Thursday, July 06, 2006

Author Photos

The dreaded moment has arrived. I delayed for months, but I finally must choose an author photo to send to my publicist.

The editor allowed me to not have my photo in the book itself, but the publicist needs something to work with. I tried the old "How about a Marie cartoon" trick but no-go.

For photos, I got nothing. Well, not nothing. Some photos. Just not really ideal ones. I have some good Africa ones, but they have face in shadow, blur, things like that. I'll put those on the snapshot page. Maybe they can use some of those somewhere. Anyway, the publicist can have a look. If she likes some, I'll send her a cleaned-up high-res file.

Please vote now--I have to send the author photo in on Thursday (today). Do you think I can get away with the one of me with my head turned (no. 2 by eSwede, FYI-the object of my fascination is swimming ducks--go figure), or the one where I'm in my pajamas (no.3 by self-timer)? My mother took the other two.

mj_photos

16 comments:

Steve Buccellato said...

I like #1 best. #2 is my "runner up"

Sara Kocher said...

J and I both like #6 on the snapshot page. It's a flattering photo with an interesting, but not cluttered, backdrop. Definitely not taken in JC, either!

I also like the one by the eSwede and #2 on the snapshots, but J says "bah" to that. He feels #6 is the clear winner.

Marie Javins said...

Do you think that if I use #6, someone will notice that I wore socks with my sandals? (It was cold in the a.m. in Namibia and then got hot later! I have an excuse.)

And I just realized that there are three different hair colors on the four potential author photos. Must be a trick of the light.

Amanda said...

ditto about #6 on the snapshots page...this is a book about Africa! I also like the eSwede one and, if that doesn't go over well, #1 looks pretty author-photo-ish to me.

Ed Ward said...

6 or 9 from the snapshots page, 2 from the blog page in a pinch.

As for the socks-and-sandals, you can always plead that you were under the malign influence of Germans at the time.

Of course, having a pro do a session would be far preferable.

Anonymous said...

#6 or #2 snapshot page or #1 blog page!

Marie Javins said...

Got this in an email from an old friend. I like it. I think I'm convinced.

>>
I vote for photo #2. Ducks aside, it's a good shot, and what you're looking at is open to the imagination (less work for you, psychological issues for the viewer making up what it is you're enraptured by). Maybe it's even the beast of your book title.

Anonymous said...

#6 for woman-poised-on-adventure effect... perhaps cropped so the shadow doesn't black-hole one's attention. The gorgeous colors really detract from the socks-and-sandals, don't worry.

Plus, I like the idea of a little sartorial vulnerability in an author snap.

Not that I'd ever follow suit.

On purpose at least...

#2 is arresting. You're engaged and excited, which is electric. Ducky!

#1 would do in a pinch, though I'd probably tighten the frame to head and shoulders... However, the photo doesn't say anything about your character or journey – just your babe wattage...

David Wohl said...

I think #1 looks the most like a "book cover photo"

Marie Javins said...

"Babe wattage?" Won't that produce a deer-in-headlights effect?

But my personal advisor in Berlin did just say (coincidentally): "Don't dim the wattage."

I like that #1 is babe wattage, authorly, and taken by my mother.

Marie Javins said...

Sometimes people don't like to post in public, but another pal said this:

"first one is far & away the best, you at the open window. although the one of you leaning over the railing is a good picture of you, i doubt a publisher will go for it."

Linda said...

Don't worry about the socks! Anyone who has spent a lot of time camping, hiking, fishing, etc. will sympathize with improvised wardrobe.

And maybe you'll start a fad!

Anonymous said...

Isn't deer in the headlights the intended effect? A sort of lustful zombie state that leads right to the cash register?

Don Hudson said...

I have seen the first photo on the "No Hurry" site before and it still holds up. Use #1 and keep #2 as a back-up. Number 3 looks like you were surprised while breaking into a house and number 3 is unattractive!

Unknown said...

i guess im the only one who likes photo 4 - it makes you look like a biker chick HAHAHA!

Marie Javins said...

Um... they decided they don't need a photo. Thanks for voting? Kind of embarrassing...