Inspiring Old Artists, Workspaces, and Another Giveaway!

Art is Keeping Me Sane Right Now

I love documentaries about old artists who keep doing their work. They give me hope and help me remember what's really important. I just watched Nothing Changes: Art for Hank's Sake (this is a link to the trailer) and I think you might enjoy it, too. You can stream it on Amazon.

I'm also loving this online class about drawing people in urban environments from Jim Richards. He's a great teacher and his style is simple and whimsical. If you're not already on Skillshare, here's a coupon code if you want to try it out for free. He plans to teach some more classes, so I'm going to stick around for a while and try out some of their other offerings.

Speaking of Art, I'm Auctioning Some Paintings for a Good Cause

From time to time I auction off my paintings to benefit a charity that means a lot to me. You can read all about it on my blog, or go directly to eBay to place a bid.

Asked and Answered: Workspace Tour

Ask me a question and win the book of your choice! This month's winner is Beverly from Moncks Corner, SC

Beverly asks: Where is your most comfortable place to write?

Beverly, I love seeing other artists' and writers' workspaces, so I decided to use your question as an opportunity to give a little tour of my office. It's a small space – about the size of a regular bedroom – and in that space, I have to make room for both my full-time job of writing, as well as my very part-time hobby of making art!

I'm on the top floor of our little condo, and the roofline slopes down in such a way that I don't really have a lot of wall space for bookshelves. This is quite a drawback for a writer! I had to get rid of a lot of books when I moved into this space, but it's been okay. There's a library down the street, and I can get anything I want there.

This is what I call my "ego bookshelf." It's positioned right here at the top of the stairs for a reason. Seeing all of my books, including the foreign translations, reminds me that I actually do know how to write a book! I've done it before, and I can do it again. This is incredibly helpful during the first draft, when I always feel lost and confused. (the dresser, by the way, is covered in old rejection letters from my early days--I guess that's the opposite of an ego bookshelf!)

My desk is an adjustable sit/stand model. I just can't stay in one position very long. Generally I stand in the morning, switch to sitting in the afternoon, and then get tired of sitting and go back to standing. If you want to try this, a good floormat is essential!

I also love this crazy keyboard. As you can see, there are no letters on the keys. You have to know how to touch type. But what I really love about it is that these are mechanical keys that feel and sound like a typewriter. Most computer keyboards are really a rubber mat with keys on top. When you type, you're just sort of mashing down on the rubber mat below the keys. But with this keyboard, metal strikes metal. It's very satisfying. I'm a better typist because of it (you have to be, when the keyboard is all black) and I love how durable it is. I used to have to get a new keyboard after almost every book, but this one has lasted for years.

My easel and art supplies are over here. This is not a great set up, but it's the best I can do at the moment with the space I have. If I'm doing oil painting, I'm working here. If I'm drawing or doing watercolor, I'm either at my writing desk or the kitchen table (or out in the world, of course!) I just recently bought a drawing board so that I can work on large sheets of paper. I also have this panel holder to hold the small panels I usually paint on.

Finally, my most important feature: A door that closes, which is essential for anyone doing creative work. My husband knows that when my door is closed I am not to be disturbed unless the house is on fire. In exchange, I agree that I will not complain about any decisions he makes in my absence! If my door is closed and he decides to make popcorn for dinner, he can rest assured that I will not come downstairs later and complain that there's nothing to eat but popcorn!

I'm home now and starting to work on Book 7 in the Kopp Sisters series! Thanks for stopping by my office.

Ask a Question &
Win a Book!

 Please go here to ask me a question and pick your prize. Even if you've entered before, please feel free to enter again and ask the same question or a different one. 

A Sneak Preview of 2020 Tour Dates

I'm done traveling for the year, but here's a sneak preview of 2020! If you're part of a literary series, a library event, or some other bookish gathering, please feel free to reach out to publicity@amystewart.com to see about setting up an event.

Details & links to come! These are just preliminary details so you can save the date.

Portland, OR: Jan 23 Ledding Library
Lakewood, WA: March 28 Pierce County Library
Newport Beach, CA: April 2 Literary Orange
Ellsworth, ME: May 2 Ellsworth Public Library
Portland, ME: May 3 Sherman's
Wyckoff, NJ: May 6 Oasis fundraiser

Some of these are ticketed events. More tour dates are on my website. Please confirm details with the venue.

November Giveaway

We're giving away paperbacks of Lady Cop Makes Trouble on Goodreads. Even if you have a copy, please head over there to enter! Give it to a friend!

Would You Like a Signed Book?

Signed copies of most of my books are available at Eureka Books, the bookstore my husband and I own. 

What Are You Reading?

I was lucky enough to go on book tour with British author Elly Griffiths last year. I'd read a few of her books, but I'd never read the entire Ruth Galloway series in order. This year, on book tour, I binge-read the whole series and loved every minute of it. Ruth is an archaeologist who helps the police with crimes. There's lots of English fog, dead bodies, and complicated personal lives. Great fireside reading this winter.

What are you reading? Tell me about it on Goodreads or Litsy.