Workspace Wednesday welcomes Barbara Longley
My run of awesome Montlake Romance authors continues! This week it is my pleasure to welcome Barbara Longley. Barbara writes contemporary and paranormal romance. Her latest Montlake book, a contemporary romance titled Far From Perfect, sounded so delicious, I snagged it for my Kindle. I hoped to have read it by now, but life sort of got in the way. Welcome, Barbara!
Barbara Longley: First of all, I have to apologize because I’m a lousy photographer. I did try several shots, and this is the best. Sad. I know. This is where I work. I don’t own a desk. I have a laptop and an ottoman. Everything I need is close by, including my reference books.
Having an office is a relatively recent development for me, and all of the furniture is new except the futon. Yep. My office does occasionally turn back into a guest bedroom, which is what it has been since my two children flew the coop. Now that I’m writing under contract, and I have deadlines, I figured I’d better get more professional about my writing. It is really nice to have everything in once place. I feel so much more organized. I work a full time day job, so I really need to be organized. That’s my challenge this year—learning to manage the demands of my day job with the demands of my writing career. I’ve made my deadlines for both, so I’m getting it down. I do run into the occasional wall of overwhelmedness, though. And that’s when I take my little dog for a long walk, or watch a cheesy movie on the Hallmark channel.
I’ve included a picture of my writing buddy, Sophie, a basset hound/cocker spaniel mix. If she’s not snuggled up on the couch next to me, she’s gazing up at me as I write. I also have a cat named Fred. He also likes to keep my lap warm, which is tricky when I’m trying to write.
My October release with Montlake is a small town contemporary romance with military elements. Here’s the blurb:
FAR FROM PERFECT – Noah Langford narrowly survived the roadside bombing in Iraq that killed five of his men and took his leg, leaving him haunted by flashbacks and riddled with guilt. When his stepbrother Matt dies in a car accident, the loss feels like the final blow to Noah’s shattered soul. But then he learns about the girlfriend and baby Matt abandoned years earlier, and suddenly Noah has a new mission… Ceejay Lovejoy was nineteen and pregnant when her boyfriend walked out, disappearing from her life just like her parents did. Since that day, Ceejay has devoted herself to giving her daughter a better life, avoiding any man who could threaten that security—until the day Noah Langford shows up on her doorstep. His gentle spirit has an unexpected effect on Ceejay’s guarded heart, tempting her to take one last chance on love. But when a painful secret comes to light, it threatens to break the fragile bond growing between them…and to destroy a love powerful enough to heal them both.
The second book in the trilogy, THE DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES, is coming out April 23rd. Once lucky commenter will win a $10 gift card for Amazon, which will be delivered electronically. Thank you so much for stopping by.
Thank you, Barbara. That is one sweet dog. Sophie, I mean! The one on your cover is a different matter. That’s a whole lotta dog! Can’t wait to read the book. I love dogs in books.
Readers, you can learn more about Barbara at her website. You can also follow her on Twitter and friend her on Facebook.
Now, let the commenting begin!
Thanks for having me this morning, Norah. I love the look of your blog. It’s very classy. Sophie fits right in. :0)
I used to write at a tiny computer desk, but now I use my netbook at the kitchen table where I can better keep an eye on my 5-year-old. Love my netbook!
Good luck with your deadline, Barbara.
How fun to see your workspace Barb! I find it interesting to see how/where other authors work. I have a designated office space but rarely use it. I decided yesterday I’m moving my son in there once he heads off for his freshman year of college. Poor kid. NOT! He’ll still have a place to crash. Sophie, you need to move Far From Perfect to the top of your reading list. This series is fantastic! Barb does a wonderful job of writing wounded heroes and them finding there own heroines with problems of their own. Love this series!
Jody, will you take over his current room for your office once you move your son to your present office? I think it’s fun to see where writers write is fun too.
Thanks for the peek into the world of a writer. I’ve only ever seen the “day job” side of things!
When does Sophie get co-writer credit? Does she need an agent?
I love that look on Sophie’s face 🙂 Nice office, Barbara!
Thanks, Toni. It’ll do. I own a very tiny, old post-WWII house. It’s cozy. :0)
Ha! Sophie’s vocabulary is quite limited, so she will not be getting any co-credits or agents, unless she learns some marketable doggie tricks. :0)
Thanks, Jody, and Nicole!
Barbara: As you are aware, many writers started like you – working from home. However, you have a leg up on them, actually 8 legs with your 2 buddies. Sophie is so cute.
Best wishes on your current and future writings.
Your long lost, but recently found friend. Dick
I am so glad we reconnected, Dick! Thanks for commenting, and best of luck with the drawing.
Hi Barb! Love the picture of Sophie. She looks like she wants a treat.
Glad you got your office back together too. I assume it’s back downstairs?
Tami
Yep. I’m back downstairs, and Sophie ALWAYS wants treats!
Aww….I’m not sure I could work with Sophie staring at me with that sweet face. Great space, Barbara, and I agree–balancing those writing and day-job deadlines is hard work!
Thanks, Suzanne! We’re doing it though, right? I hope to retire from teaching in four years or so. Then maybe I’ll take a part time job and write full time. That would be lovely.
What a face! It’s a wonder you get any writing done at all, since I bet Sophie would much rather play!
I take Sophie to the off-leash doggie park almost every day, so we do get the playtime in. Plus, she takes me for nice long walks.
The problem with being so low is Sophie can nudge you Barbara! Maybe you have yourself positioned there because you need that nudge once and a while? 🙂
I wish I had an office….for now my kitchen table works just fine. It’s a higher top table so my Vizslas don’t nudge me. When I curl up on the couch with my IPAD for some reading I’m constantly harassed!
Course I think would be disappointed if they didn’t.
Do Fred and Sophie get along. Who is the boss in that relationship?
Yeah, Kevin, when Sophie nudges me, it’s not to get me writing, it’s to fetch a treat for her! Fred and Sophie are best buddies. They sleep curled up together, and give each other face washes, and play. Fred is the boss, because Sophie was only 8 weeks when I brought her home, and Fred was already five years old.
Sophie’s primary focus is…food. She has me trained. :0) Thanks for stopping in, Leigh.
Barbara, your office looks pretty darned organized to me! Certainly a lot more so than mine.
Awww, Sophie is adorable. My golden retriever Brodie gets exactly that same look in his eyes when he feels I haven’t paid enough attention to him. I call him the Professional Pathetic; he has the act down pat.
So fun to have a peek into your writing life!
Thanks, Nancy. I’m definitely a dog lover, and I think they all *have it down pat!*
Enjoyed reading the comments. I love your writing buddy-he looks like he wants you to stop and do something with him. i get those same looks from my dog when I read a lot. He brings his ball and drops it in my lap.
Your book sounds really good and i have added it to my TBR list.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Joye!
Hi,
I love your dog! What a sweetheart!
Your office is beautiful and organized. That’s my goal for the next year.
Great blurb. Best of luck.
Jana
Thanks, Jana! The key here is that it “looks” organized. I had my back to the closet…which is not in the picture. :0)
LOVE Sophie! Fun to see where you write (and you surely do write some good books, lady!).
Thanks, Veronica! I love my little office, and I love to write. :0)
Great office. I couldn’t write without a desk though. Even on my laptop, I have to have it on a table or desk.
It’s too hard on my back/neck to write at a desk. My arms go tingly. Neck issues. Thanks for stopping by, Cynthia!
So exciting to see you promoting this book. Kiss Sophie for me!
Thanks, Wynde! You do know where Sophie’s mouth has been, right?? :0)
Very nice! And who doesn’t love those eyes staring up at you? When my cat was alive she would warm my lap, and occasionally help me type. Naturally, we didn’t agree on her editing style, but she was nice to have around. Thank you for sharing this!
Thank you for stopping by, Barbara. Yes, my cat likes to edit as well. He once deleted half of my masters thesis…
Barbara, I envy the neatness of your office. Mine looks as if a bomb went off in it. And Far From Perfect sounds like a wonderful story. Good luck with it!
Thanks, Jan! It’s just me at home now, so it’s pretty easy to keep things neat. Plus, of course I cleaned before taking the photo…