My Writing Space - Julie Miller

I'm continuing my series about something that interests me personally: writing spaces. I love to hear about that creative nook writers make for themselves in order to encourage the word-smithing genius. Therefore I've asked some of my author friends to share a picture and description of their personal writing spaces.

Julie Miller & I at RWA

As we go into this Thanksgiving weekend, I am grateful to have USA Today bestselling author Julie Miller sharing her writing space. Julie is an uber-talented writer and just a fantastic person in general. She has been such a blessing and encouragement to me as I've navigated the Harlequin Intrigue publishing waters with my first novel, and since her latest release, YULETIDE PROTECTOR, is her 50th (!!) book I've appreciated her guidance and support. When I first got "the call" that Harlequin wanted to publish my book, I told my editor that Julie was one of my favorite Intrigue authors. Don't I have good taste?

Julie and I met at the Harlequin party at the Romance Writer's of America. Let's just say shenanigans ensued, and leave it at that. Hehehe. Julie's such a Rock Star.

Intrigue authors - shenanigans!!

Because I love her so much I won't even tease her for having a monitor that looks suspiciously like it has a CD-ROM drive on it. :-)

Without further ado, From the Desk of Julie Miller:

1) Describe your writing space for us. Is there anything unique about it? Pretty normal place for a creative mind. Probably not organized enough for those who need structure, but I know where everything is. This room of the house is strictly "my" room.  Hubby has a Star Trek room decorated exactly how he wants with his precious things; my office is where I have my collection of collections: family pix and heirlooms, Pepsi items, Beauty & the Beast, antique/collectible toys, Beanie Babies, dolls, Mary Englebreit, Monet prints, etc. This is also where I have my shelves of keeper books, as well as reference books.  The official dog bed is in my office, too, and Maggie often naps right beside me as I work. Of course, any bed, pillow, sofa, spot on the rug is her bed, too, but she likes to stay close.

2) Is there anything else unique about your space? My dad built my writing desk.  He was a US Marine, a teacher, a master carpenter and the best dad a girl could ask for.  He built furniture for my brothers and me, as well as each of his grandchildren.  Besides being well-built and designed to my tastes, the desk is a wonderful memory of my dad.  He was always one of my biggest fans.

3) What do you like most about your writing space? I'm surrounded by things I love that

have special meaning to me. So it's a place where I love to go.

4) How long have you used this writing space? The extra bedroom was one of the reasons we picked this house. It's the smallest bedroom in the house, but has a big window for lots of light, and makes a perfect office for me. So, it has been my writing space since we moved in.

5) Any books or tools you have around your writing space that you can’t live without. Thesaurus. Dictionary. Baby name book. Sticky notes. Calendar. Wrist brace. Pepsi or cup of green tea, depending on the temperature.

6) Any organizational or writing space tip, tool, method, hint or amazing revelation you’d like to share.  Have a good chair, and make sure your monitor/laptop/keyboard/whatever you write on is positioned correctly (arms should be at 90 degree angle, for example) so that you don't run into back/neck/leg/wrist/eye/finger issues.  If you write a lot, you need to take care of your body's needs, or you won't be able to write for very long.

Julie Miller can be found at: www.juliemiller.org

Her newest Harlequin Intrigue YULETIDE PROTECTOR is on sale now.

Here's the cover blurb for Yuletide Protector:

HIS STAR WITNESS RECEIVES THREATS INSTEAD OF CHRISTMAS CARDS IN USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR JULIE MILLER'S MINISERIES THE PRECINCT: TASK FORCE

As the lone surviving victim who can put her attacker away in prison, heiress Bailey Austin becomes the key to the D.A.'s case against a notorious criminal. As lead detective, Spencer Montgomery must prep her for trial. But he becomes her personal protector when she starts receiving terrifying "gifts" meant to scare her away from testifying.

Spencer is a cop on the fast track to making captain one day, if he can keep his emotions in check. But as the stalker's threats escalate, he can't deny that Bailey has thawed his icy heart. Her courage touches him in ways no other woman has, and reminds him that she's more important to him than any investigation.