Love This Time of Year!

I love Autumn. It's such a pretty time of year, and the temps are perfect. I love the mid to upper 70's, and no humidity. Plus, I love the colors of the season and the beauty of pumpkins ripe on the vine. I also love Halloween. It's always been one of my favorite holidays. I think the vibrant array of colors has something to do with it (I love to decorate!), but I admit, the "things that go bump in the night" side of Halloween gives a hint of mystery and fun too. I'd love to have a conversation with a friendly ghost who lived during the time of the Civil War, the Wild West, or Medieval times. How cool! So, to celebrate, I'll be posting some fun Halloween stuff here starting next week, plus more stuff over at the group blog I belong to. Join me here and at www.authorsbymoonlight for some spooktacular fun in the days ahead!

Office View

I think it's always kind of fun to discover where fellow writers create their amazing stories. Many love coffee shops, but since I'm not a coffee drinker that holds no appeal for me. I prefer the solitfude of my own home. These days I mainly write my books on my lap top so I can be portable. With small kids, being portable is very important! I need to be near where the action is. But when I can, I go to the quiet of my office, carting the lap top with me. This is where my desk top computer sits waiting for me, too. I handle the majority of the business side of writing on my desk top. I like keeping that precious lap top as clutter free as possible! Plus there's something mental about keeping the lap top for writing only. I try not to play there. That's reserved for my main computer. My desk top computer also handles all of the email I receive, is the holding cell for all the web sites I maintain, and dutifully stores all the photos I take, plus is the home of my book covers, pub photos and all that good stuff.

One of the things I love about my office is the view I have. Especially this time of the year. It might not be a mountain top dusted with snow, or a lake dotted with sparkling gems courtesy of the sun, but to me, it's just as beautiful. It's a corn field. Yes, that's right. A corn field. I get to look over a vast field of corn and watch its progress throughout the growing season. I get to witness the first sprouts of spring, the first touches of yellow as the tassels emerge, and watch the deep, rich green of the leaves transform to a sea of gold that puts me in the mood for scarecrows and pumpkins. I love to watch the late afternoon/evening sun highlight the west side of the trees and throw shadows to the east and across the road. On days the weather cooperates, I love to open the window and be serenaded by a chorus of crickets chirping. They are usually accompanied by a little wind rustling through those drying corn stalks, making a beautiful autumn song. An extra bonus is the feel of the cooler breezes sneaking in and wrapping around me. Add a little music, a favorite candle, and I'm ready to write my fingers to the bone!

Do you have a favorite view that inspires you?