The Writer's View: Joyce Proell

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be giving one randomly drawn commenter a $10 Amazon gift card. The other stops on the tour can be found by clicking the tour banner.

The Writer's View

Hello! Thanks for inviting me. I’m very happy to be here. Today’s blog topic is The Author’s View: Inside and Out. I’ve been asked to describe my writing space, including the view out my window. So here goes.

Most days, I can be found at my desk, in front of my computer, writing. I can scarcely think of a better place to be. As much as I love to travel, I find the voyage of my own imagination takes me to places which are endlessly fascinating and forever changing. To arrive at some destination in my stories, I spend hours in my office, daydreaming, researching and plotting. My office is the place where I craft the story and connect with friends and readers via social media.

I’ve included a few pictures. As you can see, the walls are painted the warm color of a clay pot and white trim and crown moldings offer a nice contrast. I don’t have a desk. Instead, I have a six foot long table. I prefer simplicity and order but the oak table top is often lost to stacks of notes, folders and papers.

From my vantage point at my makeshift desk, I look onto the foyer and beyond that, to a yellow dining room. To my right are two windows which overlook the prairie. On my left hangs a favorite painting of an Italian village done by the artist, Bela Petheo. Next to it is a door which leads into a bathroom. After innumerable cups of tea and coffee, I’m happy to be close to a bathroom.

At my back are three book cases filled with books, baskets and bunnies. When my daughter was much smaller, she collected cuddly bunnies. Alas, she grew up, moved to her own home and left them all behind. I didn’t have the heart to give them away. So by default, they are now my collection. To this day, I’m always on the lookout for a lovely porcelain bunny or one that is quite old and unique. If you know of any websites to check for interesting bunnies, please let me know.

I live in rural Minnesota, on a golf course which lies next to a lake. In the summer I watch the golf carts roll by much of the day. I see robins, barn swallows, goldfinch and the occasional hawk sit on the Adirondack chairs on my front porch. In the winder, the snow stretches into the pale gray horizon.

As much as I enjoy the view out my windows, I keep my eyes on the words rolling across my computer screen, feeling blessed I have the time to write.

Thanks for letting me share my office space with you.

About the Author:

Joyce Proell grew up in Minnesota and attended college and grad school in Chicago. After working in mental health, she retired at a young age to write full-time. Her first book, Eliza, was published in 2012. When she isn’t writing mysteries or historical romances, she loves to travel, walk, read, and do crossword puzzles. She and her husband make their home in rural Minnesota in her very own little house on the prairie.

Visit with her on her website or Facebook.

Tainted in the eyes of Victorian society by his wife’s suicide, Doyle Flanagan turns a deaf ear to the baseless gossip and harsh rebukes. Ignoring his shattered reputation, he goes about his business, making money and enemies, and doing good works whenever his conscience gets the best of him. Arrested for murder, he is forced to rely on a feisty school administrator to solve the puzzle. As he struggles to prove his innocence, he realizes gaining the trust and loyalty of Cady Delafield may be more important than his freedom.

On a quest to locate a missing student, school matron Cady Delafield enters a stranger’s house and discovers the woman murdered. Driven to see the murderer brought to justice, she is determined to prevent any further tragedy even if it means joining forces with the very man accused of the atrocity. Against the wishes of her powerful family, she risks her job and reputation to learn the truth. But will the truth, once revealed, drive her away from the man she has come to love?

Passion and murder collide in 1880’s Chicago as they race to keep one step ahead of the police who want Doyle to pay for his crime. As the attraction between Cady and Doyle sizzles, they battle suspicions, lies and lethal actions to uncover the murderer before he destroys them both.

Buy the book at Champagne Books.