Welcome to Desk Tour, a series where I interview creative folks about their desks and workspaces. Be sure to check out
’s Desk Tour from last time if you missed it!If you are a personal friend of mine or a listener of Bad on Paper, then you will know that THE QUIET TENANT by Clémence Michallon was one of my very favorite books I read last year. It was a perfect balance of mystery, suspense, social commentary, and gorgeous prose. The second I started reading, I knew it was going to be something special. I can’t recommend it enough, and I’m so thrilled to have Clémence featured on DESK TOUR this week. Let’s take a peek at her space.
OM: Describe your workspace.
CM: My husband and I share a studio in New York City, so my workspace is a corner I can only access once our Murphy bed is up. But I absolutely love it. I've curated it and made it truly mine over the past few years. Up until recently, I had an IKEA desk and chair. I kept them for seven years until it was time for a change, so now I have this wooden desk, and a chair in my favorite shade of blue. There's still a touch of IKEA, though: the drawer from my former desk turned out to fit perfectly in my new desk's storage cubby. I was going to shop for new storage, but when life solves my problems for me, I don't fight it.
Above the desk are some things I like to look at. You'll see a view of Paris, my hometown, and a poster for public transportation in London. I lived there as a student and as a baby journalist. You'll see my medal from the 2021 New York City marathon, which was awesome.
There's also a photo of the writer Candace Bushnell (with Gay Talese in the background) at Elaine's, an old New York City haunt that has since closed. I cut that photo out of a copy of The New York Times and framed it because I found it so striking. Every time I look at it, it tells a different story.
Then, we have a shelf with my treasures. There's a rose that will supposedly never wilt (I think I've had it for eight years now), a figuring of a little French guy who lives inside a cuff bracelet my grandmother gifted me, a crystal, and a couple of toy Volkswagen vans.
OM: What are your three favorite items on your desk right now?
CM: I'm going to have to cheat a little bit, because I keep a pretty bare desk. Ideally, I don't have anything on there at the end of the work day except for my laptop. But right now, I do have a copy of the most recent New York Times Book Review, which includes a piece in which Stephen King fans—including Tom Hanks, Diablo Cody, and the Archbishop of Canterbury—share what his work has meant to them. It was published to mark the 50th anniversary of the publication of Carrie, and I was thrilled to contribute to it. You can view it online here! One thing I have *above* my desk is a red, miniature Volkswagen van that was painted on to look like a hippie camper van. I bought it when I was fifteen years old in Venice, Italy. Back then, I was obsessed with all things sixties and I could not have been more excited to find this little van—in Venice, of all places. I remember that time very fondly. And *next* to my desk, I have a bouquet of dried flowers from my wedding, in a red vase shaped like a heart. Those are pretty special, too.
OM: Do you keep anything specific at your desk that you use as inspiration to stay creative or positive?
CM: I do! On the shelf above my desk, I keep one copy of each of the "big" things I've published since I started writing fiction. There's the French literary magazine that published my first (and so far only) short story, my French novel that came out in 2020, and THE QUIET TENANT, my debut thriller and debut novel in English, which came out last year. Writing is hard. A writing career takes time. But there's something deeply hopeful, to me, in keeping track of the journey that way— with tangible proof that the work adds up.
Writing is hard. A writing career takes time. But there's something deeply hopeful, to me, in keeping track of the journey that way— with tangible proof that the work adds up.
OM: Is there anything you absolutely HAVE to have at your desk/workspace or you can't be productive?
CM: My writing always improves with coffee, so I generally have a cup next to me if I'm writing—unless I'm writing outside of caffeine-compatible hours. I drink it black, no sugar, and in large quantities.
My writing always improves with coffee, so I generally have a cup next to me if I'm writing—unless I'm writing outside of caffeine-compatible hours. I drink it black, no sugar, and in large quantities.
OM: Is there anything you'd change about your workspace? If so, what?
CM: One day, I'd like to have a proper home office with a door that shuts and art I love on the wall. It's something to dream of. I've already started decorating that home office in my head.
OM: Describe your "ideal" work day at your desk.*
CM: Let's say that ideally, I get up around seven and either go for a run or start working right away. (A lot of days also start with reading, which is ideal in its own way.) There's something about a morning run that gives me an absurd kind of courage: If I've managed to get out of bed and do this, then I can certainly write [however many words I need to write that day]. On the other hand, those days when I start writing first thing are almost magical. Maybe I'm just too sleepy to doubt myself at that point, or I'm too tired to get distracted, but I always find it easier to write early in the day.
Now, here's the thing: sometimes, I cheat on my desk with the little cafe table we keep in our kitchen area. I love my desk, but every once in a while, a change of scenery helps.
There will be breakfast, and there will be lunch, though the times at which those things happen vary wildly. Ideally, breakfast would be around 9am, and lunch at a reasonable time, like 1pm.
If I have errands to run, I'll tackle them early to mid-afternoon. This is also when I might call my parents or my grandmother, because the time difference with France means that it's evening for them. Ideally, I wrap up my work day by early evening, at which point I pack up my desk. If I've used a Bluetooth keyboard, a stand for my screen, or a computer mouse, those get put away. An ideal day ends with my desk mostly free of clutter, though right now I'm looking at a referral for physical therapy, as well as a print-out of this beautiful essay that ran in Harper's: In a way, I feel like these two things encapsulate what a workspace should be: good for the mind, and good for the body.
There's something about a morning run that gives me an absurd kind of courage: If I've managed to get out of bed and do this, then I can certainly write [however many words I need to write that day.
OM: Where can people find you on the internet?
CM: I am on Instagram at @clemencemichallon, and on Twitter/X at @Clemence_Mcl. My website is clemencemichallon.com (I'm working on making it look nicer). The paperback of THE QUIET TENANT is out on May 7 with a new cover and a BONUS CHAPTER! People can see the new look here. Also on May 7, a new paperback of Mary Higgins Clark's LOVES MUSIC, LOVES TO DANCE, one of my favorite crime novels EVER, is coming out with a new introduction by me. I was absolutely honored to write it.
Note from Olivia: After putting together this interview, I am finding myself freshly inspired to run, drink more coffee, and create a clutter-free desk space. I will also be thinking about Clemence’s quote about running giving her courage for a long time. That’s kind of the thing about writing, isn’t it? It requires that you’re brave and that you keep finding ways to stay brave. Stay tuned for the next Desk Tour, which will hit your inbox in two weeks. And in the meantime, be sure to check out the past editions: Amy Estes’ Desk Tour, Iman Hariri-Kia’s Desk Tour, and Becca Freeman’s Desk Tour.
PS: One last thing before I go… you can pre-order my first novel now! Pre-orders are so important (more on that here) and one of the most impactful ways to support debut authors. What’s more, you can still submit your pre-order receipt to Quirk to receive fun goodies! More on that here and below.
A portion of April’s subscriber proceeds will go toward Save the Children to support its work in providing essential services and support to children affected by violence in Israel and Gaza.
I love these tours! Currently looking at the actual desks to decide on my new desk for when I move. Question - are these professional photos? Or do you ask guests to take them themselves?
Love these desk tours 😍