‘Where Stories Are Made’ is a new 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 Young Adult author Lauren Kate…
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Before I moved to Los Angeles last fall, I was living on a farm.
Two hundred and twenty acres of soy, tomatoes, and alfalfa in the middle of nowhere northern California. It was the place where I first laid eyes on my husband, it was the place where got married (we had a rehearsal dinner/karaoke party in the pole barn the night before), and it’s the place where I wrote Fallen.
So when it came time to move to Los Angeles, where my husband is getting his PhD in English Literature, both of us wanted to find a place that retained some of the peace and charm of the rural life we used to live. We settled on Laurel Canyon, which is a windy, scenic, hippy neighborhood in LA. It’s five minutes from the lights and action of the Sunset Strip but feels a world away.
My main stipulation on deciding on a place to live is one that would make Virginia Woolf proud: I need a room with a view. Writers spend a lot of time staring into space and it helps me greatly to have something pretty to stare at. This is the best seat in the house.
In the mornings, I like to take our dog Milo for a run in Runyon Canyon, the canyon next door to ours. I just ran a half-marathon in Disneyland this weekend, and Milo was the best training partner a girl could ask for.
This is his favorite bench to take a break at in Runyon.
For the past two months, I’ve been pounding away at my badly battered keyboard. Maybe when all (not just half) they keys are completely worn away, it’ll be time for a new computer.
When I’m working on a draft, I write pretty much all day every day until I’ve just about lost my mind. Last week, I finally finished the first draft of the third Fallen book, Passion. There was so much research to do for this book, which spans 5000+ years, and my desk was overflowing with books. Here’s a pastiche of what went into Passion:
Now that I’m done with the first draft, it goes over to my editor, and I have time to catch up with readers, which I love to do! Here I am chatting with some Australian fans earlier this week:
And today, I’m skyping with some readers in the Netherlands.
At the end of a long day of writing, my brain is usually fried. My very favorite way to wind down is by cooking something elaborate. I’m a food-blog nut, and when I can’t sleep because I’m on a crazy deadline, I’m often found scouring the web for cool new recipes. A recent success was this coconut quinoa with spicy tomato apricot chutney, which I made after I’d gotten through a really loooong and impossible scene. Like many dinners eaten by two exhausted, creatively-zapped people, this one’s served best on a TV tray in bed!
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Torment: 28th Sept 2010
You can find out more about this feature HERE
21 Comments
*Happy Dance*
HI LAUREN!!!
Great post! I read an ARC of Torment and loved it! I have the review on my blog if you ever want to take a look! Cant wait for number 3!
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really great so nice of lauren to share
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Really enjoyed this post. Thanks for sharing Lauren, I love the view from your writing room and Milo is just gorgeous. I'm an Aussie and a little late to the Fallen party (it's on my reading list for next week) at least I won't have a long wait til Torment
PS You can win Torment on my blog this month for anyone interested
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Hi Lauren!
cool workspace. aren't macs great? I still use my macg4 too, though its a desktop and it's 8 yrs old but I've only started having issues with it being too old to update this year!
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Wonderful! It's great you could find a place in LA with the peace of the countryside. Your home is inspiring!
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Thanks for sharing Lauren. I was impressed to read that you send your book to your editor after the first draft. Is that a normal procedure? I thought writers normally sent it after a few drafts.
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What an idyllic setting! It looks and sounds as if it would be the perfect land to be creative on. Thank you for the post!
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Wow, I'm in love… with Milo! What a gorgeous dog
This is a great post I love the insight into your writing process and the research you're doing.
I'm late to the Fallen party having only finished it a couple of weeks ago. But, looking forward to starting Torment!
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Lauren what a perfectly awesome view and the one where you stop with Milo at the bench is breathtaking… This has been one of my favorites Caroline, wish though could have had more farm scenery pics as love the country my own self having grew up that way and miss it terribly!
Thanks much for sharing this wonderful insight into the process of creating and you are right Lauren it might be time to replace the computer once those keys are all worn out! Gotta love a Mac, mine is only 3 years old and I am never going back to a PC again…
jackie ^_^
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Milo is adorable! Lovely writing space.
xx,
E.J
From the Shadows
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THANKS LAUREN FOR SUCH A GREAT POST – AND MILO IS JUST ADORABLE!!
ALSO, THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO STOPPED BY AND LEFT COMMENTS!
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Lauren! I recently read and fell in love with Fallen
Whoot whoot!
Love that you married on a farm.
Love that you chose something that still has rural charm.
Love your pup.
Keep rocking!
Great post
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I loved that Lauren. I am just half way through Fallen and I absolutely love it.
The farm you and your husband lived on really looked and sounded romantic.
I can see how your new home also works for keeping your mind active.
Thank you for sharing. I can't wait for Torment and Passion
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I loved reading this post. It was great hearing about a typical day for Lauren.
I love the writing spot!
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Lauren… Do you take Milo for a run or does he take you for a run?
I've got Fallen here (many thanks to Book Chick City!).
Great post!
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What a great idea for a feature, Carolyn! I'll be checking this one weekly!
Love seeing where the magic happens. Fallen and Torment are both wonderful!!
re: the farm photo—Hey, I know that skyline, Lauren!
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Hey Lauren loved the pics… Cool workspace! Milo is soooo cute! This was a great post and I now have you in my TBR Pile! YAY
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Great post! I love the look of where Lauren lives!
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"Writers spend a lot of time staring into space and it helps me greatly to have something pretty to stare at."
LOL! I don't know why that comment make me laugh out loud, but it totally makes sense.
Your views are amazing. And the dog is so cute!
Thanks for sharing!
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Wow! I had no idea you were such a rural farm girl Lauren! I love your new house. It looks very peaceful! Thanks for sharing your photos and giving us some insight into your writing process!
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The farm sounds amazing! I would love to have a farm like that. But, well… you know how it is. But the new home is lovely! And look at that adorable dog. awww. Sounds like a wonderful place to be. Thanks for sharing.
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