Melia Alexander: Author Portraits Should be Fun, Right?

Therese & Morgan Say: Our dear friend Melia Alexander told us all about her author portrait adventure and, of course, we asked her to contribute a post to our blog. Thanks Melia for sharing your experiences with our readers. xoxo

Melia Says: I can’t speak for other writers (although I suspect there would be similar stories), but for me, selling my first book was on par with falling in love for the First. Time. Ever.

You know what I’m talking about. The rapid heart rate, the stupid grin, the feeling like you’re waaayyy on top of the world and nothing can bring you back to the earthly plane. *sigh* Yeah. That.

But unlike falling in love, reality sets in much more quickly. After all, there are things that need immediate attention, like learning about the systems in place for getting the book ready for publication. Yeah. THAT. And very quickly, if you weren’t already aware of it, you realize you’ve become that “b” word - *whispers* you’re a business!

Things take on such a serious edge with the “b” word. At least, it did for me. The moment I received the Entangled Publishing author packet, the implications of what I’d done hit me harder than leaving a Nordstrom shoe sale – with a couple of bags in each hand. All of a sudden everything mattered: the author bio, the book cover, the edits, release dates, and on and on and on. No pressure, right?

But the author photo shoot was supposed to be the exception. It was supposed to be fun. It was supposed to be exciting. It was supposed to be my chance to live my childhood fantasy of being a model. (Now, now. There’s no need to judge.)

After all, the photographer I’d hired was great! The location was great! The staging was great! Me? Not so much. I looked like I’d rather be scrubbing toilets. (For the record, I don’t particularly like scrubbing toilets. . ..)

My first photo shoot.

See. What did I tell you?

Thankfully, Ben (Ben Carlson Photography) was willing to come out and re-shoot. Different location, different clothing, different atmosphere altogether. But most importantly, a different “me.”

I remembered what it was like to fall in love with the story I’d just sold, when I’d first written it, and before the “b” word entered the equation and made everything seem so serious. I made it a point to play fun music, and I had a trusted friend on hand who kept things light – and also made sure there were no wardrobe malfunctions. (Thanks, Lin!)

  

My second sitting - MUCH better!

The results were so much better, I think. A few changes, including a brain switch, turned me from one mean-looking, serious-writing, completely unapproachable author to who I really am: an author of sassy, sexy, fun contemporary romances who loves to laugh at life’s incredible ironies.

Letting my PERSONA
shine through!

-Melia


http://meliaalexander.com/



Gary D. Robson Book Signing Tips for Authors:

When there are customers nearby, stay by the table. I’ve had customers get interested in a book, and then I couldn’t find the author to sign a copy. Don’t wander away unless you tell the bookstore staff where you’re going.