I have two desks in my office. One is for the day-to-day finances, emailing, music, and all the rest.
The other one is my writing desk. I planned it with the idea of getting away from distractions. It’s on the opposite wall from my other desk, so I turn the speakers off on that one. That way I won’t be distracted by email beeps, and all the rest. And yes, I turn off the music too. I find I need as much silence as possible. Probably indicates I’m easily distracted!
So I took a picture of my writing desk, the one with no distractions. As I looked at the picture I wondered what I’d been thinking! No distractions? I had to be kidding myself.
However, if you’re one of my readers (and I hope you are!), I’m presenting the picture for you here. Feel free to get a little view into my head and the things that interest me—the stuff I’m interested in.
I’ve got a 1949 Packard Deluxe Eight sedan. I bought it in 2006, rusted, gutted, and not running. I worked on it pretty hard for a few summers, and now it’s a fun car to drive.
I use Scrivener for my writing. It’s a wonderful software product, and you can take that from a guy that writes software for a living (me).
I love Bluetooth stuff, so I use a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard. Also a headset, but that’s not in the picture.
The Mossberg 300 is a great shotgun for home defense. There’s a box of 12-gauge shells for it.
The fake security camera is looking for opportunities. It doesn’t take pictures, but it does follow you around with a blinking red light and runs on two AA batteries.
I built an airplane from a kit, which I flew happily for six years. Loved flying that thing. I finally sold it to a brain surgeon (yes, I really did) because fuel got so expensive. Maybe someday I’ll build another one.
My day job never goes away, so I have a dedicated laptop for that under the Toshiba I use for writing.
My kids (their ages range from sixteen to forty-four) and my wife are what keep me going. I’ve got stuff all over from them.
And lastly, you can see real work taking place. That is, when I’m not distracted.
About John
John Faubion has spent many years in Asia as a missionary with his family. Since returning to the United States, John has worked as a senior software developer for a large appliance chain. He teaches an adult Sunday school class and enjoys writing and driving his 1949 Packard automobile. John lives near Indianapolis with his wife, Beth, and their daughter. Learn more about him here.
About Friend Me and a Giveaway
Scott and Rachel’s marriage is on the brink of disaster. Scott, a businessman with a high-pressure job, just wants Rachel to understand him and accept his flaws. Rachel is a lonely housewife, desperate for attention and friendship. So she decides to create a virtual friend online, unaware that Scott is doing the exact same thing. As Rachel desperately tries to re-create a friendship with a friend who has passed, Scott becomes unfaithful and is torn between the love for his wife and the perfection of his cyber-girlfriend. But neither realizes that there’s a much larger problem looming…
Behind both of their online creations is Melissa, a woman who is brilliant—and totally insane. Masquerading as both friend and lover, Melissa programmed a search parameter into the virtual friend software to find her perfect man, but along the way she forgot to specify his marriage status. And Scott is her ideal match. Now Melissa is determined to have it all—Scott, his family, and Rachel’s life.
As Melissa grows bolder and her online manipulations transition into the real world, Scott and Rachel figure out they are being played. Now it’s a race against time as Scott and Rachel fight to save their marriage, and their lives, before it’s too late.
In today’s digital age, the Internet presents all kinds of opportunities to test our personal boundaries, and this exciting and suspenseful story raises important questions about the ethics of virtual relationships. Friend Me will open your eyes to a new—and terrifying—moral dimensions and how they play out in the real world.
Purchase copy and learn more at John’s website.
Enter to win a copy of Friend Me below! Only those in the U.S. are eligible to win.
I have never read any of the work of John Faubion, but his bio and the book review sounds great! Thanks so much for the opportunity to enter the giveaway and I would be delighted to be one of your winners of FRIEND ME, as I love to try new authors and I love suspense! Thanks and God bless!
I blogged before I read the question on the entry form!! I have all kinds of distractions on my desk as it is the family room couch!! I use my lap top and take up the whole couch with all my “junk” as Boss call it!! He has his own chair!! I have my cell phone, my Bible, the TV, my greeting cards and file, nail polish, etc.,! plus the dog at my feet and the view of the road out my window so I can look up every time a car goes by to see who it is!! But I love it!!! I had to laugh when I saw your desk “without” distractions! laugh of the day!!
Thanks for the giveaway opportunity and the bio and review of John Faubion’s book FRIEND ME. I would love to be a winner as I have never read any of his work and I love to try new authors, and I love suspense as well.
Thank you and God bless!
Too many. I homeschool my youngest daughter who is 13 so my “office” (1/4 th of our bedroom) is full of writing projects, lesson plans, school books, piles of my book for marketing, padded envelopes, books I’m reading, an orchid from my husband and two bulletin boards full of my favorite cards, quotes and encouragements. Oh yeah, and pictures and notes from my kids (ages 32 – 11) and grandkids (ages 11- on the way). Ok, so the 10 month-old and the one on the way haven’t yet graced my walls with artwork, but you get the idea. Love seeing where other authors put it all together.
Love the concept behind this book, FRIEND ME. The dangers on the internet coupled with our fantasy life and bent toward discontent can cause a lot of grief.
Does it count if the desk is not even yours? Surrounded by video game posters, DVDs, Star Wars VHS collection, and various action figures as I type. Distractions? What distractions? LOL
Would love to win Friend ME.
Hi John, I don’t have a desk to work at because I clean lodge rooms at a camp that my husband and I live and work at. I suppose the laundry room is my office and the table I use for folding is my desk if you want think that way. There are no distractions other than my family, pets and my phone.
Friend Me sounds exciting and scary but good.
jennydtipton at gmail dot com
I have no distractions at my desk! Just the computer, printer, and a calendar…I’m one who can’t focus well without a relatively bare work area.
Oh my gosh – awesome desk!
My desk sits in front of a double window looking out in the front yard. My main distractions are the birds–especially when I have the windows open. Right now my two big cherry trees are in bloom, so their lovely blossoms is about all I can see over my two monitors.
no distractions on my desk its in the basement
I have all kinds of distractions around me, windows, stuff, people walking in and out of my room!
not much
If I had a desk, there would be lots. Before I retired, I used to keep Post-its of things I needed to remember all over the shelf edge, the walls, the desk top. Plus Snoopy cartoons, pics of kids and trips. But I knew where everything was. 🙂
My desk sits by the window which is my biggest distraction. I like to watch for birds and whistle at them. I do genealogy, so a laptop, mouse, jump drive and a Decaf Diet Coke are necessities! TV is on for noise, but it’s gotta go! It’s not not working to be productive with tree climbing! Besides, it’s not getting my cookbook finished, scrapbook assembled, quilt made and photos scanned!
Probably quite a few…it is the same desk that I write letters at, so whatever letters I have not answered yet sit right in front of me. But it’s really not that distracting for me 🙂
Oh goodness! Way TOO many – cookbook, letters, art, needlework, snow globes…. I could go on and on! LOL I love John’s desk – so inviting. His book looks like a fantastic read – keeping my fingers crossed! Thanks for the chance.
I have many distractions. Picture window, iPad, pictures, bills, but biggest is my multiple dogs under the desk.