Choose My New Author Photo?

As a 13-year veteran of the writing life, I've long since accepted the fact that half the fun in life is getting there and most of the other half of the fun involves writing about the trip afterward. So, I'm back from New York and my boudoir photo shoot with the very talented Laura Boyd, and now it's time to tell you all about it! Today I'd like to begin by asking for your help.

Like most writers, I have a Web site and a profile picture. I've long felt a bit, well, guilty, in using a photo from my first boudoir session from seventeen years ago. Okay, not that guilty because I never really looked like that photo even when I was thirty-one and besides I'm an erotica writer and my readers surely shouldn't object to a little blurring of reality. However, since my motto is "smart is sexy" and I firmly believe I'm smarter and much sexier now than I was back then, I knew I'd feel much better if I had a current sexy picture to post far and wide. That is one of the many reasons I jumped at the chance to have Laura take my picture.

Of course, as the shoot drew closer, I suffered from the same doubts I did the first time around. Would the camera's eye find any beauty in me, even with Laura's magic and expertise on my side? Is society right that women are over-the-hill and invisible after thirty or thirty-five or forty or whatever the current cut-off is for female desirability? Which might mean, that like a vampire, when Laura snapped my picture, there'd be nothing there?


I have to say, in spite of my pre-shoot jitters, I am so, so pleased with the results. So pleased, in fact, I'm going to become an honest woman and use one of her portraits as my public face from now on. Now comes that favor I wanted to ask of you. Will you help me choose which of these two rather intimate "thanks for the great sex, honey" pics posted here that I should use? Choice A in the black slip and bling or Choice B in my birthday suit? Polls close December 6, so leave a comment or send me an email with your vote!

The Secret Eroticist

I had another one of those encounters last weekend. Someone who knows me from my soccer mom life recently discovered my erotic writing. She said she enjoyed it, but that I was doing a great job of "hiding" what I did. She never would have suspected from looking at me.

Which raises again the question, what does an erotica writer look like? Large breasts? Tight leather pants? Lots of make-up? Basically a porn star? If so, I certainly fail the test.

I didn't put her on the spot, though. I answered sweetly that part of my "mission" was to show that ordinary people just like me have rich sexual lives. My new fan thought that was a wonderful mission, but still, her reaction makes me realize how far we have to go.

Speaking of images, I was looking through old photos as part of my background work for my new novel and came across the one above, taken many years ago by my older sister in her San Francisco craftsman apartment. Can you imagine this young woman would write erotica one day?

You know, I think I had it in me all along....

Peek Into My Boudoir--The Secret Revealed

Okay, so I'll admit my author photo is a wee bit aged...but better for it, like a fine wine, I think. Not that I ever really walked around in all that lipstick with moussed up hair anyway, but erotica writers do need an aura of glamour, don't we? Not to mention mystery. But I'm in the mood for some revelation today, as a break from sending out invitations to my reading and brunch. (Writing a novel is SO easy compared to promoting it). As you can see, my author photo was not a head shot, but captured my entire body in repose against a length of white satin. I suppose the tale of my boudoir photo session might be worth telling some day, but since I have to get back to promotional activities, this will be all for today. At least you have the whole visual story--although I guess you have to tell me if the end is happy or not!