Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Author Photo - the results

Hello world!  Insert obligatory apology for not posting more.  You know it's been a while when your mother reminds you to post on your blog so she knows what's going on in your life.  Mayhap I should call home a little more often....


Recently I posted about getting author photos taken... well, here are two of the ones I really liked.  I have to admit, the photographer did a fantastic job -- everyone did.  It was fun to feel like a superstar for a few hours with people slowing their cars down to wonder who the chick was and why people would be taking her picture.  I had tons of pics to choose from, but I think I like these two the best.  What do you think?

We just got back from our annual treck to the beach for the Fourth of July.  Growing up, my family used to go spend the summer at my grandparent's house on Cape Cod.  I have amazing memories of these summers.  Even though they all tumble together into one happy blur of sailing, sitting on rocks watching the sunset, the generic car, Crystal Lake (yes, that was the name of the lake) and more memories than I could ever list here, they're all how I think of "summer."  

Going to JP's family's house at the beach reminds me of those times.  It's something about how laid back it all feels, about the layers of history you feel in every aspect of life there, and about the smell of a house near the ocean that doesn't always run the air conditioner.  There's just that same sense of pace to it all - nothing exists outside of that house and its world.

This time, it was interesting to stand on the dock and look down at the tide filling the marsh and take a snapshot of life how it is now.  This time last year I was revising The Forest of Hands and Teeth.  I was looking for a new day job.  I wasn't yet engaged (though to us that was just a technicality).  This year I've signed with an agent, sold a book, started to get feedback on that book from readers, gotten engaged.  Next year... who knows?  JP and I should hopefully be married (if we get around to planning the wedding), my book will be out, the book I'm writing now should be finished and hopefully I'll be writing a third.

I think it's nice to take stock of things every now and again.  It's so easy to head-down and plow through life -- looking towards the weekend or waiting for ARCs or wondering about things off in the future -- that we fail to think about where we are now.  Where we've come from and where we're going.  It's crazy how much things can change in a year!

8 comments:

B.E. Sanderson said...

You've been a busy lady, but it sounds like everything has been wonderful for you. I like the second picture for the cover of FHT, but that's just me. They're both good shots.

Here's to a productive and wonderful next twelve months. =o)

JenWriter said...

Carrie, I looooove the second picture. They're both good, but I think the second would fit in well with the dark tone of your zombieness. :)

Marina said...

Hope you don't mind a complete stranger throwing in her two cents' worth! I like the unusual setting of the second photo. It seems like a good fit for a novel set in a strange zombiefied world. Save the other photo for when you're world famous. I can see it on the glossy dustjacket of a big hardcover underneath the line "The latest thrilling blockbuster from bestselling author Carrie Ryan".

The Compulsive Reader said...

Oooh, I like the second one the best. The background is so unique!

But the first one is gorgeous too! I agree with Marina--keep that one around!

JKB said...

Those are great pics!

I Love. Your. Hair.

:)

Elizabeth Byler Younts said...

it just sounds like a dream come true...after a lot of hard work, I'm sure! I just found your blog and i look forward to following you. :-)

Elizabeth Byler Younts said...

btw...both photos are great...but I especially like the 2nd

cindy said...

beautiful fotos. i like the first for the bigger head shot and smile. i like the secnod for the dreamy / pensive feel.