My sister-friend Pat edited the second-draft manuscript as meticulously as any professional editor would have. Vicki, Paula, and Anita previewed the entire book and offered valuable comments. Laura helped me set up my first blog and taught me how to upload photos and all the rest -- well, most of the rest. They've all done more than their share of listening.
Jodie, Beth, Sandy, Gail, Roz, Audrey, Trisha, Fran, Adrienne, Cora, and Ann read various parts of DANCING ON MARS and offered comments. Friends who visit the blog, read excerpts, and leave comments continue to cheer me along. Indeed, I've gotten by with a LOT of help from my friends. And they've done it all out of friendship, not for money. Thank you all!
Paula Hines is working tirelessly on photos that could be used for publicity, to accompany book reviews, etc. After experimenting with various qualities of afternoon and evening light, she has taken some beautiful photographs. I'm pushing hard for her to go commercial ; she has done some breath-taking photographic work for charities, friends, family, etc. Of course I'm not encouraging her to go pro until AFTER the book is done! :-)
One of Paula's photos is my profile picture on Facebook, at Lucinda Shirley, author, and on my personal Facebook page. This photography genius knew how to make me look a whole lot better than I really do!
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On Monday afternoon I packed three outfits, complete with earrings, for some picture-taking at my faerie goddaughter-friend Laura Lee's house. Even though she hasn't chosen to go professional, Laura is — among many things —a mega-talented photographer. Husband Sean recently gave her a camera that totally intimidates me. Laura, however, can get it to make people look amazing. She had agreed to take the "author photo" for the book. I reminded her that in all likelihood the photo would appear slightly larger than a postage stamp, but that didn't stop her from doing it "right."
With the kids settled after school -- the youngest snoozing away and the oldest committed to checking on him -- we went outside to begin. Ordinarily I'm self-conscious having pictures taken, but we had so much fun goofing around as I posed a zillion ways, using two sets of clothing and borrowing a pair of her really big earrings. I insisted on planting myself in the children's Halloween graveyard, and she took a couple of shots there, just for fun. Finally I had to force myself to stop laughing or risk a mascara-run, a "raccoon look" more haunting than any graveyard.
Would you be more or less inclined to buy a book with this "graveyard" author photo on the back? Would you be turned off by it? OR would you not be likely to notice the author picture at all? Your comments could help us decide. Okay, the grownup picture I chose is posted below. Which should we use? Please leave a comment and let me know what you think!
Laura took a bazillion shots - click, click, click - until I felt like a real model doing a VANITY FAIR cover. By the way, Laura looked like the model as she twisted her gorgeous self into a pretzel to get the shots she wanted; yoga is a miraculous thing -- that and all the motion that goes with mothering.
I was so into it, loving it all, that I wondered whether I might become a narcissist before it was over. Odds were against it, but still it is good to know I'm now capable of enjoying being the focus of attention. Literally. Personal growth doesn't always have to be painful!
Thanks to each and all of you, my Friends.
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