I wrote my first (traditionally) published novel, Mango, Mambo, and Murder, on a black plastic card table. The squareness of the table allowed me to have all my notes and reference things visible and handy. The manuscript took me a year to write. Sometime in the early part of that year, I invested in a “good” chair that was adjustable—height, tilt, lumbar, and more. Good was expensive, but my circulation and back are thankful. I spend a lot of time in my writing chair, so comfort is crucial. I use a stool to elevate my feet and have my keyboard at an angle.
Before I had a publisher’s deadline, I called myself a weekend writing warrior, spending eight to sixteen hours at the computer between Saturday morning and Sunday evening. I am a slow and pensive writer. Now, having finished my fourth book in the Caribbean Kitchen Mystery series, I occasionally pull a weekend marathon, but more typically, I write for two hours every morning. I like the quiet and stillness. I get up at five, have my coffee, scroll social media, and then sit down at my desk around six-thirty. I keep the room cave-like, with only a desk lamp illuminating the keys.
I leveled up to a wooden desk to write the second in the series, Calypso, Corpse, and Cooking. I had to say goodbye to the shaky plastic card table when it got a sag that caused my pens and pencils to roll away. I found the French provincial-style desk at a thrift store. All my things (mug of pens, stein of icy water, notebook, index cards, and cat) fit on it which was the most important thing. I write with a notebook beside me to record plot questions, ideas, clues, and character notes I need to circle back to later. I use index cards to make task-oriented notes. The cardstock and size let me prop them up for visibility or, in the case of my Spanish accent Alt codes guide, tape it to the monitor.
RAQUEL V. REYES writes Latina protagonists. Her Cuban-American heritage, Miami, and Spanglish feature prominently in her work. Mango, Mambo, and Murder, the first in the Caribbean Kitchen Mystery series, won a LEFTY for Best Humorous Mystery. Her work has been nominated for an Agatha Award, an Anthony Award, optioned for film and has won a gold International Latino Book Award. Raquel’s short stories appear in various anthologies, including The Best American Mystery and Suspense 2022.
Find her across social media platforms as @LatinaSleuths and on her website LatinaSleuths.com.
