Today, I’m thrilled to welcome Kate Veitch to Diary of an Eccentric. Kate is the author of Without a Backward Glance (read my review) and her newest release, Trust (read my review). I’m always nosy about author’s writing spaces; I love to see what gets their creative juices flowing and the location where books I’ve enjoyed were brought to life. Please give a warm welcome to Kate Veitch, who is here to show us her writing space:
A Desk with a View
It’s a lucky thing for me that writing is the most portable of all professions, because for the past three years or so, I’ve been living out of a suitcase. Okay, three suitcases, stashed in various cities: New York, then a move to San Francisco, as well as Sydney and Melbourne and other Australian locales. In the US, I stay with my partner; in Oz, I’ve been doing what my son calls “high-end couch surfing”, ie, house-and-dog sitting for assorted friends and relations. While my partner and I house-hunted for a home of our own in the Byron Bay hinterland area of northern New South Wales, all the rest of my worldly goods have waited patiently for me in storage.
So, where do I write? Of necessity, wherever I happen to find myself! Adaptable, that’s me – with one proviso: I must, absolutely unequivocally must, have a view. Some writers can work facing a blank wall – indeed, some even prefer to – but not me. From my Manhattan window I could count sixteen watertanks atop the surrounding buildings; in Kirribilli, I watched the green and yellow ferries chug back and forth across Sydney Harbour; in Coorabell, I watched blue herons perform courting dances and crimson rosellas perch on the hibiscuses around the pool. There’s gotta be an upside to being homeless!
I have become adept at maintaining the mobile office, and today I thought I’d let you have a peek at one of the places where Trust was written. As you can see, I did NOT tidy things up for the camera! That’s a genuine work in progress, right there: Trust’s second draft up on the laptop’s screen, notes to the left and to the right as well, watched over by hand-knitted kangaroo and wombat from the Bangalow Countrywomen’s Association (these woolly marsupials destined for new babies born to friends in various parts of the world). The boxes (black and floral, on the right) are snap-togethers that hold papers, folders, postcards, bank statements and so on, and in the upturned halves of a little wicker basket bought in Bali are pens, paper-clips, scissors, highlighters, and the soft black cloth I (very) occasionally use to clean my hard-working laptop’s screen and keyboard. Sharp-eyed readers might even notice the spine of a book titled “Krazy”, which is mentioned in a conversation between Susanna and Gerry on page 115 of Trust.
And the view beyond? That’s the lush sub-tropical greenery of northern New South Wales, where my partner and I have finally bought a home. We move in there in early August, and I am so looking forward to opening up the door of that storage container and saying, “Okay, you lot! Time to come home!”
Thanks, Kate! I wish you much success with Trust, and I can’t wait to read more of your work. And congrats on the new home!
If you’re interested in reading Trust, you’re in luck! Kate is offering a signed copy to one lucky reader, and this giveaway is international! Just leave a comment letting me know what intrigues you about the book, and include your e-mail address. This giveaway will run until Sunday, Aug. 22, 2010, at 11:59 pm EST.
**Please note that this giveaway is now closed**
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.
I think that gorgeous view would distract me too much to get much done!
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I’d love a chance to win this one! The cover attracted me right away, but I also love the fact that I have her other novel (Without a Backward Glance) in my TBR pile!
jonitathebookchick(at)gmail(dot)com
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I enjoyed seeing this author’s writing space (Trust in progress). I’m in the mood to read what I think will be an absorbing family drama, so please enter me in this giveaway. Thank, Anna!
suko95(at)gmail(dot)com
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The first thing that intrigued me was the cover; and I think sister relationships are interesting. Thanks for the giveaway.
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Love to see authors’ work spaces–and I imagine if I were a writer this is just what my work space might look like. I actually haven’t heard of “Trust” until I came across your review but being a sister, I always find stories about the sister dynamic interesting. Thanks for the giveaway!
litandlifeATgmailDOTcom
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[…] Stop by and show Anna some love by entering HERE […]
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No need to enter me, I just posted this on win a book for you!
http://winabook.westofmars.com/2010/08/14/trust-by-kate-veitch/
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The cover is what caught me eye! It’s beautiful. She is a new to me author and I’d love to read this one.
mlawson17 at hotmail dot com
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Thank you for giving us a look into your writing space and love the view.
Please enter me
violetc dot books at gmail dot com
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Thanks for offering this to overseas visitors. Much appreciated.
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This must be an intriguing book! I would love to add this one to my collection. I mean the cover is totaly attractive and it doesn’t take much to think its an interesting story. I shall be praying hard to win this one. Thank you for such a nice book
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I would like to read Trust. Congrats on your book.
lorettaC
lbcanton@verizon.net
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I love the fact that the author did not tidy the place up…. it is so REAL! I am sure my desk would be like that too. And that is a lovely view 🙂
enter me too.
givingreadingachance AT gmail.com
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What a wonderful view…and I’m glad that she won’t be homeless anymore! no need to enter me
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I enjoy books depicting family dramas. This one looks like it has several interesting characters. Thanks for the giveaway.
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(P.S. I have posted this in my blog’s sidebar.)
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The cover is good, and She’s a new for me author. I would always Happy to know and read books from NEW author for me 🙂
Enter me in please !
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I enjoyed your review, and what intriqued me was when the author said she lives out of 3 suitcases LOL! I love worldly people, and I think the best authors come from various places. Thanks for the chance into this giveaway!
unforgetable_dreamer_always(at)hotmail.com
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Your review was great & I especially liked the fact that a book club discussed her other novel in the book. That’s also one of the reasons I think my book club would enjoy this.
Please enter me, thanks.
ruthiekb72@yahoo.com
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This book seems like an emotional reads. I like books that move me emotionally. Moreover I liked your review of the book.
Misha
mishamary@gmail.com
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I like reading books about dysfunctional families and female characters in the midst of a quandry about her life. I am also very intrigued that Kate Veitch has included her debut novel in a scene in this book. I think that’s a great idea!
I really enjoyed youe ewview, Ana, it piqued my interest in “Trust”. I also enjoyed Kate Veitch’s guest post about how she has had to adapt her writing habit and the picture of one spot where she wrote “Trust”! Thank you!
Thank you to you and Kate for a wonderful giveaway!
Aimala127 (at) gmail (dot) com
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What intrigues me about this book is the title itself.
iii.141592653589793238462643383@gmail.com
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This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to everyone who entered! I’ll be choosing the winner via Randomizer.org and announcing him/her soon.
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