I’m pleased to welcome Sue Margolis, author of A Catered Affair to Peeking Between the Pages today. I’ve not yet had a chance to read my copy of the book but it sounds like a good read so I can’t wait to get to it plus I’ve heard it’s really good. In the meantime it’s nice to have Sue here with us to talk about her writing space entitled Peeking Behind the Covers…
My working space.
I write in bed. Just like Winston Churchill, which I believe legitimises my laziness. OK, Winnie may not have conducted the whole of World War Two in his jammies, propped up on goose down pillows, but apparently that was how he liked to catch up with his paperwork.
I used to write at a desk, in an office that I rented down the road. I liked the idea of going to the office each morning because it felt as if I was doing a ‘proper’ job and gave my day some shape. But it didn’t last. I gave up the office because the woman in the room next to mine, who was a Dutch poultry dealer spent the day, speaking in a loud clucky voice to poultry sellers about the size of their cockerels.
I moved back home. Out of the blue, I developed severe lower back pain. I bought the most expensive desk chair I could find. I saw chiropractors and physical therapists, but nothing helped. Then one day when I had a bit of a cold I decided to work in bed. It was a miracle. The pain went. I’m convinced it has something to do with my legs being supported. I have worked in – or rather – on the bed ever since. Sometimes I ring the changes and move to the sofa.
Unless I have a meeting, my working day never varies. I get up, take a shower and get dressed in my oldest, most comfortable joggers and a baggy top.
Then I tidy the house. Other writers may be able to work knowing their toilet needs cleaning, but not me. Hell no. It’s rubber gloves and bleach for me, first thing each morning. Then I tackle the kitchen floor and sink. That done, I vacuum, load/unload the dishwasher and sort laundry. I should point out that my husband, who is a journalist and also works from home occasionally contributes by feeding Brian the cat.
Finally, I make a cup of tea and Brian and I will settle down on the bed. I spend the morning slapping down text, most of which isn’t particularly good, but as I tell all aspiring writers it’s important to get the creative juices going and get something down. Don’t dither and wait for inspiration. It rarely comes uninvited. You have to get your brain churning. Another important point: beautiful locations may inspire writers, but they are rarely places to actually write. Glorious beaches, pools in the Mediterranean may appear perfect, but in reality they provide too many distractions. Most writers – myself included -prefer staring at a blank wall with the rain pounding outside.
I work for five, maybe six hours without a break – although there are numerous trips to the refrigerator.
When I’ve finished I stare at the treadmill in the corner of my bedroom and it stares back at me. If I’m feeling up to it, I might divest it of the clothes and bags hanging from it and jog a mile or so. If I’m not, I’ll make more tea, go back to the sofa and switch on Deal or No Deal.
__________
Thanks so much for this terrific guest post Sue and that awesome picture of Brian the cat and your writing space! I have to agree that writing in bed has to be the most comfy place for me as well!
__________
About A Catered Affair (from Fantastic Fiction)
A novel about a jilted bride who’s about to discover that not marrying the wrong man can sometimes lead you to the right one.
When Tallulah gets jilted at the altar, she gets very drunk and starts making passes at the male wedding guests. She even propositions the caterer. But in the next few weeks, reality comes crashing down around her. Her difficult mother becomes more impossible than ever. Her lesbian sister starts trying to have a baby. Nana Ida gets busy matchmaking. What Tallulah is about to discover is that happiness doesn’t always come in the form of the perfect doctor- and that sometimes real love doesn’t require a catered affair.
Buy A Catered Affair on Amazon.com or Amazon.ca
About Sue Margolis
Before becoming a writer, Sue Margolis worked as a reporter for the BBC. She lives in London with her journalist husband. They have three grown up children.
Sue’s website
Find Sue on Facebook
GIVEAWAY DETAILS
I have one copy of A Catered Affair by Sue Margolis to share with my readers. To enter…
- For 1 entry leave me a comment with an email address to contact you (no email address, no entry).
- For 2 entries, follow my blog. If you already do, thanks, and please let me know so that I can pass on the extra entry to you as well.
- For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway and spread the word!
This giveaway is open to US & Canadian residents (no PO boxes) and I will draw for the winner on Saturday, August 27/11. Good luck everyone!
© 2010, Darlene of Peeking Between the Pages. All Rights Reserved. If you’re reading this on a site other than Peeking Between the Pages or Darlene’s Feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
I love that Sue Margolis works from bed! Sounds so comfy.
My email is sleepingbette[at]yahoo[dot]com and I am a follower of your blog. Thanks for featuring this author and book!
thanks for this giveaway! I so agree that not marrying the wrong man can sometimes lead you to the right guy! I've seen something like this in our family. And it's just… well, I think it's romantic!
GFC follower: frunchezzcuh
hellgirl_fran@yahoo.com
That is a very cozy place to work 🙂
Google reader follower.
givingreadingachance AT gmail.com
I was just looking at this one in Barnes and noble yesterday. Sound really good. I love her comment about the trips to the refrigerator. That was a real problem for me during the time I worked from hone 🙂
I love her workspace and how she pays homage to Winston Churchill! Looks like a great story, thanks for the giveaway!
I am a GFC follower.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com
I think you have to be very disciplined to write at home like that! I'd love to be entered. I subscribe in Google Reader. kathy(at)bermudaonion.net
Ahhh sounds like a great book!
Please enter me.
I am a follower
I posted it on my sidebar
forevereading at gmail dot com
A Catered affair sounds really good! Yay to writing in bed:)
+2 entrires = I am a follower of the blog
+3 entires – I tweeted the guest post and giveaway :
http://twitter.com/#!/crazymidwestgal/status/100930058683809792
junegirl63(at)gmail(dot)com
I'm a follower- thanks for the giveaway!
Rachelhwallen@gmail.com
I enjoyed this post. Anything that Winston Churchill said is memorable. Ellie. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com
Sounds like a great book, please enter me.
littleone AT shaw doT ca
GFC follower
littleone AT shaw DoT ca
I love that writing space and think it would be wonderful to work in bed, but I might just end up taking a nap! I would love to read this one, Dar, so please do enter me in your giveaway, and thanks for hosting it!
zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net
Sounds like a fun read. And boy, does that bed look comfy!
mryward(at)yahoo(dot)com
I follow on GFC. (mamie316)
mryward(at)yahoo(dot)com
I try to avoid looking at my treadmill
mce1011 AT aol DOT com
I follow your blog
mce1011 AT aol DOT com
I Just went to a wedding so this would be a great read to end of the summer! I'm also a follower.
Margaret
singitm@hotmail.com
I've written poetry in bed, but have never written my novel pieces in bed. For some reason its easier for me to write a novel in a chair. I'd love to be entered…I'm going to post the giveaway on the sidebar.
I follow
savvyverseandwit at gmail
subscriber lomazowr@gmail.com.Another great draw!!
Sounds like a fun read!
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
I have this book on my wishlist. Thanks for the giveaway!
lag110 at mchsi dot com
GFC follower as Karen B.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
I follow via GFC.
lag110 at mchsi dot com
Tweeted: https://mobile.twitter.com/lag32583/status/100977281970872320
lag110 at mchsi dot com
i adore Sue Margolis so to win her new book would be fantastic!
i follow your blog!
jmndowning@gmail.com
I would love to read this book.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I am a GFC follower
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I think it would be fun to write in bed. It's much more comfortable than sitting in a chair staring at a screen 🙂 I would like to read this book.
Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com
I am a GFC follower.
Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com
Sounds like a great book , I can just imagine what the guest are thinking.
Theresa N
weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com
I'm a gfc follower: theresan
theresa n
weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com
Sounds good, thanks for the giveaway!
myra0502 at yahoo dot com
GFC follower Myra C
myra0502 at yahoo dot com
Sounds like a great read just before school starts back!
PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com
I follow your blog via GFC as pmnsl95
PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com
Tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/pmernick1/status/101029274907189250
PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com
I'd love a chance at this book thanks!
unforgetable_dreamer_always (at) hotmail (dot) com
I'm a follower thanks.
unforgetable_dreamer_always (at) hotmail (dot) com
Your bed looks so neat and tidy. My favorite reading spot is in bed, accompanied by three cats. I am afraid that my writing is always done sitting straight in front of my computer.
pboylecharley AT hotmail DOT com
I'm a follower via gfc and a subscriber by email. I also posted this to my blog: http://dancealertreads.blogspot.com/2011/08/httpwwwpeekingbetweenthepagescom201108g_09.html
dancealert at aol dot com
How great that the author has figured out a way to be comfortable while she writes given her back problems.
GFC follower
jen at delux dot com
I'd love to read this:)
mk261274 at gmail dot com
GFC=mk261274
mk261274 at gmail dot com
What a great peek into her writing life. I love that she says not to wait for inspiration, to just keep writing.
Her book sounds good too. Thanks for entering me.
carolsnotebook at yahoo dot com
I'd like that space for myself…the cat can stay!!!
I love the cat on the bed….
RJB
loki304(at)tds(dot)net
WHat a great guest post! I love Sue's working space "Peeking Behind the Covers"! Anywhere that, after tidying up the house & cleaning a bit, you can sit comfortably and get 5-6 hours straight woek acoomplished is the right place to call your work space! And Brian's there!
I follow your blog!
Aimala127(at)gmail(dot)com
This sounds like a great book!
I follow you via gfc as mamabunny13
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com
Yet another great sounding summer read. Please put my name in the hat…and pick me. 😉
sahara5150@hotmail.com
Diana Quinn
Also a follower of you Blog.
This sounds like such a great read! Thanks for the giveaway.
I am a GFC follower.
suzebomb(at)gmail.com
I would love to win this giveaway!
I follow your blog.
hanneyam@gmail.com
That bed does look cozy
chocolate and croissants at yahoo . com
Gfc follower
chocolate and croissants at yahoo. com
I blogged about it. http://chocolateandcroissants.blogspot.com/2011/08/blog-world-giveaways.html
Oops! I put both entries in one comment. So here is the second half of that comment so my entries will be valid.
I follow you via gfc (mamabunny13)
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com
I am guilty of using my treadmill as a clothes hanger too. LOL! Loved this post.
I love the kitty lol
I am a GFC follower and email subscriber
faefever25(at)hotmail(dot)com
I love the sound of this book. I can’t wait to read it.
hootowl1978 at gmail dot com
I follow via GFC as Jessy
hootowl1978 at gmail dot com
I tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/hootowl1978/status/105067300859813888
hootowl1978 at gmail dot com
I really feel for Tallulah in this story, and I'd love to read the book to find out how it ends. Please enter me. Thanks!
Anita Y
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
Follow on GFC as Anita Yancey.
Anita Y
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
Thanks for the giveaway!!
areallibrarian@gmail.com
I also follow! =)