How about that? Two posts in just as many days. Don't start expecting that.
I think it is important for everyone (especially readers and writers) to have a place of their own. A sanctuary. A sacred and private space they can go to to read and write, decompress. A place that is their own that they don’t have to share with anyone. I’m lucky to have three such places, well, four, actually.
My husband and I don’t have any kids, unless you count Sass, so that means that we have two extra bedrooms in our house to play with. For a long time, they were empty, filled with junk. Then Hubby and I got hobbies and the rooms evolved.
Hubby’s room was transformed to a workout slash reloading room (also storage) and my room was transformed into the reading and purse room (Yes, those are some of my purses hanging on the wall). Hubby has no desire to enter that domain, but it is none-the-less understood that it is my sanctuary. There’s a large window, a loveseat I snuggle into the corner of, and bookcases (which I need to get more of). This is where I go on lazy Sunday afternoons or any evening and read. I randomly pick a book off a shelf and dive right in. The door is always open, so both Hubby and Sass come wondering in from time to time; but for the most part it is my own, and I have to say, my most favorite room in the house.
My other places are just as special, but not as private. We have a patio set on our front porch, and I have to say that is my second most favorite spot to read and edit my current novel (I never write out there). Right now, Fall is coming, so it’s crisp and cool outside. The leaves are turning and falling and my cats like to snuggle up next to me. I look forward to Saturday and Sunday mornings because I get to pour an over-sized cup of coffee and sit out on the patio and just read. Sometimes Hubby will join me, but for the most part, it’s just me and the cats (and the annoying yips of my neighbor’s dog).
The corner of our couch is a good spot, too, but I often have to fight Hubby for that one, especially during football season. One of the MANY local Starbucks is where I usually go to write. That’s kind of cliché now a days, but I think that's because it works. There’s something about the atmosphere that Starbucks creates—busy, loud, a hub of activity, just constantly moving. I grab my coffee, bagel and usual seat, plug in my HP mini and iPod and get to typing. I also get a lot of work done (the most, actually) at work during my lunches. It’s amazing how little I write in the quietness of my home—I think there are too many distractions.
But, whatever the place—whether you have different ones for reading or writing or working out your zen, or they are the same—keep it your sanctuary. Make it your own so you can have a place to relax and get in “the zone” of whatever it is you’re going to be doing. It’s the best feeling in the world.
--Me
I'm so excited, I can hardly contain it! (The caffeine from the two large cups of coffee I had at my local coffee shop is probably helping with that...)
NaNo was officially over yesterday. It says so on my NaNo home page which makes it official. I have mixed emotions about December starting. The 50,000 word bump to Atlantis brings it up officially to 84,000 and I'm about 2/3 to 3/4 of the way through. I think that another 20,000 is a good round number to shoot for so that I have plenty of wiggle room for the editing stage (which I'm planning on beginning around the second half of December.), which is one of my favorite parts. 
But apparently Mother Nature doesn't need permission. I woke up this morning to about 8" of fresh snow. Grrr. A 30 minute car ride on the freeway took Hubby and I an hour and 10 minutes. The only thing making this horrid weather bearable right now is Florence + the Machine. :-) There is always an upside to every situation. Here's the one for this one: Driving through big fluffy flakes in the dark makes me feel like I'm traveling at warp speed on the USS Enterprise instead of the snail's pace of 20 MPH that I'm actually going. 
Hubby’s room was transformed to a workout slash reloading room (also storage) and my room was transformed into the reading and purse room (Yes, those are some of my purses hanging on the wall). Hubby has no desire to enter that domain, but it is none-the-less understood that it is my sanctuary. There’s a large window, a loveseat I snuggle into the corner of, and bookcases (which I need to get more of). 
My other places are just as special, but not as private. We have a patio set on our front porch, and I have to say that is my second most favorite spot to read and edit my current novel (I never write out there). Right now, Fall is coming, so it’s crisp and cool outside. The leaves are turning and falling and my cats like to snuggle up next to me. I look forward to Saturday and Sunday mornings because I get to pour an over-sized cup of coffee and sit out on the patio and just read. Sometimes Hubby will join me, but for the most part, it’s just me and the cats (and the annoying yips of my neighbor’s dog). 
t—I love books. 
It’s easy for me to spend the day reading and writing, so I thought I would combine the two and start reviewing and posting my thoughts about books I have recently read. I’m also going to keep a growing list of books that I’ve read, a quick blurb about them and rate them, hopefully to help you out. I think this will also help me to post more on my blog. 
