Month: December 2013

In with the New, Out with the Old

erinbradyauthor

Around this time of the year, I’ve often heard of the saying: “In with the new, out with the old.”  As I reflect on the past year and all that it has brought me, I’m not sure I agree with this statement.  You see, the “old” brought me so many wonderful opportunities and the chance to realize my dream of becoming a writer.  If it weren’t for my past experiences, and my family, as well as, friends who pushed me into taking the plunge, I never would have written and published my books.  The “old” has also allowed me the chance to meet other wonderful authors and amazing people from across the globe who enjoy reading as much as I do! Besides, I’m a pack rat and don’t tend to want to throw out anything old unless I absolutely have to.  My bell bottom jeans and orange platform shoes have made a come back and so will my record player, as well as, my Michael Jackson and Madonna vinyl records.  I’m sure of it!

So while I certainly welcome “new” (and by new, I mean a new convertible Mustang, a new diamond pendant, a new vacation home in Turks and Caicos), I don’t ever want to throw out the “old.”  The old has worked out so well for me.  I like the past and everything that it means to me: good friends, close family and the chance to bring alive the stories in my head on paper.

So as we prepare to ring in 2014, I say stick with the old and welcome the new.  Who says they both can’t live in peaceful harmony together!

Have a wonderful New Year!

Erin

My Writing Space

erinbradyauthor

With the release of my new holiday book called The Holiday Gig, I have been featured on http://www.novelicious.com, where I talk about my writing space.

The excerpt is as follows and can be viewed on: http://www.novelicious.com/2013/12/my-writing-room-by-erin-brady.html#more

I adore coffee. So much so, if I could find a way to have it flow through my veins via an intravenous line, I just might consider it. It seems fitting then that the place I do most of my writing is at my … local coffee shop. It has everything a writer needs: a table, a chair, an outlet to plug in my laptop and, of course, free wifi. But, most importantly, it has coffee!

For the record, I do have a dedicated space at home. It is a lovely space: a bright and airy bedroom, which has been converted to an office. It’s filled to the brim with books and a treadmill that I’ve been meaning to actually use for years now, but so far has been serving as a drying rack from which to hang some of my wet laundry. And while I do a lot of my writing there in the evening, after the kids have gone to sleep, nothing beats my designated corner at my favorite coffee shop for those early morning sessions.

I joke with the barista there that I should have a reserved seating sign on my table. Because it’s there and only there that I can type for hours at a time, uninterrupted. It’s there that I won’t be tempted into picking up my home phone and calling my best friend for what is meant to be a two minute conversation, but actually turns into a one hour gabfest. It’s there that I won’t have my husband leaning into me and shoulder reading what I’ve just written.

I know that I won’t find the million and one distractions that I usually find at home. In my little coffee shop, it’s just me and my thoughts and the sweet, tantalizing aroma of my hot steaming cup of cafe latte whiffing through the air. It’s also a really good place to people watch and, for a writer, that’s a golden opportunity to generate story lines and develop characters. You’d be surprised by the number of ideas I’ve managed to come up with just by sitting and watching the world go by.

So, you can see why this one of my favorite places to write. Oh, and did I mention the coffee?

xoxoxo

Erin Brady