Jeffe’s Writing Space

This week at the SFF Seven, we’re sharing our writing workspaces and current TBR list.

Why both of these somewhat disparate things? I have no idea. My TBR isn’t physical (mostly). I keep my inventory of unread books on a – you guessed it! – spreadsheet. There are currently 323 books on it.

I know.

I’ve been working my way through it, really I am, but even my determined efforts end up being like fighting the hydra. For example, I’ve had Juliet Marillier’s Daughter of the Forest on my To-Be-Read “pile” since April 19, 2017. (Thank you, Amazon for that purchase date.) I finally started reading it on February 12, 2022. LOVED IT. So, what did I do? Yes, bought the entire six-book Sevenwaters series. I’m now 60% through book six, Flame of Sevenwaters. By removing one book from my TBR list, I ended up buying five more and spending more than a month bingeing Juliet Marilllier and not addressing any of the books I already have. And I might not stop here. There’s a couple other books of hers that I’m eyeing. We’ll see how I feel when I finish this one.

As for my writing space, I have a dedicated office that is ALL MINE. You can see it above. We got an unexpectedly heavy snow last night, so it’s a darkish morning and you can see the snow out the window. I love my big window as I can watch the birds and other visiting wildlife (and they are merry), and I can see all the way down the Galisteo Basin to the Ortiz Mountains and Sandia Peak. My desk is hydraulic, so I can adjust it for sitting, standing, or walking, with my treadmill below.

I used to have my framed book covers on the walls, but I realized I didn’t like looking at stuff that represented past efforts. So, I took them all down and hung art that’s inspiring to me. The poster over the window is one I made that says, “What would you write if you weren’t afraid?”

And there you have it!

First Cup of Coffee – May 28, 2019

Talking about my towering TBR pile today. I pose a quiz question for my listeners, too. What should I do??? I’m talking about revisions, how I’ve changed my view of them, along with my progress on THE FIERY CITADEL. Also thoughts on Mary Robinette Kowal’s THE CALCULATING STARS and THE FATED SKY.

Rejuvenation and Goal-Setting

The pattern of frost-filigreed wisteria vines is so lovely. The winter holidays are such a great season for rest and rejuvenation – and our weather in the high desert of New Mexico has obliged with lots of snow and freezing temperatures. All the better to keep me cozied indoors and focusing on both relaxing and giving my mind the room to mull thoughts for the coming year. A big part of that is going to be reducing back log and lists. Come on over for more. 

The TBR!

CSVy_8GVAAATbLCI’ve been posting to Facebook and Twitter about my project to organize my TBR pile – both physical and virtual. I’m hoping that by putting them all into a spreadsheet I can prioritize what to read next and hopefully avoid duplications. I’m really psyched to put a dent in this list! There’s 272 print, audio and ebooks on the list. (I originally said 275, but I found a few that I had indeed read on the final pass.)

Several people asked to see the list, so here it is in order of author first name. I have my own list sorted according to my arcane set of priorities, but I didn’t want to share it that way, lest anyone get their feelings hurt.

Here it is!

Pale Queen Rising (Pale Queen Series Book 1) A. R. Kahler
Twisted Miracles (The Shadowminds) A.J. Larrieu
Mind Sweeper (Mind Sweeper Series Book 1) AE Jones
Consequences Aleatha Romig
Defeat the Darkness Alexis Morgan
Dark Warrior Unbroken Alexis Morgan
Love in the Afternoon (Feeling the Heat Book 1) Alison Packard
Atlantis Unleashed Alyssa Day
Atlantis Betrayed Alyssa Day
The Lair of the Twelve Princesses Amanda C. Davis
The Kingdom (The Graveyard Queen Book 2) Amanda Stevens
The Martian Andy Weir
The Breaker’s Concubine Ann Mayburn
This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage Ann Patchett
Blades of the Old Empire: Book I of the Majat Code Anna Kashina
The Guild of Assassins: Book Two of The Majat Code Anna Kashina
The Majat Testing (The Majat Code) Anna Kashina
Uncommon Passion Anne Calhoun
Uncommon Pleasure Anne Calhoun
The Seal’s Rebel Librarian Anne Calhoun
The Seal’s Secret Anne Calhoun
The Seal’s Second Chance Anne Calhoun
Evening Storm Anne Calhoun
Transcendent (Irresistible Series Book 2) Anne Calhoun
Jaded Anne Calhoun
The Girl in 6E AR Torre
The Poetics Aristotle
The All You Can Dream Buffet Barbara O’Neal
Solatium (Emanations, an urban fantasy series Book 2) Becca Mills
Passion Play Beth Bernobich
The Creative Fire (Ruby’s Song) Brenda Cooper
Black Sun Rising: The Coldfire Trilogy, Book One C.S. Friedman
Crown of Shadows: The Coldfire Trilogy, Book Three C.S. Friedman
When True Night Falls: The Coldfire Trilogy, Book Two C.S. Friedman
Silk Caitlin R Kiernan
Touch Me Callie Croix
Wind Follower Carole McDonnell
Free Fall (A My Immortals Series Demons and Witches novella) Carolyn Jewel
Eyes Like Sky And Coal And Moonlight Cat Rambo
Always and Forever Cathy Kelly
With this Ring Celeste Bradley
1 Dead in Attic Chris Rose
Losing Mum and Pup Christopher Buckley
Lady of Light and Shadows CL Wilson
King of Sword and Sky CL Wilson
Queen of Song and Souls CL Wilson
Crown of Crystal Flame CL Wilson
The Shadow Revolution: Crown & Key Clay Griffith
A Malady of Magicks (The Ebenezum Series Book 1) Craig Shaw Gardner
Unlovable Cynthia St. Aubin
Hot Head Damon Suede
Reluctant Concubine (Hardstorm Saga Book 1) Dana Marton
The Tao of Jung – the Way of lntegrity David Rosen
Dying Bites: The Bloodhound Files DD Barant
Dream Del Dryden
Sex on the Beach Del Dryden
Mai Tai for Two Del Dryden
Bitter Night Diana Pharaoh Francis
Charmed Life (Chronicles of Chrestomanci Book 1) Diana Wynne Jones
The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel Diane Setterfield
The Thirteenth Tale Diane Setterfield
The Thousand Names: Book One of the Shadow Campaigns Django Wexler
The Reckoners Doranna Durgin
Storm of Reckoning Doranna Durgin
The Beauty’s Beast ED Walker
The Heaven Tree trilogy Edith Pagetter
Cheerful – By Request Edna Ferber
Erotic Poems ee cummings
Twisted Elisabeth Naughton
Slave To Pleasure Eliza Gayle
Eat Pray Love Elizabeth Gilbert
A Hidden Fire: Elemental Mysteries Book One Elizabeth Hunter
The Seduction of Lady Phoebe (The Marriage Game Book 1) Ella Quinn
Strange Attractions (Berkley Sensation) Emma Holly
Master of the Game Emma Petersen
Blood Cursed Erica Hayes
Shadow Bound Erin Kellison
The Secret Heart (No Better Angels Book 1) Erin Satie
A Vampire Quintet Eugie Foster
Blood Cross: A Jane Yellowrock Novel Faith Hunter
You’re Never Weird on the Internet Felicia Day
Boomerang Bride Fiona Lowe
Dead Man’s Rain (The Markhat Files Book 2) Frank Tuttle
Dragon Actually (Dragon Kin series Book 1) G. A. Aiken
His Last Duchess Gabrielle Kimm
Sabriel (The Old Kingdom Book 1) Garth Nix
The Darkest Kiss Gena Showalter
Home Fires Gene Wolfe
Phantastes George MacDonald
Love Letters Volume 1: Obeying Desire (The Love Letters) Ginny Glass
The Duke’s Disaster Grace Burrowes
Douglas Grace Burrowes
The Lightning God’s Wife: a short story Grace Draven
The Collected Stories Grace Paley
The Lions of Al-Rassan Guy Gavriel Kay
Romancing the Holiday: We’ll Be Home for Christmas\Ask Her.. HelenKay Dimon
The Secret of the Unicorn Herge
Atonement Ian McEwan
Burn for Me Ilona Andrews
Thorn Intisar Khanani
Faery Song Isabo Kelly
Obernewtyn: The Obernewtyn Chronicles 1 Isobelle Carmody
The Golden City J. Kathleen Cheney
Renegade JA Souders
Naamah’s Curse (Moirin’s Trilogy Book 2) Jacqueline Carey
Santa Olivia Jacqueline Carey
The Golden Bough James George Frazer
Persuasion (Illustrated) Jane Austen
The King’s Viper Janine Ashbless
Warhost of Vastmark Janny Wurts
The Curse of the Mistwraith Janny Wurts
Management Skills January Rowe
Better When He’s Bad Jay Crownover
Three Hearts JC Nelson
Leopard Moon (Moon series Book 1) Jeanette Battista
Up from the Grave Jeaniene Frost
Blood Drive Jeanne C Stein
Karma Girl (The Bigtime series Book 1) Jennifer Estep
Don’t Breathe a Word: A Novel Jennifer McMahon
The Scarecrow King: A Romantic Retelling of the King.. Jill Myles
Always on My Mind Jill Shalvis
Tempted by His Target Jill Sorenson
Storm Front (The Dresden Files, Book 1) Jim Butcher
The Lady’s Secret Joanna Chambers
The Harlot Countess Joanna Shupe
Incarnate Jodi Meadows
Redshirts: Chapters 1-4 John Scalzi
Johannes Cabal, the Necromancer Jonathan L Howard
Beast (Avon Romantic Treasure) Judith Ivory
It’s in His Kiss Julia Quinn
When He was Wicked Julia Quinn
Caress of Darkness Julie Kenner
Wanted Julie Kenner
Say My Name Julie Kenner
Larcout (Fire Born, Blood Blessed Book 1) K.A. Krantz
Red Hot Holiday: Wish List\I Need You for Christmas\Breath.. K.A. Mitchell
Grave Witch Kalayna Price
Heart of the Dragon’s Realm Karalynn Lee
Inked (Cassie Palmer) Karen Chance
Changeling: Prelude to the Chosen Chronicles Karen Dales
Greywalker Kat Richardson
Spirit Gate Kate Elliott
King’s Dragon Kate Elliott
Simply Sinful Kate Pearce
A Lady’s Wish Katharine Ashe
Breakdown Katherine Amt Hanna
Everlasting Kathleen Woodiwiss
A Match Made in Texas Katie Lane
Ring in the Holidays Katie Lane
Uncommon Arrangements: Married Life in London Literary Circles Katie Roiphe
The Middle Place Kelly Corrigan
The Better Part of Darkness Kelly Gay
The Darkest Kiss Keri Arthur
Embraced in Darkness Keri Arthur
Hounded Kevin Hearne
Synthetic Dreams Kim Knox
Dark Needs at Night’s Edge Kresley Cole
Own the Wind Kristen Ashley
Daughter of Smoke and Bone Laini Taylor
Lethal Rider Larissa Ione
The Chocolate Rose: (A Prequel to La Vie en Roses Series) Laura Florand
The Prince of Midnight Laura Kinsale
By Royal Command Laura Navarre
Goddess With a Blade Lauren Dane
Last Night at Chateau Marmont Lauren Weisberger
Touchstone Laurie R. King
Shadow and Bone Leigh Bardugo
Secrets of the Sands Leona Wisoker
Grave Illusions (Jess Vandermire, Vampire Hunter Book 1) Lina Gardiner
Games of Command Linnea Sinclair
Hope’s Folly Linnea Sinclair
A Civil Campaign Lois McMaster Bujold
A Civil Campaign (Vorkosigan Saga Book 12) Lois McMaster Bujold
Spellbent Lucy A. Snyder
Bonds of Trust & Bonds of Need Lynda Aicher
Dearest Friend Lynne Withey
The Worth of a Shell (The Stone Moon Trilogy Book 1) M.C.A. Hogarth
Blood of the Sorceress Maggie Shayne
The Raven Boys Maggie Stiefvater
Avenge Me Maisey Yates
Nightmare Ink (A Living Ink Novel) Marcella Burnard
The Blind Assassin Margaret Atwood
The Year of the Flood (MaddAddam Trilogy, Book 2) Margaret Atwood
Midnight Never Come Marie Brennan
Beauty and the Wolf (The Cursed Princes Book 1) Marina Myles
Undead Kama Sutra Mario Acevedo
The Woman at the Washington Zoo Marjorie Williams
Unfallen Dead Mark del Franco
Thief of Songs MCA Hogarth
The Position: A Novel Meg Wolitzer
The Ten-Year Nap Meg Wolitzer
Little Secrets Megan Hart
Hold Me Close Megan Hart
Tempted Megan Hart
A Red Hot Valentine’s Day Megan Hart
No Greater Pleasure Megan Hart
If the Shoe Fits (Unruly Royals Book 2) Megan Mulry
In Love Again (Unruly Royals Book 3) Megan Mulry
A Little Harmless Submission Melissa Schroeder
Home from the Sea Mercedes Lackey
Archer’s Voice Mia Sheridan
Cast in Shadow (Chronicles of Elantra, Book 1) (The.. Michelle Sagara
The Duke of Dark Desires (The Wild Quartet) Miranda Neville
The Importance of Being Wicked Miranda Neville
Fire Kin MJ Scott
The Magic of Recluce (saga of recluce Book 1) Modesitt Jr.
Falling Kingdoms Morgan Rhodes
Loving Frank Nancy Horan
Uprooted Naomi Novik
Think and Grow Rich Napoleon Hill
Fight or Flight Natalie Damschroder
Neverwhere Neil Gaiman
The Liar Nora Roberts
The Modern Fae’s Guide to Surviving Humanity (Daw Book.. Palmatier
Scions: Insurrection Patrice Michelle
Alphabet of Thorn Patricia McKillip
Some Boys Patty Blount
The Green Man and the Dragon Paul Broadhurst
The Winter Witch Paula Brackston
The Warded Man Peter V Brett
Plato’s Erotic Dialogues Plato
The Scroll Thief (A Tale of Ithian) R.F. Long
Love Without Blood Raz Steel
The Bridge Rebecca Rogers Maher
The Red Wolf Conspiracy Robert V.S. Redick
Assassin’s Apprentice (The Farseer Trilogy, Book 1) Robin Hobb
Shadows Robin McKinley
Water – Tales of Elemental Spirits Robin McKinley
A Knot in the Grain and other stories Robin McKinley
Fire: Tales of Elemental Spirits (Firebird Fantasy) Robin Mckinley
The Door in the Hedge Robin McKinley
Deeper Robin York
Fallen Roselynn Cannes
Sunset Rising: Book One S. McEachern
The Twelve Nights of Christmas (Snowkissed and Seduced!) Sarah Morgan
Rosemary and Rue: Book One of Toby Daye (October Daye Series.. Seanan McGuire
Slow Summer Kisses Shannon Stacey
Mystic and Rider (Twelve Houses series Book 1) Sharon Shinn
Journey of Awakening (The Triune Stones) Shawna Thomas
It’s In His Heart (A Red River Valley Novel) Shelly Alexander
His at Night (The London Trilogy Series) Sherry Thomas
Demon’s Captive (War Tribe Book 1) Stephanie Snow
Daughter of Regals and Other Tales Stephen R Donaldson
First Blood (The Guardians series) Susan Sizemore
The Splendour Falls Susanna Kearsley
The Winter Sea Susanna Kearsley
The Admiral’s Bride (Tall, Dark and Dangerous Book 7) Suzanne Brockmann
Pirate’s Alley (Sentinels of New Orleans Book 4) Suzanne Johnson
Riding the Storm (ACRO Series Book 1) Sydney Croft
Spellbound Sylvia Day
Afterburn & Aftershock Sylvia Day
Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness series Book.. Tamora Pierce
Terrier: The Legend of Beka Cooper #1 Tamora Pierce
It Had to Be Him (An It Had to Be Novel Book 1) Tamra Baumann
Getting Dumped – Part 1 A Shultz Sisters Mystery Tawna Fenske
The Color of Magic (Discworld Book 1) Terry Pratchett
A Night to Surrender Tessa Dare
Jitterbug Perfume Tom Robbins
Vicious V. E. Schwab
Property Valerie Martin
What My Mother Gave Me Various
Rocket Dragons Ignite Various
Worlds of Edgar Rice Burroughs Various
Star Cruise: Marooned Veronica Scott
A Rake’s Guide To Pleasure (Zebra Historical Romance) Victoria Dahl
Fanning the Flames: A Girls’ Night Out novella (Jackson:.. Victoria Dahl
The Guy Next Door Victoria Dahl
Carolina Man Virginia Kantra
Distrust That Particular Flavor William Gibson
Spook Country William Gibson
The Xandra King Erotic Romance Collection: Celestina and the.. Xandra King
The Curious Trio Yoko Tsuno