March 4, 2008
On the subject of looks…
Okay last week I mentioned my perversions, I mean pleasures, aw hell, if you read it you should know…
At the recent book signing I swear to all things Nora Roberts, I looked like a suburban house-frau sitting behind the candy laden table between my looks-like-she-doesn’t-have-a-top on and Ames’ nearly-nipple showing covers. I had my little white twinset cardigan on and my navy, linen capris. Did not sport the pearls, I do draw the line somewhere.
But it got me wondering—this is a topic we have touched on with other degrees of ponderings. If you write the steamie-meemies should you parade in sparkling spandex or lacy lingerie? What do readers expect their authors to look like? Somewhere between the imagined house-frau twinsetter vs. vivacious vixen?
Before I started writing I truly never gave much thought to if/when I met this author or that. It never entered my mind. When I saw the book signing notices at the mall, never once was I tempted to take a peek-see and confirm or destroy my illusions. But once I started writing, I have had a few … shockers!
Some books have the obligatory black and white head shot stuck on the back flap. But I have seen an author or two that, um looked nothing like the pic, or rather, did about a billion years ago.
But many of the books don’t have these. You go to something like RWA Nationals or RT and get on an elevator with someone. While you do that, “No I’m not looking at you dance,” you glance at the name badge and low and behold you’re staring a your fave author’s breasts. But when you look up, it could be your mother, sister, Sunday school teacher, the PTA president (ours is a dude so that’s an even a BIGGER jolt). Not the gun-toting, whiskey slamming, pole dancing hottie you may have imagined from her last BDSM novel.
Every now and again, you will get an author who plays it up (not to say they’re not really like that ALL the time, just saying). If they write dark paranormals they may sport a funeral veil and head to toe black lace or striped socks, short skirts and platform Mary Janes. I will say though, these gals have always stood out to me and I may be more included to look for a book of theirs while I am out and about—rather than the PTA president-look-alike—I remember them.
But you never know. I have known folks in the past who looked all sweet and innocent on the outside and had some major freaky-deaky kinky fetishes and have known some tattooed, multiple piercings people who were the shiest, most home bodied, folks you could ever meet. I guess you can’t always just judge a book by its cover . . . LOL
I know exactly what you mean Dennie. Barbara Cartland really played up the romance aspect with her flowing gowns, coiffed hair and pearls. That really turned me off.
Danielle Steele has the best author photos, but she has the money to dress like what the book is about. (And probably the best cosmestic surgeon alive, cause isn’t she like 70?)
I never seen an author in real life before RWA and I guess I was too shocked to be around the authors I love. But after the shock wore off I was kind of surprised at how normal they all looked. (Well, outside of the Swan Lady) Francis Ray could have been my grandma. Patricia Gaffney could have been my best’s friends mother. Some of the other’s could have been in my sister’s graduating class.
I guess in my mind writer’s were like super heroes, no a better metaphor is mystical creatures who look like beatniks. I don’t connect what a author writes to what they looked like, but the fact they are writers they should stand out. Then again I’m a writer who writes steamy. I tend to show cleavage sometimes. Other than that I’m as normal as normal can get.
La Nora was much cooler than I imagined. She still holds the super hero status. She just wears immaculate suits now.
but the fact they are writers they should stand out
that is it exactly! I think maybe I was dissappointed they looked like . . . me
I love Nora’s book-pics; the JD Robb has the darker make-up and leather coat and the regular her is a little more understated. I will admit, I have the Nora yardstick I use in almost all things writer. I think we all have that one we hold up above all and she is so it for me!
Bailey–organza makes it hard to write–LOL though the loose fitting caftan may be roomier to accomodate all the chocolates I have stashed around my desk….
I swear I was going to blog about this soon, lol.
I’ve never been to RWA, never had a booksigning. But just looking at pics from these events, must confess the authors rarely look anything like I imagine.
And that’s not a bad thing. I rather like the idea that we’re not so different!
I’ve tried to stop making assumptions, simply because authors pretty much never look the way I expect (and considering I don’t spend much time thinking about what authors look like, that says a lot.)
“Did not sport the pearls, I do draw the line somewhere.”
LOL! Good to know.
Authors write fiction with Walter Mitty Syndrome. Escaping normal life through fantasy is one of the greatest escapes in the world. It’s free, and sometimes it pays real money. :)
>>I have known folks in the past who looked all sweet and innocent on the outside and had some major freaky-deaky kinky fetishes and have known some tattooed, multiple piercings people who were the shiest, most home bodied, folks you could ever meet.
Isn’t it amazing how she nailed me–twice
Pun Intended
Must figure out HOW to get lines around smileys fixed. THe normal fixes are not working. Sorry gang!
Denise, how could you call out Ames that way???
oops sorry Raine LOL . . .I think seeing writers who looked like me validated the voices, er ah, all the stories I come up with.
Vannessa, I over-think EVERYthing, so even when it comes to apperances I have gone warp speed with with I think is…my mind is a SCARY place!
Bernard, that is so true… I have always written, since I was a kid, but it was being oerggers w/ #4 that made me sit down w/pen and pad to keep from going crazy w/ the hormones raging and three little ones running around!
Lynn, sssshhhhhhhhhh
Ames, LOL I didn’t say names…