Good morning, and happy Sunday! I’m Grace R. Reynolds, and this is definitely not an interior design newsletter. (Or is it?!?)
After coming home from Halloween Hangover 2 and getting back in the swing of things, I did a bit of autumn rearranging and cleared off my desk. I thought it might be fun to share my workspace with others to show off some things that inspire me as a writer.
I’m not an interior designer, but I believe in decorating with intention. I created a space to inspire dark themes and surrounded myself with items and artwork that helps me do just that.
I share my desk space with my spouse (whose side is not pictured in this series of photographs). My stack of Lady of The House and The Lies We Weave, coupled with a favorite craft book of mine, Writing Poetry in The Dark, edited by
, creates a barrier that defines my space from theirs.On top of the books is a faux olive tree, a bottle of The Jersey Devil’s Lab “Batch No. 5” mead from Valenzano Winery, and red jasper. The mead is a bottle I purchased with friends on my 24th birthday. I’ve kept it as decoration, but I told myself I’d open it whenever I sign for a six-figure book deal one day (a girl can dream, right? Hah!) Next to the pile is a ghoulish plant, zombie duck, and eyeball cake that I purchased as a gift after publishing Lady of The House in 2021.
On the right side of my computer monitor is: a Creative Block, a gift from a good friend of mine with cards that help inspire during writer’s block; a pair of LOOPS earplugs for when I need to take life with littles and a gamer spouse down a couple decibels; a Curious Corvid Publishing mug that holds my cacti pens; an illustrated copy of selected poems by Edgar Allan Poe I purchased at the Poe Museum in Richmond, VA; a handmade junk book from my dear friend, Ravven White, where I write my affirmations and dreams; a Tiffany stained glass lamp I inherited from a family member; and a stack of books I picked up at Halloween Hangover 2. The books featured in the photo above are Things Left Behind by
and , Panoramic by Aimee Nicole, Touched by Shadows by Vaughn A. Jackson, What Kind of Mother by , and Curse of The Reaper by Brian McAuley.I also like to hang artwork, and I have a few pieces from Sanja Kolenko, Trevor Henderson, and friend/fellow poet SueAnn Summers. I commissioned three watercolor prints for my second poetry collection, The Lies We Weave, which now hangs on my wall. My very favorite is the center print of the skeleton in flowers, which is paired with my piece “Garden of Flesh,” which I will share below.
Yes, that is a mushroom shelf. I was inspired by “The Last of Us.” If you’re curious about the paint color, it is “Charcoal Smoke” from BEHR. It is a dark green with black undertones. I have other items, mostly gifts from friends, which I plan to hang at some point, but I’m picky on placement and frames!
How do you decorate your writing or reading spaces? Are they in the same space? Do you like to decorate in a moody fashion as well? Let me know what inspires you! If you liked this newsletter, check out this post I made over on Instagram of interior design mood boards for books I like.
I hope you enjoyed this window into my personal life and that you have a great week. Stay safe, and stay spooky.
-G
Your writing spot is gorgeous 😍