Peeking Between the Pages

...escape into the pages of a good book

Guest Post with Sue Margolis, author of A Catered Affair & Giveaway

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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.

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Comments

  1. 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!

  2. 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

  3. That is a very cozy place to work 🙂

    Google reader follower.

    givingreadingachance AT gmail.com

  4. 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 🙂

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. Ahhh sounds like a great book!
    Please enter me.
    I am a follower
    I posted it on my sidebar

    forevereading at gmail dot com

  10. I enjoyed this post. Anything that Winston Churchill said is memorable. Ellie. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

  13. 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

  19. 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

  29. 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

  31. Sounds like a great book , I can just imagine what the guest are thinking.
    Theresa N
    weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com

  35. Sounds like a great read just before school starts back!
    PMNSL95 at triad dot rr dot com

  40. 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

  42. 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

  45. 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

  48. 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

  49. This sounds like a great book!

    I follow you via gfc as mamabunny13

    mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

  51. This sounds like such a great read! Thanks for the giveaway.

    I am a GFC follower.

    suzebomb(at)gmail.com

  56. 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

  58. I love the kitty lol

    I am a GFC follower and email subscriber

    faefever25(at)hotmail(dot)com

  62. 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