Eileen Cook: “Where I Write” + The Hanging Girl Blog Tour Contest

The official blog tour for The Hanging Girl by Eileen Cook stops by Novel Novice today, to guest post about where she writes. Plus, keep reading to learn more about her creeptastic new book – which sounds perfect for the Halloween reading season – and enter to win a copy. (That’s a thing, right? A Halloween reading season? I’m making it a thing. Consider it a thing.)

Where I Write
by Eileen Cook

I have a laptop so I’ve been known to write everywhere: beaches, libraries, coffee shops, and hotel rooms all over the world, but hands down my favorite place to write is my home office. I’ve trained my brain so that when I’m in that space I know I should be working and I’ve filled it with some of my favorite things.

When we bought our home, I claimed the former porch as my office as soon as I spotted it. The space has windows all along the side. I stuck my desk in the back so I can look out. It’s a well-known fact that a large part of writing is staring off into space thinking “huh, now what?” I have a view of our backyard and in addition to aimless staring into the distance, I can also see my dogs digging holes and yell at them. I consider this multi-tasking.

Every office deserves a comfy chair because you can’t work at a desk all the time. When the words won’t come, I tend to bust out the yarn and see if knitting shakes anything free. There’s a blanket on my ottoman, a hand stitched British flag with a heart. When I was in university I did a semester in London and it’s still hands down one of my favorite places so it has great memories. Plus, it gets damp and chilly here in Vancouver in the winter so everyone needs a blanket. I certainly don’t have it because I’ve been known to nap in here. Certainly not. No napping. The extra pillow is just for decoration.

Bookshelves run along the bottom of the windows, so I have those full of some of my favorite books and all the various things, printer, office supplies, files etc. that I need. My dogs have their crate in my office, or they refer to it, their dog palace. I try not to take their snoring as any type of commentary on my writing.

Above the dog’s palace are some framed notes and words of encouragement for the days when I’m certain that I can’t possibly write another word, that I’m a terrible writer, that no one likes me and that I look funny. (Please tell me I’m not the only person who has these days.) I also have one of my vintage typewriters there. It’s a 1918 Corona and it serves no purpose other than making me happy.

I try to keep my desk clean (with varying degrees of success) with my monitor, a cup for tea, some papers related to what I’m working on that day and bottle of ink for my fountain pen- because there are few things I love more than fancy office supplies.

I believe all writers deserve a space of their own. It might be an office, or just a corner of your bedroom, but some place that is your creative playground. A space to remind yourself that you are a writer. Now – go to that space and get some writing done!

Skye Thorn has given tarot card readings for years, and now her psychic visions are helping the police find the town’s missing golden girl. It’s no challenge—her readings have always been faked, but this time she has some insider knowledge. The kidnapping was supposed to be easy—no one would get hurt and she’d get the money she needs to start a new life. But a seemingly harmless prank has turned dark, and Skye realizes the people she’s involved with are willing to kill to get what they want and she must discover their true identity before it’s too late.

In stores October 3rd: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | TBD | Goodreads

Eileen Cook is a multi-published author with her novels appearing in eight different languages. Her books have been optioned for film and TV. She spent most of her teen years wishing she were someone else or somewhere else, which is great training for a writer. Her newest book, WITH MALICE, will be out in June 2016. She’s an instructor/mentor with the Simon Fraser University Writer’s Studio Program.

You can read more about Eileen, her books, and the things that strike her as funny atwww.eileencook.com. Eileen lives in Vancouver with her husband and two very naughty dogs and no longer wishes to be anyone or anywhere else.

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3 winners will receive a finished copy of THE HANGING GIRL, U.S. Only.