New author pix – wow!

I’m one of those authors who has new author pix taken every couple of years, preferring to take the ageing process gradually, rather than in a large, indigestible chunk.

And, as I’ve been able to throw away my glasses, lose a stone and meet my deadline, a couple of weeks ago I decided it was time. I knew the lovely Marte L Rekaa, who takes such wonderful photos of the RNA events, so I collared her for a chat. It wasn’t so much that I knew what I wanted – more that I had a clear idea of what I didn’t want.

I didn’t want to look as if I came from the pages of a bank’s in-house magazine (OK, I used to work for a bank, but that doesn’t have to count); I didn’t want to look like a secretary, either (and yes! I used to be one of those, too! But I’m not now.) I wanted images that were relaxed and creative. And flattering, obviously. And not to be always wearing a huge horsey smile. Photographers seem to  want to catch me with a massive smile, in the same way that hairdressers can’t resist sending me out looking like a country-western star’s poodle.

Marte spent loads of time with lighting and different coloured backgrounds, because those two things can make an enormous difference – it’s no coincidence that I bought none of the images with the white background – and we just talked and laughed and she took photos.

It all sounds simple, but it worked so well. No chance to set my face in that rictus of just-get-it-over-with. No this-feels-as-artificial-as-plastic-flowers. The whole experience was fun.

What do you think?