That’s kinda how things are with me and author photos.
The pic I use now for social media and prison mug shots guest blog posts was taken by close friend and talented photographer, Claudine Birgy.
I like the photo a lot, but it’s now more than two years old. Though people say I don’t look much different now than I did when I graduated from high school 20 years ago, I know they’re just being nice because they either want to grope me or steal my wine.
In any case, my photo could stand to be updated.
For a year now, I’ve been dating a great guy who happens to be a photographer. Awesome, right? I mean unless he was a wholesale wine distributor or a Pure Romance consultant, there aren’t many professions that could be more useful to me.
Except, well….we kinda never get around to taking those new author photos. I’m busy, he’s busy, clothing ends up on the floor and those shots don’t really make the best author photos.
But we do keep finding other ways to make our professions overlap.
When I’m not doing the author thing, I work part-time doing marketing and public relations for Bend, Oregon’s tourism bureau. Through a peculiar twist of circumstances I swear didn’t involve inappropriate sexual favors, my gentleman friend ended up shooting some photos for a piece in Dog Fancy magazine promoting our status as one of the nation’s top dog-friendly towns.
If you followed any of my Debutante Ball posts last season, you might notice something interesting about this page from the October 2011 issue of Dog Fancy:
Yup, that’s me, along with my trusty canine companion, Bindi. And yes, that’s my gentleman friend’s photo credit.
Think that’ll work as an author photo?
Admittedly, there are other areas of overlap in our professional lives. Though I wrote my sophomore novel, Believe it or Not, a couple years before we started dating, a few last minute revisions and scene additions coincided with the start of our relationship. The result? Well, let’s just say the leg-massage scene on pages 99-105 had some divine inspiration.
Great post, Tawna! You are the Queen of Laughs.
If you’d like to stalk find Tawna on the web, here are a few places to start:
blog: http://tawnafenske.blogspot.
web: http://www.tawnafenske.com
twitter @tawnafenske
facebook: http://www.facebook.com/
Best of all, Tawna has agreed to give a copy of Believe it or Not to one of our lucky blog readers! All you have to do is leave a comment for your chance to read this hilariously hot book for FREE! (US and Canada only, please.)
Thanks for dropping by to tell us about your latest writerly achievement, Tawna! You wear the tiara, gloves, and pearls with as much panache as ever! All your photos are fabulous, too. 🙂
I can attest that BELIEVE IT OR NOT is every bit as hot and hilarious as MAKING WAVES, so whoever the winner is will be very happy with the prize. 🙂
(we’re not eligible, right? Darn.)
Wow, Tawna! You really took the dog-in-the-author-photo pose and RAN with it, girl! NICE! I am very partial to the bottom one too–you look utterly lovely and relaxed and warm. (And your companion is darn cute too!)
It’s so great to have you back here–and we’re so thrilled for you! (And a six page massage scene in BELIEVE IT OR NOT?–Oh, I am SO there! 😉 )
You won’t be sorry, Erika! That scene alone is worth the price of the book. 😉
Hi Tawna – welcome back! You take a great picture and as we’ve discussed this week, any picture with a dog in it makes authors that much more approachable and lovely. Not that you aren’t lovely without Bindi there beside you, but you know what I mean.
I loved MAKING WAVES and am looking forward to BELIEVE IT OR NOT-I mean, just look at that cover: RAWR.
Thanks again for being with us today!
And may I just add–that cover doesn’t even do the hero justice. Great cover and all, but the hero is even better!
Sounds like a fun read to start off the summer season which is rapidly approaching!! Eek! I could probably not even stand up on that board by myself, let alone with a dog.
StoriesAndSweetPotatoes,
Believe it or not, that was only my second time on a standup paddleboard, and it was Bindi’s first. It’s waaaaaaaay easier than it looks!
Tawna
It’s a good sign when you can find inspiration in your boyfriend for your love scenes….
Jenny,
Oh, he’s VERY inspiring! 🙂
Tawna
I love outdoor things so I’m going to keep Oregon in mind as a destination to visit for fun. I just knwow Believe It or Not is going to be an entertaining read. I believe it!
Na S,
Oregon is awesome, no doubt about it. Bend is particularly beautiful, which is why I’ve been here 14+ years.
Tawna
Maybe it’s the first time I have read your bio from the beginning, this is a “special” bio, or it just clicked, but you can peel and eat a banana with your toes!? Why do you know this and why did you try to do it in the first place. Craziness in Oregon I guess. LOL
Meanwhile Bindi is a beautiful dog!
bas1chsemail at gmail dot com
Shannon,
Yes indeed, here’s photographic proof of my banana peeling/eating skills: http://tawnafenske.blogspot.com/2010/06/monkey-business-of-social-media.html
And Bindi is a beautiful dog (and knows it! Thanks!
Tawna
You’re such a hottie. Love seeing you back here.
Eileen,
Awwww, thanks! Wanna make out?
Tawna
Tawna – love the pic of you and Bindi on the water. I already devoured Believe It Or Not but I’ll gladly take a copy to give away. No one is getting mine. You hear me, no one. (Unless of course I get a hold of a signed copy.)