Picture 1: From the white shirt series.
Picture 2: Laughing in a chair. From the black shirt, bespectacled series.
Picture 4: Another from the black shirt series, sans-glasses. You may want to duck to avoid the plane coming in for a landing on my forehead.
Man, I feel like a raging egomaniac posting these. I'm all, Look at me! Look at me! But I'd like to make this an interactive, cooperative experience, because that's always fun. Plus, if I look at my own head any longer, I will stop looking like me, and that will totally creep me out. So I need some help. Notice there are no "serious" pictures. Because no matter how hard I tried, I could not stop smiling. It's a good thing my book isn't about a life-threatening illness, suicide, post-partum depression, a broken engagement, death of a dear grandparent, or sibling estrangement! (Well, it kind of is, but WAY funnier!)
Anyway, I'd love to hear what you think. (In comments or via email, whatever flips your skirt, yo.)
Addendum: thanks to everyone who chimed in on the photo survey! You are all awetastic. My mom voted for #4, in case you were wondering. I'll be taking a blogbreak this weekend because I actually have plans that involve chili, wine, the singing of Ethel Merman show tunes if a certain person is plied with enough tequila, clove cigarettes, homebrewed beer, live music, a hot tub, 10 hours of driving, more chili, and quite possibly, a blue-tooth headache. We'll be bringing the camera, so there may be an interesting new post up by Monday morning.
I love the first one the best! You are adorable!
ReplyDeleteOMG, I love them! Okay, I need to go back and review them again, but I have to say it's between one and four...I think the last one totally looks like a REAL LIVE AUTHOR PHOTO, and hell, THAT IS WHAT IT IS!!! They're great, and you are so terribly cute, if I didn't like you, you might make me sick! xo
ReplyDeleteYes, definitely in this order:
ReplyDelete4, then 1, then 2, then 3...
and hopefully me being right here in the comments section with adorably cute Jess and Nancy (soon-to-be famous authors, one of fiction, one of non-fiction), will rub off some good fortune on me and I'll do something spectacular like get a book published too someday!! : )
These look great, Jess! So, were you smiling so much because it was exciting to have your own author photo shoot, or because you were self-conscious?
ReplyDeleteI'm always partial to glasses, so I really like the second one, but I think the last one looks most book-coverly, so that would probably get my vote.
Dang, you're making this way too hard. Can I say I love them all? Is that allowed? Oh geez, well, geez...uh...I think I like number 4 but those glasses pictures are adorable. Not much help, huh?
ReplyDeleteI think the first one is the best by far.
ReplyDeleteI like #2 the best! Tough choice - I feel like the people on "Designer's Challenge" -"oh, all THREE designers were so good, it's going to be tough to choose!" butin this case with 4 great shots.
ReplyDeleteI like number 1. Who wouldn't trust an author who looked like that to write a great book?
ReplyDeleteWhere did you get them done, if you don't mind my asking?
Wow. FANTASTIC PICTURES (Says the lurker from the Chick Lit Yahoo group!) I vote for #1 and #3
ReplyDeleteFirst one. You look young, pretty, happy, and smart.
ReplyDeleteEither number one or number two. I keep going back and forth. I suppose number one looks more book-photo-y, but you look like so much fun in number two...
ReplyDeleteI like 2, then 1, then 3, then 4. Great shots!
ReplyDelete4 and then 1... but I miss the cigar ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Jess,
ReplyDeleteI really like the first picture of you! You look so friendly and approachable, and beautiful, of course!
Rhonda
I'm a huge fan of the black shirt with glasses series. They seem very free and natural!!! Congratulations on your novel and thanks for visiting and commenting! Come back anytime :)
ReplyDeleteOK, it must really suck to have FOUR great photos from which to choose! No, but seriously, I vote for #1. It looks friendly and approachable, yet professional in that publishing kind of way.
ReplyDeleteSo does this mean we get advanced copies of the galleys if we vote on this? Just kidding....
Without looking at any other comments (I don't want to unduly influence my opinion), I'm partial to #4. It gives the feeling of motion, animation, like we (you and the observer) are in the middle of having a good laugh at something. My second choice would be #1. That's a good one also, but seems posed. I just like that feeling of interaction in #4.
ReplyDeleteI see we're not making the choice easier for you. LOL They're all wonderful photos. But I like #2 the best -- it's fun. You look like a serious writer, and yet you look approachable. Your smile is great. #4 is my choice if you're going for a more serious look.
ReplyDeleteI'd go with number one. That's the best one...by far.
ReplyDeleteHey Jess!
ReplyDeleteNice to meet you. Hand shake dot com. Congrats on the book and I am lovin #1 & #2, depending on the subject of the book of course. As a first time vistor I'm going to have to look into that one. Congrats!
Either 2 or 4. Your forehead does not look big in person, trust me. ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd I want to hear the cigar story. :D
The first one is the best. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteCindy
I like #3 for sass and smarts at the same time. In #1 you look cute too, but it makes you look the youngest out of all of them, is that a good thing?
ReplyDeleteI like #1 and #4 best - although I think girls in glasses look really sassy and cute, I think we all look better without them in photos. Dunno why I think that! You look great in all 4 though, truly.
ReplyDeleteI like the first one the most -- I think you look relaxed and genuinely happy. The last one is my second pick. I can see that on the back of a dust jacket. They're all really great though; I'm jealous that you don't look like you've just tied a few on, which is the way I usually look when photographed.
ReplyDelete(Thanks for the comment on my blog, BTW.)
Jess. You're gorgeous! I like the first one best. You look "real" (and real pretty) and people will relate to that.
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited for you!
These are all great, flattering pictures. I personally think the 3rd one looks more author-like somehow, but really you could go with any of them. What a cutie you are!
ReplyDeleteThese are great, I'm glad you posted them!
ReplyDeleteNumber 2 first, then Number 1. What a cutie you are!
ReplyDeleteThey are ALL great, Jess but I love, love, love the last one (yep, the one you joked about the plane with) - you look so genuinely sweet.
ReplyDeleteif you are taking a poll, do it with math. Add up all the votes. For each person that voted for one pic, assign it a value of 4. For people that voted for more than one pic, the first is 4 points, the second is 3 etc. Then add up all the points and see who wins. I vote for number one again. (but only I get to vote twice).
ReplyDeleteHey Jumpin' Jivin' Jessica J. Junebug. You'll be happy to hear that I took your publicity photo (#4, the airstrip pic)to my classes today and passed it around. Then later I read the first couple pages of your novel aloud to them. A definite hit. I said you were a chip off the old blockhead. I also said I'd be using Riding as a textbook after it comes out, and that I'd bring the author herself to class! What do you think of my shameless self-promotion? Hey, why not? Talk to you soon. Another thought: Would you like to sing a duet of "You Light Up My Life" with me a Kettle Moraine? Maybe Mom could join us. Just a thought. . .
ReplyDeleteI'm a little late here but I'm with your mom. I like #4.
ReplyDeleteI say number 1 definitely! That's the perfect author photo! 100% didn't even have to think about it.
ReplyDeleteI'm late to this discussion but I have to put in my two cents - #4!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the book!
I'm struggling between #1 and #2. I wish I could help more.
ReplyDeleteThe glasses make you look like a writer if you were going for that look. If you were going for the "I'm a writer but also want you to see my tiger side"...#1.
LK
i'd definitely say number 1!! very nice pictures
ReplyDeleteI think your mom made a good choice, but you really owe us a photo post-chli-wine-Merman-clove ciggies.
ReplyDeleteOr are you still in that hot tub??!
P/S I absolutely love that comment from your dad, just brimming with parental glee. Could he BE any prouder?
ReplyDeleteIs it too late to vote? I love 4! You look beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI think your mom is ultimately right, but that black & white photo with the glasses and the charmingly wrinkled nose is VERY compelling!
ReplyDeleteThe gnomes vote #4
ReplyDeleteSo do Daisy and Murphy