I’m alive, I’ve just been super busy trying to crank out as many words as possible on book two. I’m behind schedule, but I’ve had three good writing days in a row, so I’m taking a short break.
Polaris Rising continues to move through the publishing steps. Most recently, I received feedback from the proofreader that I needed to address. So now it’s been looked at by me, agent, editor, copyeditor, and proofreader. I think we might be done at this point, but I thought that after copyeditor, too, so it’ll be a surprise one way or the other. :)
Because we’re inching ever closer to release, Voyager needed an author photo of me for their catalog. If you’ve seen my social media photo, you’ll notice it’s a snapshot of me that I ran through a Prisma filter. Not exactly professional enough to use in a book catalog.
I looked at having professional photos taken, but professional photographers are expensive and I am cheap. Of course, I’ve never looked better than I did in my wedding photos, so professional photographers are professionals for a reason. But $500 for a single photo felt a little steep when I could use that money toward the upcoming RWA conference.
I have a fairly nice camera that I bought for a trip to Peru last year and I have some basic photoshop skills. I also have a very patient husband who agreed to take a thousand photos (okay, not quite, but it was a lot) until I found one I liked.
So, behold, my new author photo!
I think it turned out nice and maybe no one will notice that a professional didn’t take it.
I will probably update some of my social media when I have time, but I might keep the current photo for Twitter because I think my hair looks super cute. Speaking of… I probably need to schedule a haircut before RWA. Bleh.
P.S. I’m on BookBub now! I don’t know what I’m doing, but if you have an account you can follow me or something? Let’s figure it out together! :)
Your picture is lovely. You didn’t need to spend $500.00. Go shopping instead!
Awww that’s a great picture, no professional needed!
Awesome photo! Looks like your husband could have a side hustle as a professional photographer :)
Totally again with the comments above! You look fabulous. Is your husband available to fix a photo for me? lol
That’s suppose to be “agree” not “again”. Duh!
I think the photo turned out GREAT!!! You could take your husband to a very nice dinner as a thank you for his efforts . . . . And still save money!!! ?
Dear Jessie,
Thank you for the ‘proof of life’ -lol. You look completely lovely in your photo. Your husbands efforts are worthy of a best selling authors book jacket. Congratulations on everything coming together so beautifully! It’s starting to feel “real” isn’t it? I pray you every joy possible in the process; you deserve it.
Warm Regards, Regina
I love your picture!
It looks professionally done to me, definitely reward your patient husband!
I am waiting (but not very patiently) for Polaris Rising to come out, I hope everything’s all squared away now. Good luck!
Nice picture! Seems your husband’s patience wasn’t for nothing haha, no need for a professional :)
Good luck for everything ;)