A Broom of One's Own: Words on Writing, Housecleaning, and Life - Softcover

Peacock, Nancy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0061357871 ISBN 13: 9780061357879

Publisher: Harper Perennial, 2008

Synopsis

For the twice-published novelist, reading an article about herself in the National Enquirer—under the headline "Here's One for the Books: Cleaning Lady Is an Acclaimed Author"—was more than a shock. It was an inspiration.

In A Broom of One's Own, Nancy Peacock, whose first novel was selected by the New York Times as a Notable Book of the Year, explores with warmth, wit, and candor what it means to be a writer. An encouragement to all hard-working artists, no matter how they make a living, Peacock's book provides valuable insights and advice on motivation, craft, and criticism while offering hilarious anecdotes about the houses she cleans.

About this title

About the Author

Nancy Peacock is the author of two novels, Life Without Water and Home Across the Road. She has worked as a housecleaner, bartender, carpenter, locksmith, costumer, baker, waitress, assistant drum maker, and newspaper deliverer. Now a writing teacher, she lives with her husband in Chatham County, North Carolina.

From Publishers Weekly

As a struggling writer, novelist Peacock (LifeWithout Water) took all kinds of jobs to support herself, fantasizing about the day she'd be published and could write full-time. But after two critically acclaimed novels, not only could she not afford to quit cleaning houses for a living, she wasn't sure she wanted to. She hadn't yet developed the confidence, the strong foundation, to write full-time, and cleaning houses provided her with the two things writers love more than anything else... solitude and gossip. But Peacock offers an honest and refreshing look at what life is like for most writers, few of whom can expect to crack the bestseller lists or make it to Oprah's Book Club. She also offers an insider's look at housecleaning that may lead readers to start cleaning their own houses or, at least, be more careful about the messes they leave for their cleaning people. Peacock no longer cleans houses for a living (it began to wear her down physically); now she supplements her income by teaching. If you can't make it to North Carolina for one of her classes, she offers plenty of useful lessons here. (Apr.)
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About this edition

• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0061357871
• ISBN 13: 9780061357879
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 168