Yet one more thing to stress over

[clarentine]

Ye gods. First we have to write a good novel - not just good, but really good, really distinct in some fashion that's not really quantifiable. Then we have to leap waaaaaay up to the arbor where the agents hang out (and hope not to get too many sour ones!) and wait and wait and wait until we've given up for someone to decide our work is good enough to grace a bookstore's shelves (or Amazon's, at least). And now we find out that we must have a deft hand with the makeup brush...or at least know someone who does.

Get a load of this:

http://dev-amartin.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102821440

(Link goes to an NPR short clip about how the dust jacket's author photo affects the book's marketing--listen for the People Magazine quote about two thirds of the way through.)

Argh!

Comments

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

Summary for people who can't listen to video at work? I know, I know, I'm demanding.

[clarentine]

In short, the People Magazine folks said that a good-looking author photo would make it much more likely they'd review the book. (A reviewer for Book Slut laughed and noted how many authors look nothing like their apparently heavily airbrushed dust jacket photos.)

[stillnotbored.livejournal.com]

They will have to drag me kicking and screaming, or heavily sedated, for author photos. Cameras are not my friend, never have been, and they aren't going to make me do it.

[clarentine]

That's pretty much my reaction, too - maybe a line drawing will do? I think I could manage that.

Author Photo

[spammagnet.livejournal.com]

If you like my work, I'd be happy to work with you. I'd even be willing to put some effort into getting the eyes right. *grin*

Re: Author Photo

[clarentine]

::grin::

I'll keep my fingers crossed that, at some point, I'll actually need that image.