Workspace Wednesday welcomes Aithne Jaretta
September 26th, 2012 | 
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Today I’m pleased to have Aithne Jaretta as my guest, sharing her workspace. I met Aithne through Indie Romance Ink, a terrific Yahoo Groups information exchange loop for indie authors. In a group of over 1200 people, it can be easy to be invisible, but Aithne has the kind of quirkiness I gravitate to.
BIO: Once upon a time Aithne Jarretta tripped upon a ley line. Actually it had happened before, but she didn’t realize the ramifications until later. She brushed the incident aside and climbed into her car. Real life was the important factor at the moment. However, those RL moments wove into meeting new friends–the kind most people never see and definitely don’t chat much about. Those friends came with persistent voices. Eventually Aithne brought them out of the closet and politely called them Muses. They became her virtual traveling companions and still journey with her today.
Take it away, Aithne.
AITHNE: Thank you, Norah for inviting me to post on your blog about my writing workspace. 😉
First, I should mention that when I moved into this room last spring everything remained bare minimum for several months. That’s because I wanted to grow into my new workspace and let it evolve around me.
In the beginning I was comfortable with that. 😉 The more time that I spent here made the space mine and finally one day I brought my first extra item in and placed it on my desk.
The picture of my youthful mother (small frame on left) has always fascinated my heart because it was taken before her children were born. I’m the youngest of five so it was a long time after that picture was taken before I came into this world.
Another reason that particular picture made it here is my avid interest in the lives of mothers and daughters. You could say that my mother is a ‘plot bunny’ because I’ve used the unspoken life experiences between m & d as part of my story building.
If you move attention slightly to your right and notice the books under my monitor, you’ll discover two very old dictionaries and a history book by Dr. Arnold Toynbee. Perhaps all that wisdom and knowledge will seep into my computer? Lol … I can only hope. I do wonder what Dr. Toynbee, a noted historian, 1889-1975, would think about being a pedestal for a modern day computer monitor. (Less strain on the neck having it so high = better brain flow… here I come, Toynbee!)
Next, is the boss at my desk. My grandson Chace inspires my heart with his gentle face and sweet smile. I live far away from him and only see him once a year. I guess that’s one of the reasons I’ve surrounded myself with family items.
The pencil holder was my mom’s. I inherited it in 1998 and like to think it’s a one of a kind artifact. (Someday it’ll work its way into a story line.)
Although I’ve had these items for years, the computer monitor and my whole set up comes from my son Jeremy. It’s only recently that I learned to make a folder of my book covers, store them on Dropbox, and attach them to my monitor so that I have a slideshow of my work. It’s a cool element for those times I sit and write story ideas and lines longhand. Inspiration swishing by. (That’s my latest release on the monitor.)
Last but not least you can see the small paperweight on the right. It’s a heart shaped goldstone. It’s there next to my keyboard and mouse because in my current wip it plays an important magical role.
Speaking of magical roles…
The picture Midsummer Eve (Edward Robert Hughes) has always inspired me with its faeries and youthful redheaded girl. If this workspace was meant for an author focusing on magical and paranormal elements this image had to be added. So, I took it down from the dining room and brought it in. lol There’s still a bare wall in the other room.
The other gold frame is another important bit of family history. On the left is a faded picture of my Great Granny Goode and her daughter, Granny S. (Another mother & daughter connection.)
Somewhere in here we needed a father and daughter. Naturally, that’s my dad and I Christmas 1983.
The great pumpkin grins with delight. My oldest son Bryan and his wife Amanda made the pumpkin last year. Do I need to admit that it doesn’t live in storage the rest of the year? I didn’t think so.
I’ve saved the sewing machine for last because it’s a prime example of using what we have and writing what you know. This sewing machine (the one doing an imitation of a console table in the picture above) made an important story element come to life in Enchanted Ravensong: Charmed Evermore. When the plot line called for a special security combination several personal items came into play and the pedal that makes the machine run was the key. It was so much fun to write!
Having little bits of my family around me while I work gives my workspace a feeling of comfort that feeds the imagination. Since writers spend so much time in front of their computers, we should each focus on our individual things we believe are important.
Thank you again, Norah. Hope you have a magical week!
That was very cool, Aithne! Thank you!
If you want to learn more about Aithne, you can check her out here:
Okay, after looking at all those lovely heirlooms Aithne surrounds herself with, our contest question presented itself. Tell us what your favorite family heirloom is and you’ll be entered for a chance to win Aithne’s Enchanted Ravensong. But everyone’s a winner today, because Aithne has also made Pearl Luster, a short story in her Touch Time & Soar mini-series, free on Amazon.com for the day.
So let the commenting begin! What is your favorite family heirloom?
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I was curious to hear that you write things out in long hand. I switch back and forth–though I usually compose at the computer, I find there are things that I just have to write out on paper. Oddly, I write faster on paper because it’s too difficult to edit. If I have a scene playing in my mind I sketch it out rapidly, and type it in (usually a few days) later. Do you have a pattern? Are there types of scenes, notes, or other material you prefer to write by hand, or is it just a spur-of-the moment instinct? Thank you for sharing your work-space. It was fascinating. I look forward to checking out your story. Lilia Ford, author of The Heartwood Box: A Fairy Tale, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008KFB6QE
Hello Aithne,
I really enjoyed your blog. I didn’t get a sense of your genre, unless I read too fast and missed that part. Which I often do. 🙂
Did your magical paranormal table mean you write those kinds of stories? I hope so… They are some of my fave genres.
You had me at “ley line”. I don’t have any family heirlooms around at the moment. I’ve just moved into my new office, and like you, want to slowly fill it up with things. Your blog reminded me that I have an envelope of old photos of people I don’t know. I’m assuming their related to me in some way, but there’s no way of telling. Several are of a little boy who worries me because he looks so lonely. I think I’ll dig one out and frame it.
Aithne, lovely blog. I know Norah is delighted to have your story. So many items touch our hearts, don’t they. I have a rocking chair that has been in my family since 1910. Between its arms I find inspiration, comfort and a sense of who I am.
Thank you for sharing your space with us. I love how you surround yourself with things that are important to you!
This is a great post. I love your family heirlooms, and the fact you have a gorgeous dedicated place to write. I don’t anymore, and truly miss it. My favorite family heirloom is an old hand pump that my grandmother had as a young mother on her farm. It was handed down to my dad, and now it sits in my backyard. I have other favorites, but this always comes to mind first.
There are many interesting aspects to your blog, paranormal genre and a sewing table (and I believe you mentioned “voices” in your head). Of course in my days as a psychologist, we might discuss “a break from reality.” LOL But as a writer, I’d just say, “Oh, I hope so!” In my own case, finding a photograph of my late father when he was a young man stationed in Prague, Czechoslovakia (now known as The Czech Republic) right after WW-II to try to help them develop democracy (wasn’t going to happen with soviet troops, who had kicked out the Germans, already there). This got the voices “helping me” to write my first in the paranormal “Immortal Relations” series (the sequel will be on Amazon & Kindle by November). Family heirlooms? Well, I do my writing in my late mother-in-law’s sewing room on the shelf where she had her “serger” (not sure of the spelling of that piece of machinery). My own mother passed away a few years ago, but she was extremely gifted and made amazing art on the inside and outside of large egg shells. I believe they were Goose Eggs and she had hinges on them and when they opened there was a beautiful scenes in each one with miniture castles, horse drawn coaches on roads through forests and lots of jewlry all over the inside and outside of each egg (she made dozens of them). And she built a four foot tall and ten foot long doll house with every type of furniture and all the electrical items found in a real home, wired so they lit up like the real things. She even made large Christmas Wise Men and would use cotton and put it by hand on each branch and outcropping on her Christmas Tree. It made it feel cold when you looked at the tree inside the house and people would slow down to drive past her house to see it in the window. Thanks for bringing back all those memories with your blog! Sorry I took up so much space on it, but the memories had to come out!
G.D., You haven’t taken up space and I loved that you shared so many memories of your family. Those stories of the heart are what make you. Thank you for sharing. 😉 Good luck with your upcoming release. Blessings. ~ Aithne
What a great blog post – thanks Aithne for sharing your space with everyone. I love that you grew into the room. I tend to fill up a room first, but might just have to try your way the next time around.
Lori, I admit this is the first time I filled a room this way. It’s so comfortable now that sometimes it’s difficult to leave and reenter the outside world. lol Thank you for commenting. Hope you have a beautiful night. ~ Aithne
Photos make an office a home, don’t they? And often our office is our home for at least a part of the day. Lovely photos and great story.
Stella MacLean
THE CHRISTMAS INN
November 2012
Stella, Yes, I admit photos add a nice touch to our work space. The time spent here is a pleasure and gives enjoyment while I write. Thank you for commenting. Hope you enjoy your weekend. ~ Aithne
Your use of words and mixture of several genres in writing is appealing. And the collection of photos you add to your writing give more importance to the literature. Keep growing and comping up with more such interesting stories. https://devsmelbourne.blogspot.com/