Monday, November 9, 2009

The Author Photo - Let's Hope It Doesn't Lead to Book Burning (by me!)

Everything is just about done now before Some Kind of Normal goes into pre-print mode. I'm wrapping up the last details, the worst of which is the author photo. It was harder to take photos and find one I liked than writing the book. I love photography as long as I'm the one behind the camera.

Before I even started sorting through them, my husband said, "Let's just acknowlege right now you're going to hate them all. The object here is finding the one you hate the least."  Such a wise man!

So here's the one I hated the least. I'm sending it in before I decide to burn it and just submit a picture my 6 year old has drawn of me ( a suggestion by a friend that makes a lot of sense, since my daughter draws me with perfect hair and a really skinny body).



There were actually not-so-serious ones. I definitely prefer me smiling, but it didn't seem to fit the book. Characters all stressed out and panicky and dying and me all, "Hey! Look! I got a book published! Aren't I happy?!"  So I went with the contemplative one (I prefer contemplative over constipated, but feel free to make that judgment yourself).

18 comments:

  1. Heidi - I love it! You made a good choice and I think it fits with the tone of the book. This is all so exciting.

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  2. My husband would say the exact same thing to me since I hate looking at photos of myself.

    I love your choice and your reasons are excellent. I never would have thought of that. You are so wise. I'm so excited for you.

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  3. Brit - the other option I was considering is my current facebook photo. It's okay, and I look a little happier, but the fall colors will probably clash with the book cover, and I'm the kind of person that would be bothered by that. :)

    Patti - wise? Never! Thanks for your excitement! I'm still trying to find mine. It's buried under all the panic.

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  4. I love it. Your eyes look so pretty and warm. Wow you look so authorly! I do think it suits the book. And what a great background.

    Smart man you got there too

    I think you've taken the right steps all along. I love sharing the process with you

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  5. Well, a serious book does call for a serious photo. And your readers can also get a glimpse of your "lighter" side by visiting your blog and website.

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  6. I absolutely love it! Heidi!!!!!! I've got chills. It's amazing!

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  7. Kerri - are you sure you aren't just all hopped up on flu meds??

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  8. kathryn - I may have to write a fun book just to get that smiling photo of me on the cover! :)

    Heidi - I hope they're all the right steps. I'm so appreciative of your support! When you're up to it, it's your turn. I think NorLights would be a great home for Trouble!

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  9. Love it Heidi! You look smart and I like how you're making eye contact. Also, you do have a slight smirky thing going on, so not TOTALLY serious. Great pic!

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  10. "Let's just acknowlege right now you're going to hate them all. The object here is finding the one you hate the least."

    Ha! Good advice. I think you look nice, though.

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  11. Oh isn't it great that we have such wise husbands? :)

    I love the photo, really!! It's very, "I'm friendly, intelligent and I can have a sense of humor...and oh yeah, see how I'm an AUTHOR?!?!?!" ;-)

    Seriously-great book photo. Don't tell-but I've practiced those......

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  12. Heidi, You look fabulous, so don´t sweat it. I think you were right to go with the more serious look rather than the smiling one. I always find the book jacket photos dopey when the author has a big toothy grin on their face. Congratulations on taking it all one step further.

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  13. Y'all are so kind! I guess it'd be hard to say, "Hey, that photo really stinks the big one!", but you could've just quietly closed the window and pretended you didn't stop by, so thanks!

    Kristi - seriously, keep them! You'll find out when the time comes how much you'll need them, even if only to get ideas from! I had almost no photos of me at all!

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  14. You're gorgeous. I have to say I love your profile picture the most because it is how I see you in my mind when I read your posts, as most postings are fun and light-hearted. However, I see the wisdom in a more serious-minded photo for a more serious-minded book.

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  15. Jessie - my profile pic is probably one of my favorite pictures ever of me! Which isn't hard to narrow down since I hate almost every one of me. :) But I'm more than fine with you thinking of me that way.

    (and gorgeous? really? are you on flu meds too??)

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  16. Oh, Heidi-- don't ever say you hate "pictures of yourself".

    Men never say crap like that. And I think you should pick a picture where you are smiling. How about just a *little* smile-- no teeth?

    Okay, the picture is really pretty. It looks serious, author-ish, all of that.

    But I still think your smile is pretty and you should use it as marketing currency.

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  17. Christy - I like myself smiling better, too! What I'm planning on doing is using this photo for the cover of the book and a different one for the press kit... one in which I'm smiling just a little.

    Then I'm keeping the exuberant photo for my blog, web,and twitter. My facebook one constantly changes as I try to keep that one casual and updated.

    I don't think it's unusual to have different bios and photos for different books and other uses. I'm hoping to have lots of places to use them as time goes on!

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  18. Love the pic, Heidi! And you're probably right to go more serious for your subject matter. It's beautiful!!!

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