Today I have Karen MacInerney to talk about her new book, Death runs Adrift which is the sixth novel in her Gray Whale Inn mystery series. I have always liked the main character, Natalie, and mysteries that involve food have always a big favorite of mine.
My feelings about desks. (And my coffee shop addiction.)
by Karen MacInerney
In the third grade, my parents moved me from the local public school to a very small progressive school housed in an old church, with approximately 25 students and no desks. No desks! We did our work everywhere. Out on the playground. Lying on the stage. Sitting in a comfy chair in the school library. Hanging from our toes from a doorframe, if we were limber enough.
It was an amazing experience.
Years later, when I snagged a job doing technical writing for 3M, I was given a desk in an oatmeal-colored cubicle in the middle of a desert-like expanse of carpet. The only noise was from the air-conditioning and the murmurs of my fellow cell…er, officemates talking to people about riveting subjects like electrical tape and cable ties. I learned a lot about writing during my time there — after trying to make a press release on the anniversary of electrical tape sound exciting, writing synopses of mysteries is a breeze – but I spent almost no time at my desk. Somehow, “desk” felt synonymous with “jail cell.”
These days, I have a beautiful office, with storm-blue walls, hardwood floors, a rag rug, a lovely white corner desk I picked myself, and a view of trees out the window. I sit there to do watercolor sometimes, or to journal, or to pay bills. But when I’m writing a scene of a book? Ninety-nine percent of the time, I grab my laptop, tuck it into my bag, and head for a local coffee shop, where I settle into a cushy chair near the door. ( I avoid tables. Too desk-like, I suppose.)
I think a good bit of my coffee-shop habit can be traced to my desk phobia. But part of it stems from the fact that writing can be a lonely profession; by necessity, authors need to spend a lot of time being quiet and focusing on the screen, trying to pick just the right word or figure out what the characters are going to do next. It can be a wonderful job, and there’s nothing better than losing yourself in an imaginary world when the words are flowing and things just seem to “happen” on the page. But not all days are like that. In fact, many times, putting down words is slow and cumbersome, and tasks like laundry and pantry re-organization suddenly seem both pressing and much more appealing than churning through another 500 words on the computer.
But if I’m in a cozy chair at a coffee shop (as I am right now), where there is no laundry to be done, friends can stop by and say hello, and I’m connected to the world around me, I don’t feel like I’m working. I feel like I’m playing – and the buzz of people and music and espresso machines help me feel less isolated from the world at large, energizing both me and my writing. (I’m sure the coffee helps, too.) I’ve recently found a writing buddy whose schedule meshes with mine, and that’s a huge boon for an extraverted writer like me. Not only do I get to write in a coffee shop, but I’ve got a friend I can touch base with when I’m struggling with a word or a scene.
I know everyone is different, and sometimes I’ve felt like I “should” work at a desk, but I’ve finally allowed myself to do what works for me. How about you? Do you feel more focused at a desk, or do you prefer to work wherever suits your fancy?
About the Author:
Critically acclaimed author Karen MacInerney also teaches writers’ workshops and drives a mean carpool. Her book Murder on the Rocks was selected as an Agatha nominee for Best First Novel. When she’s not writing or chauffeuring children, she loves to read, drink coffee, attempt unusual recipes, and hit the local hike-and-bike trail. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and two children, and escapes to Maine as often as possible.’
With her own wedding fast approaching and her mother-in-law dating an unexpected beau, the last thing Natalie Barnes needs is to find a young man shot dead in a dinghy. A note she finds with the body suggests the dearly departed had a secret rendezvous planned with somebody on the island. But when suspicion is cast on a fisherman Natalie believes to be innocent, she begins to wonder if the murder was the result of a lover’s quarrel . . . or a lobsterman’s disagreement gone horribly wrong.
Jennifer’s Review of Death runs Adrift
Review (4.25 Stars): I have been a fan of the Gray Whale Inn mystery series ever since reading the first one, Murder on the Rocks. I really liked the main character, Natalie Barnes, and how she always seemed to find herself in the middle of a murder mystery when she least expects it. I’ve also been a little envious of Natalie because she has been able to realize her dream of running a beautiful bed and breakfast on a cozy little island. In this story, Natalie comes across the body of a mysterious young man who is a relative newcomer to the island and may have been involved in illegal activities that contributed to his demise. She must work quickly to find the true murderer before an innocent person is put away for the crime.
I really enjoyed this mystery and I was excited to see that Natalie is getting closer and closer to her own wedding day with her fiance, John. Since this is the sixth novel in the series, I loved getting updates on previous characters that I’ve gotten to know over the course of the series and visiting with certain characters that feel like old friends. I also enjoy the atmosphere of each book and the great recipes that are always tucked in the back of every mystery. Ms. MacInerney has the amazing ability to create a unique mystery that will make you lose all track of time while you investigate the clues right along with Natalie. I am looking forward to reading more fun adventures with Natalie, John and the rest of the cast at the Gray Whale Inn in the very near future.
No comments yet.