Scene of the Blog Featuring Jen of Jen's Book Thoughts!

You don't have to read my blog for very long to deduce that I have a decided preference for crime fiction. I even admit it in my header. Therefore, it should come as no shock that I enjoy reading other book blogs that feature the same genre.

The one thing that I enjoy the most about Book Blogger Appreciation Week is the chance it gives me to discover new blogs. Last year's celebration was no exception. When looking at the other nominees for Best... Mystery... Blog, I saw Jen's Book Thoughts and said to myself, "Who's that?" I immediately visited her blog and said, "How long have I been under this rock and can I get out now?"

Jen's blog is now one of my absolute favorites, and not just because we like the same type of books. This woman is one dedicated and extremely creative blogger! If forced to choose my favorite feature on her blog, it would be almost impossible to choose between Detectives Around the World, Six-Word Memoirs, and Crime Writers Caught Reading Crime. I wish I had just one-tenth of an ounce of her creativity. If you haven't visited Jen at Jen's Book Thoughts, please do-- and don't forget to say hi!

Now it's time for me to shut up and show y'all Jen's blogging space where she creates all those fun posts. She sent two shots that are basically the same, but I'm going to use both of them because you can see different things in each.

This is the desk where all the damage is done for Jen’s Book Thoughts. This is actually unusually clean for me. Normally there’s at least three or four additional books piled up, a can of diet soda and a cat lurking. But I recently replaced my desktop computer with the new laptop, so some cleaning was done to make the transition, and the cats must be off causing trouble somewhere else. In addition, I’m in the process of having my poster from this year’s L.A. Times Festival of Books framed so I can hang it over the desk. I had the poster signed by many of the authors I visited with at the festival.

When I work here, I’m most often flanked by one or both of my chocolate labs. They will sleep on either side of my chair while I work on the computer. That is until they need to go outside. Then they stick their noses under my elbow and try to convince me to get up and let them out.

There is window to the right of the desk and one directly behind the desk, so there’s usually plenty of light. Also behind the desk is a large papasan chair where the cats like to sleep while I’m working; that is if they aren’t trying to help me. It makes for close quarters, but that’s o.k., we’re a close family like that.

The paper you can see in front of the computer is one of my many calendars. I have a calendar for each project. While I typically keep a spreadsheet of information I need, I also keep a printed calendar with all my information in pencil so I can move things around as needed! As much as I like technology and rely on it, I still rely on paper calendars. I’m not sure if you can see it, but to the right of my mouse pad is my essential toy. I can’t be without my Slinky. When I’m pondering and concocting, I busy myself with my Slinky. Something about the sound is calming and soothing to me.

It’s nothing fancy, but it works! Thanks for investigating my scene!

I for one want to know if Jen is going to post a photo of her poster once she gets it framed and hung. That sounds like a very special piece of art. And you know what? I think I know the secret of Jen's creativity-- all those critters she has sleeping around her as she blogs. All those doggy and kitty zzzzz's being lofted into the air must keep Jen's brain cells hopping.

Jen? You're not alone. I may have spreadsheets of my own, but I've just gotta have things written out on paper calendars!

Thanks so much for sharing your space with us, Jen. We certainly do enjoy conducting these informal investigations.

Who's sharing a creative space with us next week? Stop by to find out. See you then!