My university degree is in art and, yes, I do a lot of drawing

Opening Scene
The soft hum of the city outside seems distant, muted by the stillness inside the room. The afternoon light filters through the window, casting a soft glow across the spacious study. Jack and Jeeny sit at the desk, scattered sketches and maps spread across the surface. The faint scent of ink and paper lingers in the air as they sift through drawings of rooms and houses, the faint sound of a pen scratching against paper filling the silence. There’s a quiet sense of purpose in the room, a space where ideas can take root and grow.

Host: The warmth of the room contrasts with the cool afternoon air outside. The atmosphere is calm, but underneath it, there’s a deep sense of focus. Jeeny, her gaze fixed on a particular set of plans, seems lost in thought, while Jack’s fingers lightly trace the outline of a map, his mind clearly working through the details.

Jeeny: (looking up from the papers, her voice soft) “You know, I was thinking about something Jude Deveraux once said: ‘My university degree is in art and, yes, I do a lot of drawing for all my books. I have a big drafting table set up in a spare bedroom and I cover it with maps and house plans and sketches that I use in the books. Also, I truly love architecture, so that plays a big part in all my books.’”

Jack: (glancing at her, his voice curious) “So, she uses drawings and plans for her books? That’s fascinating. I’ve never really thought about how visual the process of writing could be. I always assumed it was just words on paper, but she’s bringing entire worlds to life with sketches.”

Jeeny: (nodding, her tone thoughtful) “Exactly. It’s about immersion. She’s creating not just the story, but the world around it — the buildings, the settings, the spaces her characters live in. I love that she’s blending art and writing. It gives a deeper sense of place, of reality, to the narrative.”

Host: The light in the room seems to grow softer now, the conversation drifting deeper into the importance of visual storytelling. The sketches and maps on the desk suddenly feel more significant, as if they, too, are part of the narrative that’s unfolding. Jack picks up a drawing, his fingers lightly tracing the curves of a building’s structure, as though he’s beginning to see the connections between the physical space and the world it creates.

Jack: (his voice softer, almost reflective) “It’s fascinating, isn’t it? How architecture and design can influence a story. The buildings, the way spaces are laid out — they shape the world the characters live in. It’s not just about the plot, but about how the environment impacts their actions, their decisions.”

Jeeny: (smiling, her voice warm) “Exactly. A house isn’t just a setting; it’s a character in itself. It reflects the lives of the people who inhabit it, the way they move through their world. Architecture, when done thoughtfully, becomes an extension of the narrative. It deepens the connection between the reader and the world they’re stepping into.”

Host: The room feels more alive now, charged with the understanding that storytelling is not just about words, but about every layer of the world the writer creates — the buildings, the landscapes, the spaces where the characters breathe. The maps on the desk, once simple representations of place, now seem full of potential, ready to bring stories to life.

Jack: (laughing softly, his voice more relaxed) “You know, I’ve always thought of architecture as just practical. But hearing you talk about it this way, it’s more than that. It’s about expression, about creating a space that tells a story on its own.”

Jeeny: (nodding, her voice filled with understanding) “Absolutely. Architecture is like a silent storyteller. It sets the tone for everything — the atmosphere, the mood, even the relationships between characters. A room can tell you everything you need to know about a person’s life. It’s more than just where they live; it’s who they are.”

Host: The sketches on the table seem to glow in the soft light now, full of life and possibility. The world outside continues in its usual rhythm, but inside, Jack and Jeeny sit in the understanding that architecture, like writing, is a medium for expression. The way a space is designed, the choices made in shaping it, are just as important as the words that fill a page.

Jack: (smiling, his voice more inspired) “I can see that now. Every building has a story, just like every character in a book. The two aren’t separate. They influence each other, shaping the world together.”

Jeeny: (with a soft chuckle, her voice gently affirming) “Exactly. And when you blend them together, art and architecture, writing and design — you create a world that feels real, that feels lived in. It becomes more than just fiction. It becomes a place you can step into.”

Host: The light continues to shift in the room, casting shadows across the papers and plans on the table. The world outside may continue on, but inside, Jack and Jeeny have discovered something deeper — the realization that stories aren’t just told through words, but through the spaces we inhabit, the structures we build, and the worlds we create.