A Bucket List Item Checked Off . . . and a Giveaway!

ByDeborah Raney
41 Comments

[THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED, AND THE WINNER IS ANGIE Q! CONGRATS, ANGIE!] Please send your mailing address to me at debraney@mac.com and I’ll get your package in the mail ASAP!]

Something really fun that I hadn’t dared to dream about happened this summer: My writing office and our screened porch were featured in a magazine! As many of you know, I love interior design and decorating, and while I have no professional experience with those pursuits, it is something I enjoy and am often complimented on.

So I was thrilled when I learned that the Where Women Create Magazine wanted to feature my office in their Summer edition in a section called “The Reclaimed Studio,” about women who found creative ways to make room in their homes for office/studio space. In my case, it was turning a small guest room into my writing space.

I was especially happy that the magazine used a photo of my favorite writing spot—our screened porch—as part of the article. I’ve been spending lots of time out here while I work to finish my latest novel!

And no, my story didn’t actually make the cover (and the one that did, left, was gorgeous!) but I had fun playing around with the image and imagining what my space would have looked like as a cover!

THE GIVEAWAY: One lucky winner will win a copy of this summer issue of Where Women Create Magazine, along with my novel Who Stirs Up the Sea, and a Prayer Journal from Raney Day Press. To enter the drawing, simply comment below. (U.S. readers only, please, as postage is quite expensive!)

I’ll name a winner on this blog post later this week, so check back here! And good luck!

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DEBORAH RANEY's first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title and launched Deb’s writing career. Forty books later, she's still creating stories that touch hearts and lives. Her novels have won RWA's RITA Award, the ACFW Carol Award, the National Readers Choice Award, and the HOLT Medallion. She is also a four-time Christy Award finalist. Deb is on faculty for several national writers’ conferences and served on the executive board of the 2,500-member American Christian Fiction Writers organization for 18 years before retiring in 2022. She is a recent transplant to Missouri, having moved with her husband, Ken Raney, from their native Kansas to be closer to kids and grandkids. They love road trips, e-biking, Friday garage sale dates, and breakfast on the screened porch overlooking their wooded backyard.

41 Comments

  1. I love your bright, cozy office even more than the space that is on the cover! That one is lovely, of course, but yours makes me smile.

  2. I do love your taste in design. It always looks like everything was meant to be there. I think you bring out the best style for writing, sitting, or just being with others.
    Thanks for sharing.

  3. How fun! I definitely love your office space! It should’ve made the cover in my opinion! 😉

  4. What a beautiful writing space as is your porch area! I can imagine the great honor it was to be selected for the publication. I could see me spending time in both places reading away the hours.

  6. I love your office. You have excellent taste in designing. I would love to read “Who Stirs Up the Sea”. I am currently reading “Who Touches the Mountains” and enjoying it and looking forward to reading the series.

  7. Your office is so pretty (especially with that window!), and I’m so happy they featured your spaces! I’m headed to B&N today to grab my own copy! Will report back… 🥰

  8. Your office is so pretty (especially with that window!), and I’m so happy they featured your spaces! I’m headed to B&N today to grab my own copy! Will report back… 🥰

  10. I love the way you boldly combine seemingly unrelated patterns and colors. What could seem chaotic blends harmoniously!

  11. Your rooms our beautiful. Our Lord has given you many gifts.I was listening to Charles Stanley earlier this morning. He referred to second Corinthians 1:3-11. “ God is the God of all encouragement. He lifts us up and gives us hope.” Thanks for being an encourager through, by, and for Him. The Lord be with us all and guide us through each day.

  12. Your new office space is gorgeous and I would love to have a screened porch someday.

  13. Wow, your office and porch look so inviting!! I love the colors, comfy furniture, and screened in porch!! Congratulations on being in that really cool magazine!!!

  14. I love how you use color and pattern to create wonderful spaces! Your porch reminds me of my sunroom, which is my favorite space in my house. Thank you for sharing the pictures!

  15. Congratulations! What fun that must have been! I’ve read a couple of issues of that magazine but didn’t realize it was still in existence.

  17. That is so fun, Deb! What an honor! I’m always inspired by the way you rearrange rooms and find lovely collectable items at garage sales. It makes me want to go garage-sailing . . . but they only seem to sell junk in New Jersey. Or it’s that YOU have the “eye” to see treasures amid the junk. I love the screen porch view and imagining you sitting out there working on your next book!

  18. I’ve never heard of this magazine, but I want to find a copy! I wonder if they sell it at Books a Million? I know we have Pinterest now, but I still love a good magazine!

  19. Congratulations! I’m curious as to how the writers of the magazine knew about your writing spaces? Right now I’m using a small antique secretary cabinet located in our living room and my work table in my craft room, whichever suits my mood. Your rooms look comfortable- a place to relax or get to work! Again, I am happy for you that another facet of your creativity has been recognized!

  21. You have two gorgeous writing spots! It makes me want to try to put a little more whimsy and creativity in my own spaces!

  22. Congratulations! You have a natural talent for making your rooms look very inviting and homey! I love your porch and your office space.

  23. I have always been impressed with your office space. I love turquoise too so my eye is immediately drawn to that.

  24. I have always been impressed by your office space. I also love turquoise so much eyes are drawn there first.

  25. I am so very glad, Deb, that the artistry of your home decor is being shared with others! We can all use more beauty 🙂

  27. Thank you for all the great comments! Since this is a giveaway, I won’t respond to each one individually, but I’ve read every one and appreciate them all! Again, I’ll name a winner here on this post later this week. Good luck!

  28. That’s so amazing! I’ve always admired how you decorate your home, it’s so cozy and inviting. Thanks for sharing with us.

  30. I love the way you mix patterns and colors and make it all look effortless. You certainly have a gift and an eye for garage sale bargains that always look perfect in your rooms.

  31. Congrats! That is exciting. When my 3 oldest were young my mother-in-law designed some outfits and my kids modelled them for a magazine. It was a fun photo shoot.

  33. Congratulations on being featured in, Where Women Create Magazine! I love your writing spaces … all the books and the handmade quilts … (Did you make the quilts?)
    I love the lighting, too, especially the stained-glass lamps. I see at least three. Are there more?
    The cover design you created looks inviting and could go head-to-head with the cover design that was featured, but I’m sure knowing the one is of your office for writing makes my opinion slightly biased. *wink, wink*

  34. Congratulations, Deb – that magazine is a really nice one with beautiful photos and interesting articles. I’ve always loved your rooms so am glad they featured you!

  35. Your photos and the the magazine cover is awesome inspiring. Thank you for the generous giveaway opportunity

  36. You are a master decorator, Deb. I LOVE your office on the magazine cover even more than the one they featured! Thanks for the giveaway and chance to win!

  37. What a beautiful space to meditate and write. I am finding more time in my “senior years” to relax and read. I look forward to adding you to my list.

  39. What beautiful spaces! I do not have any decorator skills, but thankfully, the Lord has blessed me with two grown daughters who are creative and lovely in different ways.
    I enjoyed seeing the pictures very much.

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