chai. Like the character I am currently writing, Jane Yellowrock, I am a tea snob. I have multiple tea pots, a whistling kettle, a, electric tea pot (for making tea fast or making hot tea to ice) tea tins, a cabinet *full* of teas in black metal foil packets to keep the leaves away from light and air, gold metal mesh tea leaf strainers and mugs mugs mugs. My work room is right off the kitchen. I have learned to keep out of the kitchen, even when I’m craving chocolate. Well…most of the time. Except for tea refills. I allow myself as many of those as I want.
My work room has three large windows (behind my chair or I’d never write) that look out on the woods and creek behind the house. A TV for news breaks (hubby and I are huge news-oholics) a leather dual recliner, two bookcases (one in the pic) and an antique wooden tool chest I used to keep version of books in until they outgrew the space. Around the room are angels (I collect) candleholders (they collect me) antique sewing machines (used to collect), antique pottery and glass (use to collect) and always one blooming orchid. I am not a ruffle-y, lacey, frilly kinda gal. I don’t care overmuch for flowers Except for orchids, which I totally adore. I have several dozen and, currently, two are in bloom.
My work area
First off, it’s dusty. I don’t dust while working on a book because I might misplace something important. That’s my story. Most people fall for it. I can even say it with a straight face.
Second, I currently have a multilevel desk, with three upper levels and a large lower level where the computer brain, backup battery, and lots of electrical cords lie in state amid the dust.
Starting left to right, is my recliner – used for moments I need to cogitate. Or nap. But cogitating sounds so much better. In its seat are two auto manuals, a Lilith Saintcrow novel, and an annotated Bible with apocrypha which I used for angels and demons tales for the Rogue Mage novels. Against the wall are two small antique tables, a short file cabinet with paper supplies and cards in it, and three clear file cabinets stuffed with stuff I use (d) in novels. On them is a hand made calendar from my sis-in-love Susan, a small painting of egrets by my mom, two metal boating models (one from friends/fans, one from hubby) and the first copy of the massmarket of Bloodring with my editor’s card and a note on it, a Dutch-made tile brought back from overseas for me by Tamar Myers, and a pinkish salt candle holder given to me by my friend Joy. I have two more of them on the desk. I’m a Leo. If one is good, three is better. I have a fourth one by my bed, so maybe four is better.
The blue rocker was my MawMaw’s, and currently over the back is a T-shirt, a gift from Kim Harrison from one of her book tours. Oh – the red thing on the floor is a blood droplet with legs and arms. My dog plays with it. I know. Even my dog likes bloody stuff. But hey, I’m writing the proposal to book four in the Jane Yellowrock series, and I have vamps and a rogue-vamp hunter on the brain.
Behind the desk hang a few awards, a couple of framed, enlarged book covers I can’t make myself discard, and a gold cupid face with wings. Someday I am going to find a male angel with sword and shield, wings held wide. It would be nice if I could afford it when I find it, but the economic crisis makes that seem unlikely for now. There is also a pic of me taking a Class IV rapid on a one man IK (inflatable kayak). Whoowhoo!
On the desk, top shelf… The thing that looks like wings is a naked lady angel. She is bent over, holding her knees and weeping. Purple agate bookends, another salt candle holder, the monitor, which is ages old, heavy as sin and should be replaced, but seems to be going to live forever. On top are raw gems (also something I collect) some tiny angels and a gray farting dog. Don’t laugh. I like my farting dog. To the right is a green glass mug I use as a pen holder, three baskets filled with paper stuff (cards from friends, friend’s cards {not the same thing} book covers, junk) another salt candle holder, and a small blue lamp with crystals on the shade.
Second shelves are pretty empty. Stapler, speakers, old floppies, a hand-carved soapstone box my friend Joy gave me, a blue and pink porcelain box.
Third shelf. There’s a gray junk/pen holder, and open on the flat part of the desk is my daily calendar without which I am totally lost. My phone book (it’s little and black) a silver bowl of paperclips, and a copy of Cherokee Words with Pictures by Mary Ulmer Chiltoskey. Under that is a pile of stuff I will get to when I am finished with this next book. Yeah. Riiiight.
On the keyboard shelf is my left hand mouse (I use a mouse right handed at the lab. I’m ambidextrous) and my old fashioned keyboard. I bang on keyboards. They don’t last long enough for me to afford a fancy one. And a copy of Myths of the Cherokee and Sacred Formulas of the Cherokees by James Mooney. The Cherokee books are for Jane Yellowrock, my Cherokee Skinwalker character. On top is my favorite mug (I love the color) filled with my fav black tea, Golden Monkey.
Between desk and bookcase is a color atlas of the human body and another file cabinet also filled with book stuff (hidden by desk). I’ve been writing for 20 years. I have a lot of book stuff.
My chair is ergonomic black leather. I love my chair. It is not fancy, but I spend a *lot* of time in it and it keeps me out of the chiro’s most of the time. The bookcase is filled with my books stacked two deep on one shelf and autographed books of friends on two shelves, along with pottery I used to collect, a few statues, and wood things (a carved antique car, a three inch wood chest, an Amish farm wagon and horse, a sleeping bunny,) my hubby’s meteorite and the books I use (d) in writing: Ikebana, Mysteries of the Unexplained, The world’s Great Small Arms, Back to the Basics, Movie Magic Screenwriter, Knots and Ropework, A Pleasure in Words, Rhyming Dictionary, an old Thesaurus, World Mythology, The Collected Works of Shakespeare, The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Spices, The Herb Garden, A Physician’s Desk Reference, The RandomHouse Encyclopedia, the Book of Enoch, and somewhere I have a book on poisons and another one on trauma, among way too many others.
A garbage can and a shredder. The brick is a gas fireplace. In very cold weather, I like to have it on while I write. It’s cheery.
Hope that gives you an insight into my writing world.
Hugs!
Faith Hunter
(aka Gwen Hunter)
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Skinwalker: in stores now
Blood Cross: in stores now
Mercy Blade: out in 2011
You can find out more about this feature HERE
**Next week on ‘Where Stories Are Made’: Suzanne McLeod**
10 Comments
Hey, this looks like my living room:) I like that excuse for the dust though, I'm going to steal that. LOL
Reply
Cool, nice post!
These are so fun to read
Reply
Okay Faith the most important part of the room was mentioned in passing but not pictured and that is the the furbabies. I surely thought they would be there since "help" you write. This was truly a fun glimpse into your "own little world" because in a sense that is what you have shown us with the descriptions and the picture… Thanks BCC and Faith both for the lovely fun look into the creative process behind some of my very favorite books!!!
jackie b central texas
Reply
No dusting while writing. That's a very good rule.
I like how your own tea tastes have become part of Jane. I always thought it was a strange quirk for such a tough girl to like tea.
Reply
Great post! I love that Jane is a tea snob in your books and now I see where she gets if from
I love orchids too.. but the only thing I seem to be good at is slowly killing them..I feel like a flower torturer..
Reply
I try to tell FH (future hubs) that my "desk" (the back corner of the dining table) is actually organized chaos, but he doesn't believe me. I think I'll try to tell him that I'll lose things if I try to straighten up more (borrowing from the dusting excuse, LOL)… think it'll work?
Great post!
Reply
Woo Hoo! Jane Yellowrock #4! I've just read the first and I love the book! Can't wait to read the other 3!
I'd also love to get a look at your mom's painting. I love art.
Reply
Now that is a room I like.
I really do. Lots happening and three large windows. Sounds like a great place. Now I am getting ready to become a big fan of Jane Yellowrock. I read the story in the anthology Strange Brew and LOVED it. I really want to read more about Jane.
Thanks!
Reply
Awwww. Y'all are so nice! Thank you!
I think wil show my other pen name, Gwen, adn the hubby's other pen name, so just know — It's Faith!
Reply
Hey Faith,
Great blog, of course, yours alway are!
Where's Jane? She isn't still on the kitchen table is she?
~Judy
Reply