Workspace Wednesday Welcomes USA Today Bestselling Author Julianne MacLean
August 1st, 2012 | 
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Please help me welcome USA Today Bestselling Author Julianne MacLean to Workspace Wednesday. Julianne is a fellow Canadian, a wonderful, supportive friend, a savvy colleague, and an extremely talented author. Lest you think that’s my bias talking, Julianne is a 3-time RITA finalist and has won numerous awards, including the Booksellers’ Best Award, the Book Buyers Best Award, and a Reviewers’ Choice Award from Romantic Times. Her newest release – Married By Midnight (A Pembroke Palace Novella) – is now available. Without further delay, I give you Julianne MacLean.
JULIANNE: That’s it. I can’t hide it anymore! I’ve been living a lie and it’s time to come clean.
Last year when I launched my new website, I invited readers on a virtual tour of my office. My husband videotaped a short segment where I displayed my bookcases, my tidy desktop and computer, and some lovely inspirational framed photos of Johnny Depp and Gerard Butler.
You can view it HERE.
I now confess that that video has become pure fantasy, because under normal circumstances, my office never looks like that. While endeavoring to create a glamorous image of my romance writing life for my website, I was dishonest, for in reality, it looks like this:
Notice there are open books strewn about, papers to be filed, a few dirty coffee mugs hanging around creating cup stains on the desk. And here’s the kicker: I don’t even write down there anymore. I used to (in fact, I believe I was still writing there when the original video was shot), but now I prefer to be on the main floor instead of down in the basement.
So the disaster area has moved up to my formal dining room where the situation is no better. I only clean off the table for a giant family dinner when all my relatives are expected to arrive.
And no, I am not listening to music in this picture. Those are sound-reduction headphones so I can shut out the world while still keeping an eye on the teenagers in my family room (I can see them through the French door).
I love my sound-reduction headphones. When I place them over my ears, it’s as if I just dunked my head under water, and it’s GAME ON for writing. Every writer should own a pair.
Notice also that I am working on a crappy laptop. I use it only to revise or transpose new material, which I write longhand in a coiled notebook.
Here is where I often write longhand in the afternoons. That’s where I wrote most of Married by Midnight.
I also like to write in the big comfy chair in my living room. I have one of those lap desks, which was money well spent.
So there you have it, the truth revealed. My office is just for storage.
Thank you for sharing that with us, Julianne! Though your basement office is lovely, I can see why you prefer that upstairs dining room. It really puts the “home” in home office. And I think I could write very happily in that comfy chair, but I’d have my laptop on that lap desk.
Okay, folks, now that Julianne has … er … come clean, so to speak, about the true state of her workspace, have you anything to say to her?
I should add that we will do a draw from among the commenters, the winner of which will receive the first three books in the Pembroke Palace series. If the winner is in North American, she may choose to receive the books in either electronic or print form. If the winner is international, however, the only option will be electronic, due to prohibitive shipping costs.
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This is fascinating! I love seeing where other writers work. I also like to write a few different places. I really need to clean the clutter from my office! LOL
Hi Vonda! Glad you stopped by 🙂
I think that nothing is better than writing in the comfort of your own home. No wonder, your books are so phenomenal. Keep up the great work.
Thank you Cheryl!
Although not a writer, I can attest to a messy office myself. I work at home one day a week and am on the board of a national dog rescue organization so my office tends to look like a tornado just went through it. Enjoyed the quick peak into your life.
Thanks for popping by, Debbie!
Thanks for sharing that with us. I have been thinking about your office every day thinking that I needed to get one as well. Now, I will just settle for the sofa and a lap desk I’ve always used. I also wanted to thank you Julianne because it is your books that got me interested in the Romance genre. I love your writing! Thanks for sharing a little bit of your world with us.
Thank you so much, Gabrielle! Glad you came by 🙂
There’s nothing better than a big comfy chair!
I agree!
Thanks for sharing with your readers! Interesting. As someone who also has a messy home office, I can totally relate. I still work in mine, but I understand wanting to work on a different floor of the house in a more comfy space.
You give us fabulous stories to enjoy and now you give us a glimpse of your home thanks.
Sometimes I just need a different set of walls to look at. I also write out on the back deck in the summer. Though not so much this year because they’re rebuilding a dam behind my house and the construction is very noisy.
Thanks so much for sharing about your “home office”. I enjoyed learning about you and where you write such delicious books. I especially liked the picture of you with the sound reduction headphones; what a neat idea.
Wherever you can escape into the private, magical world where your characters lurk, waiting for you, is your special portal to a mysterious world. Hooray for you, wherever your portal exists!
Thanks Nora!
Thanks for sharing with us. I had never considered sound reduction headphones and find it an interesting idea, but with younger grandkids around there is just no way it would work for me. Smile. Enjoy reading your books.
I enjoyed the interview. I also love to read. I enjoy entering contests hoping that I can win a book or two. That is how I find new authors to read.
HI JULIANNE AND NORA!! LOOKING FORWARD TO READING!
Well, when you see a clean desk without anything on it except for monitor – then you know something is wrong or at least nobody’s using it 😉 Otherwise there will be a lot of papers, books, pens and, yes, tea/coffee mugs and sometimes plates LOL
I would like to get a pair of those sound-reduction headphones for when I read! I guess it does not matter where you write, as long as you get inpired with good ideas. You two, have a beautiful day!
By nature, I really like to have my things organized, especially books, papers, etc.. In practice, I don’t do so well except with my books. That says something, doesn’t it, especially since I almost always will choose reading over spending time organizing!
I agree Janie – to tidy up my office would be a day taken away from writing.
It is absolutely wonderful that creativity can be achieved with coffee cup stains, multiple comfy or not locations and noise reducing head phones. I am thinking of those head phones as a gift to someone I know. Good Fortune and Blessings shine on you and your creative muse.
Hi Julianne!
I like the poster of the man and woman in your office. What’s the story about that one? I write longhand in a notebook too. It’s nice to see where you write. You look groovy in your headphones. I’d like to read the first three books in the PP series. And I’m looking forward to PRINCESS IN LOVE. Have a great day!
Hi Mel – the painted picture is the background is a reproduction oil painting of one of my earlier books TO MARRY THE DUKE. It was a gift from my husband on our tenth wedding anniversary. Gotta love him. 🙂
It just shows that you have so many ideas that you’ve had to set up different areas so you’re ready to work when something hits you! I think being ‘tidy’ is highly overrated anyway!
Really is fun seeing where different authors do their writing…and I’m betting there are more authors out there that have made their areas neat when there is going to be a ‘photo op’!
I love that you revealed this, Julianne. It means that you are normal. You are a talented author who is genuine, friendly and NORMAL. I like you a lot. /:o)
Thank you Scotialassie!! That is very sweet 🙂
OMG, I LOVE IT!!!!! I see a lot of authors with their “perfect” home offices and I think they must be super human. It’s nice to see the truth. Makes you seem more down to earth actually! I applaud your honesty. I say if you are that organized it’s because you aren’t doing anything. Can’t work anymore due to a disability but when I did my desk was the worst ever but I also got more work done and knew where everything was. I outworked all but the manager. So an organized desk is not indicative of an organized mind. Although at the point all of my is a disorganized mess!! And I did get the latest book and I too love the cover!!!
I agree, Vicki – I know where everything is on my desk, and I like an open dictionary right at my fingertips. Happy to hear you enjoyed the newest book!
Nothing like a big comfy chair or your bed for thinking.
I say if you’re writing great stories, do it wherever you are most comfortable! I certainly would.
WOW! I love see my wonderful authors workplaces, But I have to say I really LOVE YOUR CHAIR!!! Keep up the great work!
Thanks Judy – I like that chair too because I can sit in so many different positions. Sometimes I lay across it and drape my knees over the armrest, rest my head on the other one. It’s almost the width of a loveseat.
Love your many “offices”. Been trying to cleanup my home office and craft center, not so. Looking forward to your new read! Thanks.
Hi! I share my “home office” with the TV, Wii, washer, dryer and all sorts of other distractions brought on by my four kids and I’ve been trying to come up with a solution. Needless to say that those sound reduction headphones just might be it. What a great idea! I loved seeing where you write. Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Sounds like you have a lot of challenges Charline! Headphones might help!
You can’t fight where your inspiration comes from, and you can’t fight where you have to sit for said inspiration. The pic of your office made me laugh, a great spot (with that big romantic pose picture behind the desk) where you can spread out and not have to clean up…..and then the pic of your dining room where the magic really happens. I laugh because I did the exact same thing when I was trying to scrapbook my daughters 1st year. I have a room for that, but I ended up sprawled across the kitchen island, having to move and pickup any time we needed to eat. Ugh!
That sounds familiar, Lexi :). Sometimes we need to be in the heart of a home to be creative!
I am so going to use that line next time my husband gives me a hard time for not using my basement room!
Looks a lot like my desk. I get it organized and things put away but them something always needs up on it for just a minute (ha-ha). Then it is back to looking like it does now.
I love it! Thanks letting me know I’m not the only one who has piles of stuff all over the formal dining room table! So glad you were able to write Garrett’s story to complete that series. Also can’t wait for Princess in Love!
Thanks for the interview and showing us where you do your writing. That big comfy chair looks pretty comfortable and cozy.
Thank goodness, Julianne. Your ‘confession’ tells us that you are HUMAN, just like the rest of us. I really like the part about the table only be cleaned when company is coming. I don’t write or anything like that, but my dining room table looks exactly like yours. And yes, when company is coming everyone is thrown into a box with a lid to be scattered back on the table when they leave. And those headphones, do they really work with teenagers around. I would welcome something like that so that I can read in peace and drown out my husband, daughter, son and grandchild. Well, I’ll let you go so you can get back to writing. Psst, love your books!
Thanks Darnell! Glad you popped by 🙂
You are just organizationally challenged. We should start a group. I have the bylaws here somewhere…
I’m really fascinated that you write in longhand first and then transcribe it to the computer. I suppose that’s a good way of getting it on paper quickly, and then editing as you transcribe. And I don’t blame you for coming up above ground. It feels nice at first to have your own workspace away from everybody and everything, but after a while you start to feel a bit…well…lonely. 🙂
I’d love to win these books! Historical romance is my passion! 🙂
Hi Deborah – yes, I prefer longhand and then editing when I type it in. I’m a fast typist so it works well for me. Good luck in the draw!
Don’t worry my momma always told me ” If your desk isn’t messy your not working hard enough.”. So I would say it looks like you work hard. Keep up the good work. ; )
Thanks Leanne!
I’m more amazed that you write things long hand then put them onto the computer. Although that chair does look inviting.
It makes it easier for me to turn off my internal editor. I don’t play with sentences as I’m writing the first draft. I just get the story down and make it pretty later. Though I do *some* editing to the longhand copy. I use a pencil so I can erase stuff, or insert things.
OMG your desk and dining room table look just like mine! I get it all cleaned up boom it is a mess again. I think that is a sign of a busy and creative person!!
I think you’re right, Priscilla! And the same thing happens with me. If I clean it up, it doesn’t stay that way for very long.
I find it fascinating to see where authors work! It’s nice to see you on a normal level versus glamorous:). Makes you seem more approachable and down to earth!
thanks Julie!
I really enjoyed seeing the process of where you create your books. I think it is easier to work upstairs in the light and I love to spread out when I work also so I understand the different work stations. Personally whatever works for you to create those wonderful books is obviously working.
Thank you, Pamela!
Hi Julianne, It was so nice to see your office or offices. I always thought a office was one part of the house, but you have an office in every room. I have been reading since 13 yrs old (54YRS). It is always nice to read a new author. Your books are awesome.
Hi Emma – sounds like you’ve read a lot of books! – thanks for stopping by and good luck in the draw!
Wow! Your place looks amazing! I love the colours you chose and the accents that set everything off! I know we’re talking about you fibbing about your cleanliness, but I just thought you should know!
I love to pretend that I actually keep a clean space, but once doors are closed, and visitors are gone, activity happens and it’s no longer tidy!
Keep up the great work!
Thanks Shannon! I still like the colors in my office space. And I couldn’t live without a place for all my research books and keeper novels!
Thanks for the peek. I also have an office I rarely use because I can’t keep an eye on the kids. The headphones are a brilliant idea.
Headphones are great. I used to use those little foam earplugs, but they made my ears sore after a while.
I have really enjoyed this interview of your’s, and loved looking at your pics. The one of you with the headphones made me laugh, what a great way to shut the outside world out.:-) I also loved looking at the books on your dining room table, and would assume that they are used for research. I noticed the you have “The Tudors” sitting on the table, and have to say how much I enjoyed this series. I liked your little santa and snowman salt and pepper shakers.
Thank you for this opportunity to win your books.
I LOVE The Tudors! That is the DVD set of the first season. I had it out because I am blogging next week at Heroes and Heartbreakers about my Top Ten favorite historical heroes, and Charles Brandon made the list. I needed to check on a particular episode – the one on the ship when he takes Margaret to Portugal. He gets a nod for that :).
It is always so fascinating to see how/where an author writes. Every author seems to have their own “tricks of the trade” :). I love the idea of the noise reducing headphones. It must be so hard to get into the world they are writing when the “real” world is always screeching into your consciousness. Thanks for the post!
Yes, Colleen – that’s exactly right. I really have to shut out the real world to put myself in my story world. Love my job 🙂
It doesn’t really matter where you write. What matters is the wonderful books you write.
Thank you Rita!
Ah Julianne… It’s alright, Truly it is. I think as a writer we want the perfect office, but as a creative person we tend to carve that space out anywhere and everywhere.
For Example:
I have a beautiful office. It takes up one of the bedrooms. Bookshelves, and the huge desk with the hutch that lets me keep everything right at hand. With a cozy chaise in the opposite corner with my little 4 cup coffee maker because I wouldn’t dream of letting my clutzy self near my desktop with anything liquid.
Sounds great right? Yet, I spend 40% of my time writing on my bed- laptop in hand, 20% Writing on the balcony -late at night by hand, this is Texas, there is no balcony writing during the 100 degree days, 🙂 – 20% writing longhand either at my favorite restaurant while people watching or while dad is playing bingo; and the other 20% of the time, I am editing with red pen in hand, watching as people see white pages turn red with ink- yep this gets done at bingo too… I can usually go over about 30 pages in a night, or read half a book, and not miss a number.
Which is why I love hearing about other writers and their writing space, and Why I can smile at the Video your husband did, knowing that had to have been a good day, because your office was tidy. For me, the office stays tidy only when I’m not knee deep in a project.. the only rule I don’t break is the liquid near the electronics rule. 🙂
Thank you for the great interview, and Norah—Love the Blog!!
~Christiana~
Hi Christiana – your office sounds lovely, but I can relate to you writing everywhere else, even Bingo! As women, most of us have so many responsibilities. We kind of have to work around them.
An area that looks messy shows that alot of research and effort went into the writing. I appreciate that! Besides, it looks like organized mess to me as I’m sure the author can put her hands on just what she wants, when she wants it!
Thanks for the giveaway
Hi Susan – yes, you’re right – I know where everything is!
The results are fabulous, regardless of the mess!!! Keep up the great work!!!!
thank you Carrie!
It is so neat to see how others do their work. I love working in my big red chair with lots of comfy pillows.
Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for stopping by, Beth!
I love your office, and I’m like you, I often work at the dining room table but I DEFINITELY need those sound reduction headphones. Great idea.
I love the book cover poster on your wall, gorgeous! And that comfy chair looked pretty darned comfy. Thanks for sharing your pictures.
Hi Lina! Thank you for popping by – and yes, I highly recommend the headphones 🙂
Norah, I love this series you’ve started on author writing spaces. What fun to see how fellow authors work!
Thank you, Julianne, for sharing your personal touch on the writing process. I wish I could write in different venues, but I’m most productive (and less distracted) in my office. I LOVE your plush white chair, and I wish I had one like it to sink into when I read one of your captivating books.
Thanks Sophia! Glad you stopped by!
To know the truth is to recognize the creative process. I, too, have a “storage only” office but get more work done in my big comfy chair. The truth is that we must be comfortable to think and dream. Let’s face it. Offices are confining and truthfully the most creative places are those in which you can think and dream. “Zoning out” headphones are wonderful for making sure that you can see emergencies yet work effectively in the middle of the family. We catch creativity when we can.
Well said, Renee!
Thanks for sharing your writing cave with us! It looks very nice and relaxing. 🙂
Thanks Tanya!
I haven’t read any of your series and would love to. I’m an avid reader. I love to see how writers work, I wish I could write. I stare at a clean piece of paper and nothing comes to me! The chair you have looks like a really inviting place to read!
Thanks for sharing!! I love the sounds of your books I hope I win!
Thanks for popping by Brenda! Good luck in the draw 🙂
I’m not a writer but also do my paperwork in various plaaces. I keep the books for our family business and although I have a desk in our home office, I like to work on balancing our ledger on either the kitchen or dining room table. There is more room to spread out.
If we ever redecorate, I think I’d like a huge library table as my work space in our office rather then the dainty desk I now have.
Julianne, wherever you work, you get the job done. I enjoy your books!
Thank you Monica – and I also dream of a ground floor office with a giant table instead of a conventional desk. Next time we move, that will be on the list of things I want in the new house.
oh, what an inspiring trip through your work area. I have a big mess in my creative place and now I feel soooo much better. I love all your books and can’t stop reading them. Thanks for making me feel like I can live in my creative mess…LOL
Hi Ulrike – I fought it for many years, but finally just surrendered to the chaos 🙂
Julianne, loved the tour. Who can work when everything is all neat and tidy??? That would be too distracting, after all cleaning is just putting stuff in a less obivious place,lol…love your books.
Thank you Gwen! Whenever I tidied it up, I would make a mess again pretty quickly 🙂
I haven’t read any of your books yet but would love too. Your new series sounds very good. Would love the chance to win one of your books.
Good luck in the draw, Amanda!
Julianne, your office spaces are tidier than mine! I only wish I could use the excuse of of writing or researching a book to explain it! Lol. (I’ve often thought about writing… I have a full wall of bookshelves of research material. But, if I write, I won’t have time to read…and there are just WAY too many books out there I want to get lost in!) BTW… LOVED the Highlander series!
Happy to hear you enjoyed the Highlanders, Jane! You’re right about not having enough time to read, though. Whenever I turn in a book I take some time off to do just that for a little while.
There is nothing like a nice comfy spot to sit and read or write!. I love the big comfy chair and lapdesk.
Thanks Laura – and good luck in the draw 🙂
I think the only place to work is a comfortable office. If it is too organized I cannot find anything. Sometimes disorganized is the best.
I agree Susan!
I am not a writer, so no messy office for me. I do however have a sewing/craft room and when I am working on something it is so very messy. I just shut the door at night and it is out of sight, out of mind. Thanks for doing the giveaway!
Thank goodness for doors we can close to hide the mess, eh? 🙂
It is really fun to see how authors offices or their work space. I love the earphones to block out noise. The comfy chair is a plus! Thanks so much for sharing.
Thanks for popping by, Angela!
Sounds like where your the most confatable at is where you wright the best.My daughter like to wright stories too and it is all over the house except at her desk in her room.
My daughter is the same way. She has a desk in her room, but she prefers to do her homework on the sofa or my bed.
I’m glad to see that all creative minds are alike. My dining room table is used for my sewing and is cluttered like that. I also got rid of the sofa in our den and got his and her recliners so I now have my own sewing corner. It also comes in handy for curling up with a good book. Which I love to do on a dreary and rainy day.
That all sounds lovely Margie :). You paint a nice picture of your comfy places 🙂
Hi
Love this post, it is fun to see where other people do their work. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the chance.
Pam
Glad you enjoyed it Pam! Good luck in the draw 🙂
Thanks for your “confession”! I love the fact that you write basically everywhere in your home…wherever inspiration hits. Now that’s a true writer! I have several of your books on my TBR stack and I love, love, loved Be My Prince! Can’t wait for more…
Thank you Michele!
I just love that big comfy chair! I am not a writer but it looks like the perfect spot to devour a good book! Thanks so much for sharing with us and for the giveaway! wendynjason04@gmail.com
Thanks for popping by, Wendy!
Julianne,
Your flexibility and your ability to find the environment you need to be so productive, is all good, in my opinion. Certainly is working for you. My wish is that more suitable spaces become available as you need them. Good on you.
Nora, I love this author series.
Pat
thanks for sharing your real face with us!
WE ALL PUT A DIFFERENT FACEout to the rest of the world!
Indeed, Debbi! And I wasn’t wearing mascara in that picture either 🙂
I work from home and share my space with craft stuff. I, too, have a beautiful desk that I thought was roomy enough to work on but have found it much too small. I now have a plastic side table on which I spread all my stuff. There just never seems to be enough room!
Can’t wait to read your new book, Julianne!
Hi Claudine! Thanks for popping by here!
I think it’s wonderful that you really can write anywhere and I wonder how many authors still do much longhand! I am a clutterer and no one ever understands that that’s the way I like it. Pristine space doesn’t feel lived in to me lol. And I like that you want to be around your family as you write!
Hi Catslady – Yes, I do like to be around my family, even if I need to drown out the noise. They know they can come and talk to me if they want to. I always remove the headphones for that 🙂
Thanks for sharing, it’s great to see where authors write. Love your books!!! Thanks for a chance to win some of your books!!!
Thanks Cynthia, and good luck in the draw!
Thank you for making me feel normal. I love to work on my dining room table and shall we say it is seldom neat. I can’t help wondering how all that red affected you (I do know that if you wear a lot of read you tend to talk more). I used to go to meetings and parties and watch people and really saw that in action. Maybe people who wear a lot of red tend to be more outgoing. I do know that whenever I wore my red jacket I became more garrulous. Do you think it had any effect on your writing?
That’s a good question! Maybe it helps me to make my characters talk more, because I do write a lot of dialogue in my books.
Thanks so much for sharing about your “home office”. I also have one in my home. We have our house for sale and I am always trying to clean around my desk. Thanks for your honesty, now I can feel less stress over my office area.
I used to feel stress about the mess in the dining room, but now I have finally surrendered to it and just accepted that it’s my work space first, dining room second – and only when we have company 🙂
I love your office, and a clean desk is the sign of a person with way too much time on their hands LOL. I go for the warm and cosy feel myself. Thank u forbl sharing
Thanks for commenting, Valerie!
Thanks for sharing, Julianne! Love the comfy chair. (As I am not a writer, if I had that chair, it would be my place to read your wonderful books.)
Thank you, Laura!
Julianne, thanks for ‘fessing up about the office. you need “creative” spaces to create. i am so looking forward to reading the last Pembroke story; I love when favorite authors appreciate their readers need for closure. Thanks for all the great stories.
Hope you enjoy Garrett’s story! And thanks for stopping by to comment 🙂
LOL, I’ve a 1 bedroom apartment, and my living room is now my daughters bedroom (senior year at college, living expenses got too high when roommate left for a job). I had to move my “office” in to my bedroom so my desk is literally 4 steps from my bed. Once a week I have to do a major “junk out” just to find my desk top (and un-annoy hubby). I would list the debris, but it would depress me as I cleaned just 2 days ago.
LOL Nancy! I hear ya’ 🙂
I love the chair it looks so comfortable and inviting. Thank you for sharing your imagination with us.
And thank you for posting your comment, Angelia – good luck in the draw!
Thanks for a fun post!!! LOL… I’m not a writer, but I love to read and it’s always fun to get a glimpse of the life and times of the authors 🙂
Always lovely to see other creative minds’ outer shells! The more creative, sometimes the less order. Francis Bacon’s artist’s studio was preserved and recreated in a museum near my home, and I just want to get in there and start throwing out rubbish, piling paints on the desk etc.
I work on a PC and that does tie me to one spot. I tell my husband that if he uses my workspace he cannot spill anything because I hate sticky messy rings on the desk.
I used to write only on my PC, but somwehere along the line that changed. I think I just needed a change of pace.
It’s nice to see where you write all your wonderful stories. Thank you for sharing!
I am happy to say I share a love of clutter with Julianne! Your work surfaces (all of them) certainly look well loved and used. Thanks for visiting today.
I’m in a love/hate relationship with my clutter 🙂
I used to write at my clean table and then discovered that I actually am more creative and produce better when there’s a mess around me – weird eh?
Love you books and would love to win one.
Alot of creative people feel the same way, Maribeth. Must be the tangled wiring in our brains 🙂
I am happy to see I share a love of clutter with Julianne! Your work spaces all look well loved and well used. Thanks for visiting.
thanks for the gtrat stories!
Well, the space and colors are wonderful…..makes it see very cozy. Maybe a few different pieces of furniture to de-clutter some things. But over all, a welcoming and spacious room! Thank you for sharing.
Thank you for popping by, Julie!
I love all the places that you have set up for writing as an avid reader I have notes all over my desk of books that I want to read the in the living room is where I work on my dishrags and potholders so on the end table is all my thread and then there is of course next to the bed where I do most of my reading there is the nightstand that is full of books lined up that I want to read and I always say I am not going to add a book till most of those books are read but of course I get the jitters when I get done with a book and buy a few more lol But thank you so much for showing us your areas and when I read your books now I will wonder which are most of it was written.
It’s great to see a messy workspace; it makes a person normal. 🙂 When I get the chance to write my area is never neat. Thanks for sharing a personal piece of yourself!
Thanks for popping by, Kaleena!
I like the reality. It seems more real. People that have super organized desks and offices make me a little nervous (and makes me wonder what they actually do).
As long as the writing gets done, that’s the main thing.
Yes, as long as the writing gets done. Well said.
I am not a writer, but I can relate to the dining room table scenario. I never want my husband to move the papers, because something might be lost that I need! Like a bill or something. Going in houses that are perfectly neat makes me feel nervous & inferior! I love when someone has a messier house than me! Your books sound great & I’m sure being in a comfortable work atmosphere helps the creative juices!
I agree about going into someone else’s spotless house. I don’t know how they do it, at least not on a regular basis. I tidy up for company, but on a regular day….
You’ve inspired me, Julianne! I’m moving upstairs.
Go for it, Kate!
I love your office. I know what you mean about it not remaining that way. My desk is so cluttered with stuff, but I know exactly where everything is.
Well now I don’t feel so bad about covering the kitchen table with all my junk. I hate to be squirreled away in the office writing my bills when the family is having fun in the living room. It is a problem if we decide to have breakfast in the kitchen though.
A lot of people say they don’t have a formal dining room because they woudln’t use it. I love having the extra table to use for other stuff, not so much dining :). I’m pretty sure if we didn’t have it, the kitchen table would be covered in stuff, too.
Julianne, Thank you for sharing your imagination with us. I love the white chair, it looks so comfortable and inviting.
I imagine you also like to switch rooms for a change of scenery. Writing is such a solitary endeavor.
You’re actually normal. I do well with my “organized” clutter, but others do no see it as such.
My office is nothing but a junk room right now. Unfortunately it’s also my library. My teens have posted a note on the door identifying it as the “room of requirement.”
Julianne, I am still laughing over the contrast between the video and your “confession”. When I saw how immaculate and tidy your basement workspace was, my first thought was “How can anyone work like this?!” because frankly to be that organized a workspace would drive me nuts! It looked like you could not express any creativity for fear of it cluttering up the place 😉 While I enjoy a relatively clean and tidy house, I alternate between writing at our PC desk (which is cluttered with the odd pair of sunglasses, decks of cards, a cd spindle and other odds and ends) or I use an AlphaSmart 3000 which I can lug pretty much anywhere I feel like plopping myself down (usually a recliner upstairs or the loveseat downstairs, or anywhere I can escape from kids for peace and quiet). I must say that I have never thought about getting noise reduction headphones but that is a FABULOUS idea because I am ADD and noises tend to distract me easily (not to mention keep me awake at night but that is another story 😉 ). Thank you for the look into your world!
Enjoyed your comment, Lora! Thanks for posting 🙂
This has to be so much better than being in stuffy office all day. I would love to be able to work from the comfort of my own home. Nice. Love the books, please keep up the good work.
Very nice interview. But your ‘messiness’ is my state of neatness. Good grief, I still have grad pictures in the envelopes. (Not mine, my kids’ grad pics. I’m not that messy!)
But it was good of you to come forward with your lie. Confession is good for the soul.
I have a very messy office but I am a quilter instead of a writer.
If a cluttered desk is the sign of a cluttered mind and a clean desk the sign of an empty mind, which would you rather have? Thank you for ‘coming clean!’
I am not a writer, except for made up stories about my kids for my kids, but I would still love the space for myself. Nice!!!!!
I love knowing you are like the rest of us! Good for you, do what makes the thoughts flow.
Larger desk space gives you more work space and elbow space, which is good news for us readers. Thanks for the blog.
Wow, your basement office looks sort of familiar. Only your desk is bigger. I’m in a corner of the room, Bookshelves on one side, Floor to celling, and a cabinate with the all purpose printer on the other side with notebooks all over. I work on 5 big family trees. Can’t use the kitchen table, my hubby overtakes it and he doesn’t write. I would say your writing area is creative and needs more bookshelves.
I’m not a writer, and do not aspire to be. But I love reading. I have to do a monthly newsletter in my job as Church Secretary, and sometimes it is almost torture to come up with/ write little short news bits. My desk is not clean, I’m definately a messy desk (area) person — but there are too many ‘clean desk’ people that fuss at me.
So-o-o-o, thank you for showing me that creative, productive people do not have to be neat, neat, neat.
Very nice looking office but You have to mix even with the headset on and teenagers to watch must be hard to write around too. We all love our teenagers but are thankful they grow up.
Isn’t it funny most of us end up on the diningroom table to whatever is important to us, crafts, sewing or even writing. I’ve decided to take up quilting and right now I work in the diningroom LOL
Wherever you write you do a great job! love your books
I never could understand anyone actually accomplishing anything when their work area was neat as a pin. I’m not a writer, however, anything I do requires notes, research, etc. and it gets messy.
Juliene you are a new author for me. I love to read and always looking for new books and authors to check out. Definately adding to my must read list. Love series and this one looks like a good one.
I do have a couple of questions for you: What is your favorite genre to write? Do you prefer to write series or stand-alone books? What is your top 5 favorite authors? Thanks for the giveaway and would love to win and read these books.
Hi Chris! To answer your questions – my favorite genre to write is historical romance, but I also loved writing my contemporary The Color Of Fiction, which I wrote under a pen name EV Mitchell. I want to write another EV book as soon as I finish my current Regency trilogy.
Single Title or series – not sure. I usually write series books, but every once in a while I just want to do something different.
Top 5 authors – too hard to choose! I have different favorites in different genres, and some favorite all time books where I’ve only read that one book by the author, and nothing else. I like historical fiction – Pope Joan was one of my favorite books last year. I also loved The Thirteenth Tale.
Great story I have 2 offices one is a desk in a file room so as you can guess not alot of space so I go for the “cluttered look” Other office I don’t get to much so it remains neat. I prefer the cluttered office. When I work from home my dining room table looks the same as yours. I really enjoy your books. Nice to know you are human too!
Eileen
Thanks Eileen!
With you being at ease with your 3 “offices” it is no wonder that you can produce such great books. Your desk looks like mine, stuff everywhere btu I bet you can find what ever you want when needed! Work in comfort I say
Yup! You are just like the rest of us. 🙂 I love my house to be neat and tidy when we have company, but the times between evidence paper and lots of books on every surface. When we moved to Florida seven years ago, we had floor to ceiling bookcases built in the walls in our library and sitting room. They contained our books for a while, but then the books started spilling over everything.
Juliaane, what’s important is that you are comfortable and keep writing books. I love to read them.
The painting you had done for your husband was modelled on “To Marry the Duke”, yes? Three of your covers had lovely women in red dresses. Very lovely.
Hi Elaine – yes that painting was a reproduction of To Marry the Duke – good call!
I love a home that looks lived in, it invites family and friends to get comfortable and feel at home. I have read all your books and look forward to the new highlander series coming out.
Thank you Elaine – I love a lived-in home, too 🙂
The pictures look like they were taken of “my” computer desk…after my husband has been sitting there for awhile…it stay nice and clean for about two days, then its right back to being “used”. I must say your house looks very comfortable. I look forward to reading your next book.
Thanks for great heroes.
Too cool. Thank-you.
That looks like my desk – except mine may be worse! Whatever it takes to write!
That was wonderful! It’s good know (and see) that writers are people just like the rest of us. My dining room table is the same thing. I try to clear it off once a week, but it still piles up.
Thanks for the real tour and the virtual book tour. The real one has the lived in approach which is how I’m most creative, too. I bet you can put your hands on everything you need. Having a goal of 5 pages a day is doable so it’s fun to cross that off your daily list.
Thanks for the tour….You have a lovely home…It’s nice to see that you are just like the rest of us..your home looks lived in. Whatever, wherever you write – keep it up! Your books are wonderful and I enjoy them tremendously! Thank you for the giveaway and Congratulations on the new release!
Thank you Kimberley!
I think your office is great, but I can see why you would want to write upstairs more.I also have a tendency to write in longhand on yellow legal pads and somehow get it onto my laptop, supposing I can read my own handwriting later on.
Those yellow pads are supposed to help with creativity. Maybe I should try that…
I love that you’ve come up front with the real you even if your space looks extremely tidy compared to my own chaos of a room where I, as a reader, have my desk top, a gazillion books, tv, craft supplies, photos and everything else that I have no storage space for in my condo. Actually it looks a lot like a “hoarder” room with only a path for access. Funny, how comfortable I am in it. I try hard to confine all this stuff to the one room but inevitably use the dining room as a staging area when I get into organizing mode;)
It so happens that I recently finished Color of Heaven. It was a powerful read that pulled me right into the story (always a sign of outstanding writing) and for a book a day reader, not an easy feat. Like most readers, I read according to mood or whim and read just about every romance genre available. Prior to Color of Heaven, some years ago I read The Mistress Diaries and my own personal rating was as high for it as for this one.
I’m looking forward to reading more of your work:)
Thank you very much, Nancy – I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed The Color of Heaven. I want to write another contemporary very soon. I just have to turn in the last book in my Royal Trilogy. I’ll be starting that one today!
A wee bit of a mess has to be the magic that makes a great writer.
Congratulations on being in the top 100 for THE COLOR OF HEAVEN I am sure it will clime up to top 10 or top 5 even. <3
Love the cover Married by Midnight.
Have a good one Ann/alba
Thank you, Ann! I was very excited to see The Color of Heaven climb the charts again. I appreciate your kind words 🙂
Thanks for reassuring the rest of us that our home is absolutely normal looking! The comfy chairs in the place are a sign of a reader in the house just like mine. Thanks for the honesty and great writing which I have enjoyed for years.
Thank you Jennifer!
Your confession restores my faith that others aren’t all that neat with their surroundings and we can still get things accomplished! I find it so interesting that you wrtie different ways – type, computer, long hand. Thanks for the insight and a peek at the REAL spaces and places!
I think I need to write different ways just to shake things up and not get stuck in a physical rut. I spend a lot of hours writing, so I need to move around physically.
Thanks for sharing. I loved working at home whenever it was possible.
Barbara
Does any REAL work get done in “tidy”? You know the old saying, to make an omelet you have to break a few eggs….or something like that? lol
Very true!
I have to confess, my eye just floated over any clutter since that’s the norm here. My eye was drawn to your use of colors. I am supposed to be prepping my kitchen cupboards for painting as we *speak*. I wish I had your creative mind because I can see that impacted your beautiful use of colors! Think you could do a short stint as decorator and select my colors?
Have fun decorating, Lynda! I usually get help from the paint experts at the paint store. They are very knowledgeable.
Not too bad–my office is so bad I bought a new computer last year and have yet to install it as I can’t get to the electronics on my desk and their cords/cables until I clean out under the desk, beside the desk, etc. which I need to do this weekend as the old computer is fading fast!
LOL! If I didn’t have my husband to deal with that stuff, my computers would never be hooked up either 🙂
It must be nice to be able to spread out everything you are working on when you are at the dining room table. Our dining room table is only clean for family dinners and nobody is actually getting any work done at it though.
Office are supposed to be on the messy side!
Your place looks warm and welcoming.
What an interesting view of Julianne! It is fascinating to
see where authors write their books…
Many thanks, Cindi
I love your books. I have been reading your books and loving them for years.
Thank you Kay! Happy to hear you have been enjoying my books. Hard to believe it has been more than 10 years since my first one was published. Where does the time go?
Thanks for the great stories
Love your stories, I wish you much success. I know this is a greedy wish because your success means I will continue to be entertained. Thank you so much.
I love to see where people blog or write. Your big chair sure does look comfy. I would imagine you get a lot of work done there. Happy writing!
I think it’s awesome that you write all over the house! As a reader, I don’t care if it’s messy! as long as you’re happy and you keep on writing books for readers like me to enjoy! Keep on writing!
Love your books and I really like your lap desk!
So I am not the only one! These pictures will reassure my husband that I am a perfectly normal writer. At least as normal as a writer can be.
Riccarla
Who said anything about normal? 🙂
Truely this is exactly what I expected. A normal person who is more involved in her characters or her life rather then keeping all clean. If anything, forgo the housework, but never forgo the teenagers! Thanks for this insight and the contest.
Yes indeed. Sometimes I literally step over some giant piece of clutter on the floor and take perverse pleasure in ignoring it. 🙂
I think your office is prefectly normal!
Doesn’t matter if your office is messy as long you get
things done.
I am very happy to see you live like the rest of us but I don’t have an excuse. I am just retired and reading books!
Thank you for allowing us into your personal life and providing us a glimpse of your writing moments. I own one of this big comfy leather chairs with an ottoman. Best of wishes. Keep writing ..;)
I love the sound reduction headphones! Sound reduction around my house usually only happens after everyone is asleep.
I would like to say that your workspace doesn’t look any worse than mine does!! I work on a crummy laptop as well, and have papers all around me. The only difference is that I’m not writing a book. These are notes to help me remember things – such as which books I should be reading, like yours, for example!! I also have my medications handy, since I do spend time on here playing catch-up with my mail. Anyway, I did want to say that I thought the Christmas Salt and Pepper shakers were a nice touch, and I hope that they give you some inspiration!! If they don’t help, you can always get a cat. They’re great stress relievers and are great for inspiration as well. Love the cover of your book, too!! She looks very demure on the cover.
Those Christmas salt and pepper shakers have been there since… um – last Christmas. I should have put them away, but that would require some effort, and I’ll only have to dig them out again in December. So I decided to just leave them 🙂
And I think my dog Molly might object to a cat. She’s very spoiled 🙂
Adore your books! I’m so impressed that you write long hand. If I did that, I’d have nothing, because not even I could read it 🙂 Hope I win, but if I don’t, I’ll buy a copy of Married by Midnight.
Thanks, Nora, for having one of my favorite authors on your blog.
Thank you Virginia!
Thank you for sharing this with us. It’s always fun to see behind the scenes. I wouldn’t worry about a “mess”. It shows you’re hard at work bringing wonderful stories to us. 🙂
Might be a tad messy but it still looks like you could get a lot of work done there. But, of course, the places you primarily write at now look pretty comfy too. I could use a pair of noise isolating headphones! 🙂
You are so very smart to use noise reducing equipment so you can truly concentrate on your writing. My husband has used earplugs when he sleeps for years and swears by them. He says he couldn’t sleep without them.
I’m so pleased to see that your desk area looks like mine. NORMAL! I tell myself that anyway!
I’m so excited about this wonderful giveaway and am crossing my fingers and my toes!
What a fun post! I love to see where writers write. Thanks for sharing, Julianne!
It is lovely to see all the places you write. Your office looks a lot like mine on a good day.I love all your books but in particular the highlanders
good luck
Elizabeth
Thank you for the kind words, Elizabeth! Happy you enjoyed my Highlanders 🙂
I might have to try those noise reducing headphones. Silence is something wonderful to have when you need to think!
Love the books! love the normality. Everyones the same
Why do we always imagine that professional writers work in an organized inspirational space. Sunny, beautiful, romantic sculptures here and there. Potpourri, candles… Its fun to see the human behind the wonderful writing. haha I love it.
I have a very comfortable place at work and at home to work at. It makes it so much better to be neat and tidy. You do great interviews. Please keep up the good work with your books.
I love the title of your new book “Married By Midnight” and can’t wait to read it. Love your headphones idea – this is one tip I’m going to try on my own family. Cheers!
I love to read. I work at my local library part time.I really don’t have an office. I have a desk with my laptop on it and sometimes I work on my bed as I have an efficieny apartment and no bedroom.
I have read some of your books and want to read more. I like entering contests and seeing if I can win anything.
Pat
Good luck in the draw Patricia!
I love your office it looks cozy! Thanks for the chance to win your books!
This post was really interesting & your chair sounds & looks very comfortable.
I never knew that I needed a pair of sound reduction headphones! Now, I really , really need a pair.
I love your workspace. No wonder such good books are created there. Ahh sound-reduction earphones – how did we live without them!
I love organised chaos, its the only way to work!
My desk is always cluttered but strangely enough I can always find everything. I like your wall art.
Since clutter is my middle name, seeing your office made me feel much better! Thanks, Julianne, for sharing a glimpse of your creative process. Whatever you’re doing, it’s working! And thank you, Norah, for such a creative blog idea. I can’t wait to see who opens their office doors to you next.
Honestly, I have never read any of your books, but now that I see what I’ve been missing, I hope to remedy that! Reading is my favorite pastime and your books sound delightful. As I read them, I will be able to picture you in your comfortable yet vibrant atmosphere. Thank you so much for sharing that part of your life; I look forward to reading your books! Sincerely, Melissia Richard
Thanks for posting Melissa!
A messy office is a used office. I can’t believe you write long handed that is awesome!!
Julianne –
I wish I had read this post while I had my husband close at hand just I could prove to him I’m not the only person in the world to have clutter!
When I’m not working I have two forms of relaxation – reading and cooking. My kitchen is my palace that includes multiple bookcases, overflowing of course, of not only cookbooks but romance books as well (predominately historical romance) and of course my Kindle which actually has room left for more books, a situation that I’m trying to remedy.
I don’t think of all the things on my counters as being clutter so much as “works in progress”. Since the kitchen is my domain (yes I taught the men in my family to cook but they still think men should only be made to cook on the grill). My point of view is as long as the counters around the stove are cleared off and there’s room at the table for a few books I’m all set!
The buzzer is going off and I have to get an apple pie out of the oven so I’ve got to go now! At least tonight he won’t say anything about the “cluttered” kitchen!
I love all your “offices” and have to confess I can relate. I have a beautiful desk that is piled high with old paperwork (to be filed or shredded), letters, mending (yes mending), items I want to find easily (ha), etc. I do love your noise canceling headphones but think they should be required equipment for moms period. I write and sew at my dining room too and only clear it when company comes or I just can’t stand it any longer. But I also love your fantasy office, everyone should have one. 🙂
I am a big fan, Julianne! Loved the pictures of your offices, and thanks for coming clean about your hubby’s pictures. Sound reduction is a great idea. I know that concentration is a must when you write, and sound reduction is a must.
I love seeing where writers work their magic. Thanks for sharing, and for the chance to win your books!
A co-worker had a sign on his desk that he gave to me when he retired:
A Clean Desk is the Sign of a Sick Mind
I totally love clutter. I know where everything is, but keeping things organized takes away from my work time and in the end it jsut isn’t worth it.
Thanks for sharing your office. I loved it!
I enjoyed the post. I have organized clutter on my desk. It may not appear to others that I know, where things are, but I do.
I enjoyed the chance to see where you write. My desk is just a mess and I can’t always find things on it. I’m always going to clean it up, unfortunately, I never do.
Sorry for being late to the party, but my emails are all running at least one day behind at the moment, due to a deadline. Would love to know where you got the sound reduction headphones. It would seem that most of your house is your extended office. I do that a lot as well. I have a perfectly adequate office, but write in my bedroom, living room, kitchen table, and sometimes in the basement family room. And lately outside on the front step because the weather’s been so great.
Stella
Thank you everyone for all your wonderful comments! I wasn’t able to repond to all of you personally because I have limited internet time (have to get the next book written!) but I have read and enjoyed each one. Norah has chosen a winner and I believe she is in the process of contacting that person, so she will announce the name soon.
Thanks again everyone! And thanks for having me here as your guest, Norah. It was lots of fun. And as always – happy reading!
Thank you so much for being here, Julianne! And can I just say you have the *best* fans! You’re going to be a tough act to follow as a guest.
The very lucky winner of the three books is Angelica Schubert. I assigned all commenters a number in chronological order of their comment’s appearance, then used a random number generator to choose the winner. Angelica, Julianne will be in touch to sort out the logistics of delivery.
Again, thank you Julianne!
That’s ok, Julianne…it’s really not that bad. But I have to say…if THIS is where you are able to write your fantastic books from…then, throw a few more opened books around, put a few more coffee cups on the table/desk…lol…and WRITE ON, GIRL! : )
I enjoy what you guys are usually up too. This
type of clever work and coverage! Keep up the fantastic works
guys I’ve added you guys to blogroll.