For years, my office was one of two main offices of The Heartbeat of the Home radio ministry. Little by little I’m weeding through the ten lateral file drawers full of information plus an upright four-drawer file cabinet. The ministry retired at the end of 2012, so my writing business is slowly overtaking those cabinets. Many of the ideas gathered during those 33 years of ministry are working their way into fiction and nonfiction projects, so thinning the files is progressing at about the same pace as thinning my thighs.
My desk looks out onto the front screen porch—white wicker furniture and all— with a view of the woods and the dawn. On the wall above the side of my desk are reminders of current or past projects—a small wooden canoe that inspired me while writing They Almost Always Come Home; a framed photo of Door County cherries hanging from a tree branch, draped in an icy glaze for A Door County Christmas; a photo of the woolen mill on Cedar Creek in Cedarburg, WI, for Cedar Creek Seasons; a calendar page of bright blue morning glories to remind me to pray for When the Morning Glory Blooms, Scrabble letters lined up to spell RAGGED HOPE, the title of my nonfiction July 2013 release—Ragged Hope: Surviving the Fallout of Other People’s Choices. (A copy of When the Morning Glory Blooms or a copy of Ragged Hope will go to two of Tricia’s blog followers who comment on this post!)
My faux leather office chair has seen better days and needs a pillow prop here and there. But other than the enormous photocopier/printer that dominates a quarter of the room, it’s a cozy spot to write, when I’m not in one of my other favorite office spaces.
For a change of pace and more light, I write in the family room, perched in a leather rocking chair a friend donated to the cause, with a wheeled slant-top TV tray-sized table for my laptop. There, I look out onto more woods and the path the deer usually take when they’re looking for food.
In the warm weather, which in northern Wisconsin is gruesomely short, I haul my supplies and laptop and a nice long electrical cord out to the screen house on the deck just off the kitchen. It’s such a peaceful place to write. Don’t the birds and flowers and wildlife and breezes and wind chimes distract me? Why, n-no. N-no. Not at all.
______________________________
Cynthia Ruchti has more than three decades of radio broadcast experience with “Heartbeat of the Home” radio and currently serves as Professional Relations Liaison for American Christian Fiction Writers. Find Cynthia on the web at www.cynthiaruchti.com or on Facebook and Twitter.
Speaking of Cynthia’s new book, Ragged Hope is currently on a blog tour! Check out the reviews HERE. Cynthia is hosting a $200 Visa cash card giveaway and author chat party to celebrate the release, and you’re invited to participate! Enter the giveaway HERE and RSVP to the author chat party tomorrow night HERE.
Cynthia is also giving away a copy of When the Morning Glory Blooms or Ragged Hope to TWO readers who comment on this post! The winners will be announced a week from today.
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This is such a lovely, warm place to write. It reflects the heart of this writer!
Thanks, Carol. I write BEST when I’m locked away in a motel room where other people do the dusting, vacuuming, and meal prep. But this is where I write most often. 🙂
I am loving the porch picture. Thay would be my choice of writing spots. I would love to win a copy of one of your books.
Beverly, the front porch is just ideal when the sun is too hot on the deck. I have white Christmas lights strung up around the ceiling so I can see even at night. Not well, but I can see enough to use my laptop.
I might just steal your idea of putting a desk near the window and painting then the same color. Your writing area looks peaceful and inspiring. If I had to move North, Its choose Wisconsin!
Wisconsin has its advantages, Karen. Some of us feel our hearts tugging us southward when we get to 40 below zero in January! The porch is only useful then as a place to freeze leftovers!
I love a desk in front of the window -hmmm why is mine facing the wall? I’m not sure but I’m going to change that now well my hubby will change it. I love watching nature outside my window. Thank you for sharing! ~Martha
Although nature can be distracting :), it’s also calming–a great setting in which to get “lost” in a scene.
What a lovely desk. I love the porch too, so wish I had a porch and wonderful plants surrounding it …Right now, here in Texas, it is so hot, all my flower plants are droopy.
Kim, you made me chuckle. Here in the northwoods, we’ve fluctuated from 95 degrees and humid to 46 degrees in the span of a week! We’re not lacking for variety. That reminds me. I need to go water those plants on the porch!
Cozy and comfortable! I feel like coming over for a cup of tea! 🙂
Come ahead, Cindy. I’ll start the tea water and ask the gravel trucks to quit using the road in front of my house as a racetrack so we can have some peace and quiet.
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Wow, I’d love to have a dedicated writing space. I have a desk in my bedroom. 🙁 Maybe one day.
I do have a question though…how do you see your laptop screen when you’re outside. I’ve tried a number of times to write on my front porch, but all I see is my own reflection. LOL Do you have a glare screen or something?
Thanks for the look into your front yard. 🙂
I’ve used a number of creative devices to see the laptop screen, Ginger. I have a MacBook Air now, which has made it better, but I’m usually in some sort of shade for that reason…and I don’t like to sweat. 🙂 But I’ve used an umbrella that I lay open on the table at just the right angle to ward off glare. I cut one side off a box and made a “cave” for my older laptop. My screen house has a dark curtain on one side that I can let down when the sun insists on being noticed. The other trick is wearing sunglasses with ultra-violet protection.
Thanks for the tour, now all I need is your address and I’ll be there laptop, tea bags and puggle in hand 🙂 Whatta say? You wouldn’t let me stand on the porch with all that junk and not open the door, would you?
My Knight in faded jeans had a front porch built for me, a screened-in area under the grape vines in back and a writers cave with a window to gaze out of upstairs. The problem is the neighbors. When they see me any of those places they come to call, often with cake or cookies in hand. Maybe I need to learn to write while on the basement treadmill? Working off pounds of neighborly love while pounding the keyboard sounds like a good idea, If only I can figure out how to do it. Suggestions welcomed.
Sue, I can just see you trying to write behind the grape vines but neighbors noticing the glare of your brilliant smile and shining eyes! What a picture. Your knight in faded jeans sounds like a winner. I do know many writers who have asked their knights to build a standing writer’s table for them so they can create while on the treadmill. I’m not sure I can think while I’m panting that hard.
I just finished When the Morning Glory Blooms. It was such a great proliferation book. Trusting God was a theme that just jumped out at me and held me all the way through. I am definitely reccomending it to others. Thanks for a good book!
Joyce, your comment warmed me to my toes! Thank you. I’m grateful When the Morning Glory Blooms resonated with you.
I love that you have a place where the mosquitoes can’t get you! The bane of writing outside in Wisconsin for me even with my portable laptop. Love having beauty to look at too and grateful that my neighbor has glorious flowers blooming outside my window for me to gaze at and in the fall, her vines turn glorious colors too. Congrats on your books an I’ll be seeing you Saturday in Manitowoc!
Looking forward to it, Susan!
Thanks for the sneek peek! I love you home!
It’s interesting to see pictures of your own home and realize that the charm probably does outweigh its faults. I once wrote an article about how if I lost my marbles–both meanings–I’d always know where to find them. Every floor in this house is slanted toward the chimney in the center of it! My grandchildren think it’s a game to set something round on the floor in the kitchen, my office, or the dining room and watch it roll, picking up speed as it races toward the low spot in the floor. 🙂
You have a beautiful view. It looks so much cooler than here in west Texas.
I would love to win one of your books.
Thank you, Susan. I’m amazed at the variety of styles of beauty found in every corner of our country…and in the middle, too.
Sounds like a book I need! (and would love to read) Thanks!
If you don’t “win” it, Susan, I can suggest a few places where it can be purchased. 🙂 It is a book laced with hope for the hurting…and for those who care about the hurting.
We live in a pretty nice neighborhood with lots of trees, flowers and birds. It would be nice to have a retreat like you do , though.
It can be so beautifully quiet here that we can hear the deer breathing in the woods across the road. We hear the footsteps of chipmunks skipping over leaves. We can hear the whine and whirr of a bicyclist’s tires coasting down the hill a quarter of a mile before he passes in front of the house. We can also hear the septic tank gurgling, so there you go! 🙂
I sounds like I need to send some kids over to noisy things up!
Now you’re describing Sunday afternoons with 3-5 grandkids invading and livening up the place! Thank you again, Tricia, for allowing this fun conversation.
That was a fun stroll through your home, Cynthia. And it’s exactly what I’d pictured, except even prettier!
When we put a much-needed addition on the house years ago, we found all kinds of goodies in the insulation–a child’s button top shoe, what looks like an original box of Crayolas, two children’s blocks–one with the letter B (for my husband) and one with the letter C for me… It reminded us of all the lives lived in this creaky, tilting house before we came here 36 years ago this August–tomorrow! Tomorrow is the anniversary of our moving to this house! Who knew all those years ago what God had in mind for this place? Only Him. Our imaginations don’t stretch that far.
I love Cedarburg, WI., have been there several times. In fact, my sister lived there for a while. I would love to have a book that Cynthia wrote. Thanks for the blog.
Cherie, have you already read Cedar Creek Seasons? I’m sure you’ll recognize many familiar landmarks. Thanks for stopping by.
I love this glimpse into your writing world. Thanks for sharing! I find I do my best writing at Panera, which is funny, because I can’t write at home when it is too noisy. I seem to tune out the noise of strangers easier than that of my children. I love your view and wish we had something like that in our backyard! God Bless!
Stacey, you’re such a wonderful encourager. Thank you. If Panera weren’t more than an hour away, I might write there once in a while too!
Loved seeing your writing place!
So much happens in my office. That front porch view is what I’m enjoying right now. My Boston fern LOVES it out there. She cries when I have to bring her inside for the winter.
Your spaces all look cozy and inviting. I love the woodsy outdoors, also. Wisconsin is one of my favorite places.
I think non-Wisconsinites find all the green a little startling. Even mid-summer, everything is green, green, green. I think God is trying to compensate for our colorless season–winter. Then He brings that brilliant flash of color in a daddy cardinal and kisses us with a little hope. 🙂
What a beautiful place to write 🙂
Thank you, Sharon. I love telling the story of how the French doors that separate my dining room and my office are hand-me-downs. A friend had them in her old house. I always joked that if she ever moved, I’d love to buy the doors from her (they knew the house was on its last…um…legs). TWELVE YEARS LATER, she called me up and said, “We’re ready to move. Do you want the doors?” She gave them to me! My husband cobbled together the framework to make them fit the archway between the two rooms. The separation is wonderful during radio interviews. Oh, and my friend’s name was Sharon!
OH how lovely of a view!! Yes, those printers can be quite cumbersome and big at times. They don’t fit well in smaller writing spaces. 🙂
farmygirl at hotmail dot com
The one in the picture is cumbersome, but off to the right of what the picture shows, Susan P, there’s a floor model, massive, four feet long and four feet high photocopier/printer on which we printed transcripts and books for the radio ministry. It’s still here until we find it a better home. And it still gets a workout.
Cynthia, thanks for sharing your cozy spaces with us. Your book sounds very interesting.
Blessings,
Andrea
Thank you, Andrea! I appreciate it that you took the time to look at the pictures, read the blog, and leave a comment. Honestly, that means so much.
You’re welcome!
Your setting is delightful and tranquil. So ideal for writing and inspiration.
Tranquil! Yes. The older I get, the more I crave quiet. I’ve been through the noisy seasons with three kids. The grandkids live about fifteen minutes away–all five of them. But that’s a temporary and welcome noise. I do appreciate this gift of quiet.
A beautiful place to write and God blessed you with a great talent. Thank you for sharing it. Please enter me in the giveaway.
barbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com
I spend a lot of work hours in that office, too, beyond the writing work. Sometimes I shift locations to get a new perspective. Today it helped a great deal. I was befuddled about a piece that needed to be written. I found my husband (who only works part-time) elsewhere in the house and told him that I was ready to throw it away and start all over. He gave me a hug and went on to other things, but all of a sudden it occurred to me that throwing it away and starting over was the answer!
What a gorgeous spot for you to read. Love it.
can’t wait to read your books.
The one thing I long to have in my office is a nice big fat reading chair and ottoman. Someday. I can see it in my mind. That chair shows up in my dreams. Someday…
What a beautiful office, and lovely view! I wasn’t familiar with these two books; so glad I’ve been introduced! 🙂
Thanks for the chance to win. 🙂
I’m glad you were introduced to the books, too, Michelle! There’s more information about them on my website. I’d love to have you stop by.
HaHa, I think I’d doing anything BEST with others doing the vacuuming and cleaning for me ;))
Def luving the verandah ambience.. I’m with you on craving the quiet the greater my age 😉
Blessings on your cont’d success!
Have Ragged Hope, now looking fwd to Morning Glory Blooms beauty… TY!
Love the “Faith Hope & Cherrytea” moniker! Clever. Thank you for your kind words, Sharon.
I really love the pictures of your spaces. Praying for continued revelation and creativity. I love the idea of writing and enjoying nature at the same time. It is so inspirational.
“Continued revelation and creativity.” I’ll take it! Thank you!
The Lord knew, 36 years ago, that you would need a place of peace and beauty as a backdrop for all the heartaches and joys he was going to bring your way to give you the material you needed for radio, fiction, and non-fiction that would touch hearts and change lives. A run-on sentence, I know, but truth nevertheless.
Becky, how beautifully expressed! Thank you!
I think you keep a very neat office and I like the blue and white porcelain or china pieces on the very top of your desk/shelf. I also like the white wicker on the porch and the view out your windows to see the deer. Thank-you for writing your books. I also like your Pinterest posts and followed most of them. sharon, CA
Sharon, what a blessing! Thank you! I love Pinterest and have posted some new pins lately, but it would be fun to spend much more time there. What creative people! What wonderful projects! On my “someday” list.
i love reading your interview and seeing your pictures, your a new author to me and i would love to win a book of yours thanks
Shirley Blanchard jcisforme@aol.com
New author means NEW READER! Yay! Thanks for writing, Shirley.
would love to win. Angela from KY
Thanks for your comment, Angela. I wish everyone could win. It’ll be fun to see who does.
Your house and yard look so nice, Cynthia! I wish I could see deer from out of my windows… And thanks for the giveaway, I would love to enter!
Maaike, I love seeing the deer. I’m not as fond of their taste for my hostas or the apple trees. Or my ivy. 🙂
The writing desk looks warm and inviting. I would love to read the book. Thanks for the giveaway.
Hi, Michelle. Right now, at this moment, the house is completely quiet. All I hear is the ticking of the antique-looking clock by my desk lamp. Both the lamp and the clock are new since the pictures were taken. A sweet little lamp that casts a lovely warm glow over everything.
Beautiful places for beautiful writing! Thank you for the tour!
Thanks so much, Britney. I’m having a book party here tomorrow night. Right now, all I see is dust on the furniture and cobwebs in the corners. I think I need another look at the pictures! 🙂
Your writing desk is surrounded by beautiful scenery. Between the window view and the pictures on the wall. I am left with a peaceful feeling.
Anne Marie, as I’m writing to you, I’m looking at things through your eyes. You’re right. Peaceful.
What a beautiful, relaxing home!! The room with the candles lit is just so relaxing!! I think I could sit in there forever and just take it all in!!!! I an just hear the soft music playing in the background!! I’m on my way!!!!!!! Better get some more candles!!! Sorry to say, I’ve never read one of you books but I would love to win this and get started with you as my new author!!
Judy F
Judy, I do hope you have an opportunity to read one of my books. Maybe through the giveaway. Maybe you’ll find it online or through your local bookstore. However it happens, I hope I get to meet you in the pages!
Wow! You have the setup to be able to write any book you are feeling at the time. I love all the views that are posted on here. So comforting & welcoming. I love the sweet sound of nature I get when looking at the view.
Thank you for offering new books to add to my collection. I am getting my 6 shelf bookcase filled up & reading as I go. I also share books with my family & friends. Reading is a great hobby to be addicted to. My 8 year old daughter is following in my footsteps. It feels good to be setting such a good example for my children.
Keep up the good work. God Bless.
Shelley, few things are more important in our training our children than instilling a love for reading. Your daughter will be grateful you did.
I’m always looking for new authors, and if Tricia recommends you, I can’t wait to read one of your books!
Thanks, Lenise! I value Tricia’s input on things as much as you do! 🙂
Love the photos in your office…especially the morning glories and the ice photo! I also love that you have your desk in front of a huge window…such a sweet office to work in!
It’s so heartwarming to get these comments. Thank you, DeAnn.
What’s a “Panera”? LOL Just kidding. I finally got to sample one a few weeks ago. Delicious food – noisy place, LOL!
I really enjoyed meeting you today — love the way you express yourself, just like sitting here having a conversation with you!
Thanks for the time you invested here!
Carol! Good to “see” you again! Thank you, thank you for the joy you brought to my life there and here.
Thanks for the peek into your home NICE!
Thank you, Connie. As the day draws to a close, the quiet is settling in.
I have been looking for a book like Ragged Hope for some time now. This was a blessing today. At church, the message from the sermon was to find God and let him guide us. I just lost both my parents in a span of 5 months. Loosing my mother was/is the hardest to over come for me. We were best friends and even though I am happily married to a wonderful man (28 years), I spent 5 days a week in Massachusetts, caring for and spending time with my mom. And 2 days a week at my home with my husband in New York. Now that they have gone to a better place, I am in charge of the estate and settling the will they wrote for me to follow. It has caused 2 of my siblings to disown me and make harsh comments and threats. I have chosen to follow my parents wishes and proceed forward, even though they make it difficult for me to make these choices. It hurts loosing my parents and now my siblings (and 3 of their children). I do have my other 2 siblings and their children supporting me. And i have my aunt and her children supporting me. My biggest support is my husband, my three children and many special friends I hold near and dear to my heart. Sorry to ramble, but I condensed the scenario quite a bit.
I don’t think I will wait to win your novel. I may just purchase it. I am in need right now. It’s been a very difficult few months for me. Thanks for the opportunity and more importantly, thanks for writing this book, I look forward to reading it.
Monique
Oh, Monique, my heart goes out to you! What a difficult, difficult thing to bear, on top of the loss of your parents! How overwhelmed you must feel. I’m stopping right now to pray for you. I know others are joining me.
And GOD BLESS YOU for the sacrifices you and your husband made so you could care for your parents!
Ragged Hope sounds like my life right now so I will Definitely be reading your book Cynthia – thanks!
Sharon, it’s truly amazing how many people are in a place of hanging onto hope by their fingertips. I’m sorry you’re one of them, but I pray something in the Ragged Hope book speaks to your heart.
What great writing spaces. 🙂
Thank you, Ann. It’s been fun sharing them with all of you!
Would love to read your book. I love the opportunities to meet new authors through their giveaways, many have become favorites! I am in love with porches these days, so I enjoyed seeing your porch and deck!
I’m always drawn to porches, too, Connie. There’s just something about a porch. 🙂
ahhhh a good book to read and destress sounds heavenly!
Thanks, Nat. My feelings exactly!
I should have visited your home before you were “famous” and when I was closer! I loved the pictures of your writing places and your replies to the comments. Please continue to draw inspiration from the file cabinets and use the talent that God has bestowed on you to weave your amazing prose. Please tell your husband “hi” for me and tell him to be careful this deer season.
Toby! This brought a smile to my decidedly unfamous face! I appreciate your comments about inspiration and about my husband, too. Blessings to you and Shannon and kids.
Enjoyed seeing your writing spot. Thank you for sharing and for the chance to win a book. God bless!
Glad you posted a comment, Lucy. I enjoy seeing where other writers create…and what their spaces reveal about their hearts. So glad you enjoyed it, too.
I also have not read any of your books yet, but would love to do so! I enjoyed seeing the pictures of your different rooms and views. I live in a very small village in the country and also see deer all the time, when I look out the kitchen window. We have all kinds of wildlife around here!
Small town (small village) life can be a beautiful thing, can’t it, Donna? Thank you for your interest in reading the books I’ve been blessed to write. That makes me happy to my toes!
What pleasant surroundings and to be able to do what you love and are obviously talented at. Thanks for sharing & thanks for the opportunity to win…Linda
Linda, thanks for the reminder of what a gift it is to do what I love!
What a beautiful home, Cynthia! The porch is my favorite part!! I hate being hot, so northern Wisconsin sounds great to me! (I live in the Chicago area) I’d never survive in the south!!! I heard you on “This is the Day” today on WMBI and that prompted me to look up your books on Amazon!! I voted for your book to be chosen as the September choice!!
Thank you, thank you, Susan!! You are such a blessing! You made my day. Overjoyed that you heard the broadcast.
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