I’ve always needed a writer’s cave to work well, a dark, cluttered private space with few distractions, at least two windows, a bunch of old farm desks huddled together, and a big sweet Lab lying on the floor.

Every couple of months, I need to clean things out because there is no room for me to even type amidst all the mess. I have a ton of research books, and I always keep them near me to find them when I need them.

I can light candles, or incense, or look at one of my weird muses if I’m stuck.

A Lab is usually my chosen writing companion, sometimes it’s a border collie, but aside from Red, they tend to get restless. A good writing dog will lie at my feet until they hear the click of the computer turning off. Zinnia is one of the best.

The night is my favorite time to write; the phone isn’t buzzing or ringing, the highway is quiet, I can think, the world recedes from view.

Walking in the living room, I look in to see my Writer’s Cave last night, complete with snoring Lab. I think it’s the best one I ever had.

My study is in the house’s former parlor, where the minister came for tea on weekends and where the people who died in the house were laid to rest and placed in the parlor for people to see and say their goodbyes.

Needless to say, there are ghosts. They are very welcome and have great respect for the writing process. They only speak when they think they spotted a typo.