This Writer’s Space: Nicole Evelina

Today’s This Writer’s Space features Nicole Evelina, Arthurian author extrodinaire.

Where I Write

When I’m at home, I’m usually on my couch with two cats vying for space with the laptop. Not very glamorous, but it gets the job done! I do have a second bedroom that doubles as an office (and my cats’ bedroom), but I don’t usually do much writing there. I think the couch is just more comfortable, plus I get beautiful afternoon sun through the front window.

When I venture out to write, my favorite place is a little coffee shop about 15 minutes from where I live. It’s loud (darn college students) and the music is terrible (thank God for headphones) but I love the old-world vibe.

Where I’m Inspired

This is a man-made lake that’s less than 10 minutes from my house. I go there to walk/run a lot and it really clears my head. But I’ve also taken my laptop and written and plotted there. There’s something about being out in all four elements – grass/sand beneath my feet, wind in my hair, water nearby and sun on my face – that shuts down my worrying side and allows my creativity to flourish. My characters seem to like it, too, as they are more fond of talking to me there than any other place (except the shower!).

 This is Fir Cottage, my home for a week at Hedgebrook, a writing retreat on Whidbey Island, outside Seattle. I recently attended a Master Class on creative writing there that was taught by author Deborah Harkness. This is where I lived and wrote, honestly assessing all that still needs to be done to my third book. It’s a place of beauty, for communing with nature and the muse. I’ll be there in my memories whenever I need inspiration and plan to apply for a residency at some point in the future.

To Be Read

Some of these I have read, but most are still on the TBR list. And these are only the non-library books. The pile gets bigger each spring after our annual charity book fair. Last year, I came home with 21 books. Some of these are research, but the vast majority are fiction.

Nicole Evelina is St. Louis-born historical fiction writer represented by Jen Karsbaek of Foreword Literary. She is the author of an Arthurian legend trilogy that tells Guinevere’s life story from her point of view, as well as a work of women’s fiction.  Nicole is a member of and book reviewer for the Historical Novel Society, and Sirens, a group supporting female fantasy authors, as well as a member of the St. Louis Writer’s Guild and Women Fiction Writers Association.

She is one of only six authors who recently completed a week-long writing intensive taught by #1 New York Times bestselling author Deborah Harkness. Nicole has traveled to England twice to research the Guinevere trilogy, where she consulted with internationally acclaimed author and historian Geoffrey Ashe, as well as Arthurian/Glastonbury expert Jaime George, the man who helped Marion Zimmer Bradley research The Mists of Avalon.

Her website/blog is http://nicoleevelina.com and she can be found on Twitter as well as on Pinterest and Facebook.