Today I’ve got Anne Harvey on the blog, telling us all about her super organised writing cave. It’s so tidy! As well as being an accomplished writer, who has successfully self-published her book, A Suitable Young Man, Anne is also a family history buff – and all-round lovely person. Here’s what she had to say:
Thanks very much, Georgia, for inviting me to write about my very special place, my writing cave. My original space was indeed more cave-like as it was the space under the stairs – or at least it would have been had we had any stairs (we live in a bungalow!) Then, when my teenage grandchildren grew bored with staying with grandma during the school holidays, my lovely hubby turned what had been their bedroom into a dedicated office for me. Well, when I say dedicated, it also deputises as a sewing room and, as we don’t have a tumble dryer, as a laundry! 
He’s fitted it out with workbenches on both sides, one which houses my computer, print and other work paraphernalia, the other either being used as a sewing bench or a space for laying out papers to do with my WIP or family history papers. Over both benches, are shelves on which is my eclectic book collection. Those over my sewing machine house my family history albums while those over my work station have all my reference books, portfolios, dictionaries and other reference books. Underneath, I have a couple of filing cabinets, not just writing related files but files connected with home. So, because my office is multi-functional, I will have no problems being able to claim one sixth of running costs when it comes to filling in my tax form.
The pictures on the small back wall are all personal to me. One is a copy of an illustration that accompanied the very first family history article I wrote for Your Family Tree magazine back in 2003. Another is a somewhat faded watercolour of a young woman (possibly Mary the mother of Jesus as she’s wearing a halo?) surrounded by lambs that my late Dad gave me many years ago. Yet another is a photo of my late Mum with a batch of teddies she knitted for charity and is one of the last pictures I have of her (she died in 2008, aged 97). Underneath these, is a recent addition, a Christmas present from that lovely man again, my darling hubby. This one is a trio of photos of the cover of my debut novel ‘A Suitable Young Man.’
The newly installed French windows overlook my beloved garden and sometimes when I’m stuck for words, I watch the birds whose feeders and bird bath are located within gazing distance. It’ll be great in the summer when I can open them up – hopefully, it’ll feel like an outdoor room.
I adore my writing cave and, as it should be, spend hours in there, though, it has to be said, not always writing!
And here’s a little background about Anne:
Since taking early retirement several years ago, Anne has had a second career as a writer. She’s had quite a bit of success writing family and social history articles for various national magazines. Now in her seventies, she took the deliberate decision to self-publish her debut novel. The route to traditional publication is time-consuming and fraught with difficulties and she believed that it would take up too much time at this stage in her life.
Thanks for coming on the blog and telling us about your writing cave, Anne. Anyone who has successfully negotiated CreateSpace in order to self-publish deserves respect. A Suitable Young Man is proving a huge success and you can find it at:
An interesting fly on the wall look into Anne’s world – very jealous, it looks a fabulous place to write. Good luck with the debut novel Anne!
Enjoyed the post Anne. Busy lady. Thank goodness you have such a lovely hubby. Good luck with the novel. x