Friday, November 27, 2009

Young Blood

Last Friday I met with a high school book club who wanted to talk to a real author. I am sure some of them were disappointed to greet a silver-haired woman who has been writing since the fifth grade and only now has her first book coming out in May, 2010. But, they listened politely even after I confessed my novel was a romance. I tried not to dwell on me as writer, but rather on the degree of perfection demanded in today's market, pitfalls to watch out for, and how to deal with rejection. I tried to be real and not yet too discouraging because these are the authors of the future. Once my talk finished, most of the group vanished into the stacks at B &N or got in line at the coffee bar, but six young women remained behind to ask more questions and tell me about their work. We covered everything from Pride and Prejudice to Ender's Game while discussing what they liked and wanted to write. I hope I gave them sound advice. I hope they will succeed far faster than I did because of it.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Glam Pics

One of my daughters suggested I needed an updated, sexier picture for my web site, www.LYNNSHURR.com. Following this suggestion, my husband booked a sitting for me with a very fine local photographer as a birthday gift. The man did try his best. Sadly, I would have to be fifthy pounds lighter and thirty years younger at the least to look sexy. I believe I was sexy for about six years of my entire life from the ages of twenty-one to twenty-seven. Generally, my mother referred to me as "the one with the good personality", the kiss of death when it came to dating.
You know what? A good personality lasts far longer and gets you more places than a good figure or a pretty face. Took me a long time to realize that, so I am passing it on. Now, I need to make another decision. Should I keep the original picture with the slightly outdated hair style and be younger than I now am forever, or do I boldly post the new ones with the silver hair and double chin as soon as I can figure out how to do that? Maybe I'll ask you-which one should be on my web site?