27
Sep212011
"Where Stories Are Made" with Joseph Nassise, author of ‘Eyes to See’ (+ Giveaway!)
by Carolyn • Posted in Where Stories Are Made
‘Where Stories Are Made‘ is a regular feature here at Book Chick City. It’s where an 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 in words and pictures.
My guest today is urban fantasy author, Joseph Nassise…
Eyes to See – Out Oct
Rogue Angel: Tear of the Gods – Out Now
Rogue Angel: Tear of the Gods – Out Now
I work a part-time job, so I write three days a week plus weekends. On the days that I am writing I mainly do so from home and I do what I can to stick to a regular routine. I get my kids up and out the door for school by 8:00. I come home, eat breakfast, feed the dogs, make some coffee and I’m at my desk by 8:30 ready to write. On the days when I’m a little slow to get started, I might spend a few minutes reading email and catching up on an eclectic mix of blogs, but I’m always writing by 8:45 at the latest.
I will write for two and a half hours and then take a break. If my wife is home we’ll have lunch together. If not, I’ll grab something to eat and get a few minutes of reading in while doing so. Then it is back in the chair again from 12:30 to 3:00, when I pick up my kids from school. That gives me a solid five hours of writing on my designated days, which works out pretty well. Weekends are family time, so I don’t keep the same schedule, but I’ll grab a few hours here and there if I can.
My desk sits on one side of the family room, so there is usually a lot going on around me. I have six dogs and they like to keep me company while I work, lying in a semi-circle around my chair. This might not be an issue if I owned six Chihuahuas, but since my pack includes Australian Shepherds, a Border Collie, a Boxer-Ridgeback mix, a Siberian Husky and a Rottweiler, with the latter two weighing at well over 100 pounds, it makes it a little difficult to push away from the desk at times!
Legion
Maximus
My desk tends to be messy, but I’m okay with that. (Fortunately, for the photo, it was cleaner than usual.) If it is spotless I actually have difficulty writing – apparently the cluttered desk goes with my cluttered mind! Hanging above my desk is a white board that lists the various projects I have underway, the publisher I’m working with on that project, and approximately how far along I am on any of them. I work on several projects at a time, so this helps me keep track of it all and keep me generally on target. The picture shows how my board looked at the end of last month.
Hanging over my desk are the two certificates I received for my 2002 and 2007 Bram Stoker Nominations and around the room are framed posters of the cover art from my various books, like the one pictured here for my latest Rogue Angel novel, Tear of the Gods. I also have posters in Italian from when my novel Riverwatch helped launch Gargoyle Books in Rome and photographs of window displays in bookstores throughout Germany that featured my first international bestseller, Der Ketzer.
When a change of scenery is needed, I’ll head for the food court of the local shopping mall. It sounds crazy, but for whatever reason I find that I get a lot of work done in the midst of all that hustle and bustle. And when all is said and done, I get to wrap up my days with gorgeous desert sunsets like this one. Not so bad, right?
GIVEAWAYTor Books is kindly giving away a copy of ‘Eyes to See‘ to one lucky commenter (US/Canada only - publisher’s request).
This giveaway ends Tue 27th Sept 2011.
All you have to do to enter is the following:
1. Leave a comment for Joseph here
2. Then fill out THIS FORM
3. One entry per person (duplicate entries will be disqualified)
**Please remember to read Book Chick City’s giveaway policy before entering the giveaway**
**Please remember to read Book Chick City’s giveaway policy before entering the giveaway**
GOOD LUCK!
You can find out more about this feature HERE
Click HERE for all participating authors!
**Next time on ‘Where Stories Are Made’: Victoria Laurie**
27 Comments
This is definitely one of my favourite features to read. I find it fascinating how disclipined the author is to get to his desk by 8.30am!
All those different projects on the go at the same time too.
Reply
You write with six large dogs as company? How nice is that! I love big dogs.It sounds as if you have your time divided up and you have the willpower to stick to your schedule. Congrats on that and on our books. They sounds really good.
mom1248(at)att(dot)net
Reply
I can't wait to read your book. It sounds very good. Tore923@aol.com
Reply
Thats funny, I can't stand being around other people when I have writing or work to get done, but I agree with the sunset thing.
Your dogs are gorgeous by the way.
faefever25 at hotmail dot com
Reply
I haven't read any of your books yet, but I'd like to. Your dogs are beautiful, especially Maximus.
bookchick313@hotmail.com
Reply
Wow the very cover makes me wish I could already be reading that book.
Thank you for this giveaway.
derangedpegasus@gmail.com
Reply
I always enjoy this feature! So interesting to hear about the writing lives of different authors.
Reply
Thanks for the comments, all! Max and the rest of the pack are good company, no doubt about it. It only gets a little crazy when they decide to chase the cats!
Reply
Hi Joseph, great post. I also have 2 large dogs. I have a mastiff and a albino pit bull. My mastiff just had 10 puppies about 3 months ago. I only have one of the puppies left, and still trying to get rid of it. You are a new author for me and would love to win and read this book.
Thanks for the giveaway and the chance to win.
christinebails@yahoo.com
Reply
Great writing space and dedication. It's hard to make writing time work with real life, but you seem to have it down pat. Also, love the dogs!
Reply
Thanks for stoppin by Joseph, love all the pooches. If someone cleaned my desk, I would be lost. Thanks for the giveaway!
jnmt3@hotmail.com
Reply
Your book look so good. U can't wait to read it!!!
Reply
I was lucky enough to receive an electronic copy of one of Joseph's books, THE HERETIC: The Templar Chronicles Books One, a few months ago and highly enjoyed it. I have his name on my to get list.
This is one of my favorite things you do on your blog. It's neat looking into the writer's space each time.
Reply
This has nothing to do with the book, but those dogs are just adorable. It is great that you are always surrounded by your animals. I tend to write much better when my dogs are curled up on the couch with me.
Thank you for the great giveaway!
OBoyledBooks at gmail dot com
Michelle (@OBoyledBooks)
Reply
Thanks for having such a great interview and giveaway.
kaylalovesandrew09@yahoo.com
Reply
I love your dogs! They are so beautiful! Thanks for an awesome giveaway:)
jwitt33 at live dot com
Reply
I think its remarkable that you are able to do what you love and still have time fro your family. Thanks for the giveaway
teressaoliver at gmail dot com
Reply
I love reading these posts. I think I need to put some of that discipline in place here!
Reply
Thanks again all. Really appreciate the kind words and the interest in my work! (Max and Legion say thanks too!)
-Joe
Reply
Not only did this make me want to read the book, but it made me want to live your life!! I'm an associate member of Mystery Writers of America, and would commit murder to be able to cut back my hours to part-time – to have the time to write seriously. (Whoa. Another plot idea formulating here…!) Many sincere congrats, hafta run.
- Nancy G
1bookwyrm@bellsouth.net
Reply
Your book sounds great! I look forward to reading it!
aliciahall0605(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
Reply
I am totally impressed that you can write while at the food court! I bet your pack misses you though.
Thank you for the very interesting post and for the giveaway!
Reply
What beautiful dogs! And I would love to read this.
misusedinnocence@aol.com
Reply
It's always interesting to hear how and where authors write.
Reply
This sounds so interesting!
Reply
It's always interesting to hear how and where authors write, I look froward to reading the book it looks and sounds intriguing
Reply
[...] over at Book Chick City today, discussing what my office is like and my typical work day. Stop by and say hello if you [...]