Yesterday, I posted a review of Free to a Good Home, Eve Marie Mont’s newly released debut novel about a young woman juggling her work for an animal shelter, her feelings for her ex-husband, caring for her difficult ex-mother-in-law, and navigating a new relationship with a young musician with a snotty ex-girlfriend. I enjoyed the book, despite not being able to relate to the main character, Noelle, and I think it would make a great end-of-summer read.
Today, I have the pleasure of welcoming Eve Marie Mont to Diary of an Eccentric to talk about her writing space and writing routine. Without further ado, here is Eve Marie Mont:
Thank you so much to Anna for inviting me to guest post on Diary of an Eccentric. As I sit here drafting this post, my thirteen-year-old dog, Maggie, is sitting by my side, her head pressed against my left arm, almost preventing me from typing. (I think she does this on purpose to remind me to pay more attention to her.) She is my loyal sidekick throughout my writing day, and my husband is my greatest champion, supporting me selflessly even when I get sucked into my laptop for seven hours at a time, refusing to come up for food, water, or conversation.
Surely writers have to be disciplined, but for me, sometimes I have to discipline myself to have more balance in my life. Since I teach full-time during the year, when I finally get a chance to write, it’s almost like a drug—I want more and more writing time, and I get bitter and cranky if I don’t get it. Of course, as with any writer, there are times when I don’t want to write and can procrastinate with the best of them, swiffing the floor for the third time that day, browsing through my favorite blogs, or taking my dog for another walk. But when I’m in the writing zone, there’s no stopping me.
Since Free to a Good Home is, in part, about a loyal canine companion, I love that Maggie keeps me company in my writing life. We sit on the sofa in the living room, which my husband painted a lemony yellow color. By late afternoon, the room is bathed in a warm, amber glow. One of my favorite Picasso paintings hangs across from me—“Girl Reading at a Table”—and the girl looks utterly serene, blissfully lost in the book she’s reading. That’s how I feel on my best days of writing—lost in the book I’m writing. Now, I don’t always feel blissful and serene because often writing is really hard work, but when the creative stars align, everything else falls away, and it’s just me and my fictional world.
If I need a change of scenery, I take Maggie out to our backyard, where we head down by the creek and sit in the dappled sunshine, watching ducklings and listening to the breeze rustle through the treetops. Sometimes my favorite blue heron comes down for a wade, and I allow myself to get distracted by all that nature. I believe it’s absolutely essential to get away from my fictional world so I don’t get sucked in completely like Alice down the rabbit hole.
At the end of my writing day, I like to reconnect with my husband, whom I’ve shamefully neglected all day, and he is gracious enough to let me run ideas by him or help me plan the next chapter. If I could do this writing gig full-time, I am convinced I would be truly happy. But alas, the English essays I haven’t graded sit in my school bag, taunting me, and Monday is right around the corner. So I spend another week in the real world, while I wait for summer to come so I can write and read for ten weeks straight—true bliss!
What is your most guilty pleasure? Leave a comment below for a chance to win a free copy of Free to a Good Home.
Thanks, Eve! I wish you much success and look forward to reading more of your work in the future.
Courtesy of the publisher, I have one copy of Free to a Good Home to offer my readers. To enter, please leave a comment with your e-mail address and answer the question Eve asked at the end of her guest post.
Because the publisher is handling the shipping, this giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only. You have until Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010, at 11:59 pm EST to enter. The winner will be chosen randomly.
**Please note that this giveaway is now closed**
For a sneak peek of Free to a Good Home, click here.
Disclosure: I am an Amazon associate.
© 2010 Anna Horner of Diary of an Eccentric. All Rights Reserved. Please do not reproduce or republish content without permission.
After a day of my kids, I like to just sit and listen to the peace and quiet. =)
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I generally have enough peace and quiet as all three children are out of the house but I love the quietness and the freedom to do whatever I want, whenever I want!!!! It may pall though after sometime.
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It sounds like Maggie’s name should be on the cover of the book too! LOL As a dog lover, I thoroughly enjoyed this post. No need to enter me.
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I just love reading about a writer’s life and thoroughly enjoyed this post.
I have read so many favorable reviews of this book, and being a dog lover myself, I would love to be entered in this give away.
What is my greatest guilty pleasure? I am really pretty simple, I think. I truly enjoy relaxing with a glass of good wine and reading a engrossing novel.
Of course, splurging on an all-body massage is near the top of the list as well 🙂
Mstermind1 at gmail dot com
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thanks
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When I first learned of this book, I said to myself that it was the book for me, and for my daughter who volunteers at an animal shelter. Now that I’m retired I spend an embarrassing amount of time reading. I feel guilty that I don’t accomplish much else, but it is such a pleasure to read that I just keep reading.
Thanks for the giveaway; the book sounds wonderful.
lcbrower(at)cableone(dot)net
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Dark Chocolate!!!! Especially with bits of orange in it.
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no need to enter me…but I love that she has to discipline herself.
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Terrific guest post! My dog, Jenny, is also my constant companion. She’s usually nearby, gracing me with her quiet presence.
My “guilty pleasure” is reading in bed on occasional Saturday mornings when I don’t have to rush to get up and go somewhere.
Anna, thanks for hosting this giveaway.
suko95(at)gmail(dot)com
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Fellow canine lover here with a dog named Maggie & would love to win a copy.
Nice guest post! I look forward to more works from the author!
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You mean there’s time without kids? Seriously???
No need to enter me, ladies. I’m dropping in to say thanks for the e-mail. I’ve got this posted at Win a Book for you.
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[…] Free to a Good Home is the name of a novel that’s accumulating quite a bit of buzz at the mome… It’s written by Eve Marie Mont, who has stopped by Diary of an Eccentric today with a guest post all about Ms. Mont’s dog. Yes, her dog. And no, the dog doesn’t die at the end. Sheesh. The dog’s not named Marley! […]
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Dogs! Yep, I spend way too much money pampering mine. Thanks to Susan I had to enter this one.
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I enjoyed this post a lot and look forward to this book; thanks Anna
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My guilty pleasure is floating on a raft in my pool reading a book – that is after my 2 springer spaniels spend their time splashing and swimming on their raft. It’s quite a site!
Sounds like a wonderful book
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I’d love to read this book. My guilty pleasure is also taking some time reading….on the couch with a cup of special blend coffee.
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I enjoyed this post.
My most guilty pleasure – naps. I just love a good middle of the afternoon nap.
carolsnotebook at yahoo dot com
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My guilty pleasure is dark chocolate (although it’s not too guilty -I’m allergic to milk, so dark chocolate is the only kind I can have). I love getting a bar of Fair Trade dark chocolate and eating it in the parking lot of the grocery store before I drive home.
baileythebookworm [at] gmail.com
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My dog is my guilty pleasure, she’s spoiled and I mean really really spoiled although she is very well behaved so I can’t complain, but she gives me those sad puppy dog eyes that say “mama I’m starving to death, please share some of that yummy people food with me” and I just can’t say no (unless its something that can actually make her sick or kill her example being chocolate that is definatly a no no) otherwise I’m guilty and give in. And in other cases, well she pretty much runs the house and just lets me live there haha. As I like to say, she has me wrapped around her cute little paw LOL!!
unforgetable_dreamer_always(at)hotmail.com
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My guilty pleasure is cheesecake! I love to go to the Cheesecake Factory and now I’ve found that B&N sells cheesecake from there in their stores!
mittens0831 at aol dot com
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My guilty pleasure is fast food. I try not to indulge, hardly ever these days (sadly, I did for too long and the results were BAD). But when I truly don’t have time to pack my own healthy lunch, a cheap and fast cheeseburger & fries can be so wonderful on a busy day!
safoga at gmail dot com
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Bubble baths. I try to get one in at least once a month. I just need that deflate time.
misusedinnocence@aol.com
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Caffeine. I keep trying to break the habit and get pulled under every time…
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
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Reading a novel that i like when i am supposed to be studying for an exam…
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My guilty pleasure is ice cream. Tough to keep myself away, even though I know I’ll regret it.
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This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to everyone who entered and/or publicized it. I will be choosing the winner via Randomizer.org and announcing his/her name shortly.
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