The Photo Shoot
It’s such fun living with a professional photographer! It was time to take my new book jacket pictures to be used on the Target Book Club edition of The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes and also on my new website (coming soon!). We started with very demure poses that I hated–so not me–although John liked them. What can I say? He’s looking through the eyes of love, while I was looking through eyes that have already had cataract surgery, and those eyes just couldn’t believe that the old battleaxe in the pictures was me. That’s why you’re never going to see them. I like to think I’ve moved beyond such vanity, but I guess I haven’t. Or maybe I have, since I’m willing to share the above picture with you. The photos I’ll use on my new website fall somewhere between this one and the battleaxe. Meanwhile, feel free to use this photo as a screen saver to wake you up in the morning.
First of all, you are so cute!
Thanks for sharing the picture Diane! I must say, I love that red jacket on you. Red is your color woman!
I love the picture. I needed cheering up…
LOL! Funny picture, but you look fantastic anyway. Agreed on the red. That is a really unique jacket! Mucho personality. And you must have to wear sunglasses if you don’t want people to know what you’re thinking. Your eyes tell all. 🙂
Brenda, I hope things go better for you soon.
Gina and Julie, thanks for the compliments. The jacket is Chicos. I could live in that store.
Oh my gosh, of course it’s Chico’s! I live there too. In fact, I’ve got their catalogue right here in front of me from yesterday’s mail. I really love their jewelry too.
That’s exactly what I look like every time I send off a query. 🙂
I love you in red – the pic is way cool. I love the combo of a dressy top with the jeans. But I think you’re onto something – if we pose like that, our faces can’t possibly show any wrinkles, right? Isn’t that the same as a facelift or botox treatment?
BTW, got my Nevada license today and I was pleasantly surprised by the pic – best one I ever had – their photographer must know the same tricks that hubby does – he has it down pat on how to take the most flattering shots. The Oregon license pic and any cruise ship picture? Absolutely hideous! They get their cameras underneath your chin and make it look gigantic. 🙂
>>if we pose like that, our faces can’t possibly show any wrinkles, right?
OK. So I’m kinda doing the math, and you say you’re putting up a new website in the fall. I’m thinking that After the Storm somes out in August, which must mean that the pressure is off for awhile? I’m very curious. How does the publishing world work? Are you under contract to write so many books in a specific period of time? If I’m thinking correctly, CeeCee Wilkes was your last book almost 2 years ago, so does that mean that you had to do 2 books by a deadline? Hope the questions make sense. I love the red jacket and I love your curly hair. Wish mine would do that.
Ha! No one should wish for this hair, trust me. I just reached a point where I was tired of fighting it. When I traveled, I had to take my regular dryer, my dryer with the big round brush, and my big fat curling iron with me. Now I take nothing. Even though I much prefer it straight, this is such a relief.
Your publishing questions are good, and I think I’ll give them a post of their own. But I wanted to clarify the dates you have in your comment. New website will be up in about 6 weeks. Before the Storm comes out in June and After the Storm in January. I’ll definitely keep everyone posted!
HAIR! The bane of the female existence! We always want what we don’t have, don’t we? I love the natural curl, but perms do nothing for me. I have thick hair with a little natural wave and and I always get compliments (some days it’s the only think I like about myself), but I still have to dry it with a round brush so I get the style I’m comfortable with. My daughter has great curl and spends time straightening it. I think when we get beyond this vanity, it’s over for us, so it’s good we still have it. How did I get so confused about August? I swear I read that somewhere, but I guess not.
hi!
i’m from singapore and i just finished reading your ‘the bay at midnight’ and i ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!
i think you’re such a wonderful writer! i was addicted to this book every night before i fall asleep, right until i finished reading the last page!
cant wait to get my hands on ‘the secret life of ceecee wilkes’ !!
xoxo
I TOO am excited to read the next book and am telling so many others about it.
In the meantime, Carlene Thompson, a WV author, has done it again. Her 12th book I believe…I bought it yesterday…finished it last night…
Believe me her settings are somewhat frightening although set in WV…this one was set near where I live and had much history in it along with the mystery-I encourage you ladies to get it…
I had a time yesterday…had many appointments set up-best laid plans…I spent 7 hours in C. C. waiting for a virus thing to be put on my computer…It was horrible…finally, it was finished…will write about it when I am not so aggravated. Patience is a virtue that I have, but let me tell you, at the end of 5 hours, I talked to the manager and demanded that my computer be finished…I should have done it myself online…
Have a good rest of the weekend… WELCOME ALANA-one question…Are Diane’s books readily available there?
Hi Alana,
I know exactly what you mean about Bay at Midnight. That was the first book of Diane’s that I had ever read too. I was hooked right away and couldn’t get enough of Diane’s books after that. You’re gonna love Cee Cee.
Brenda,
Not having a computer is dreadful. I completely understand that. These days you can’t be without one. Glad you were able to get it fixed.
hi brenda,
her books are not readily available here! i’ve checked out the local libraries and they only have ‘the bay at midnight’! can u believe it?!?! it’s crazy, man! i dont understand why good books shouldnt be made readily available!
anyway, ive been checking out book stores like borders and harris. hopefully they’ll get back to me soon with POSITIVE NEWS!!!
Welcome, Alana! That’s my stepdaughter’s name. So pretty.
I’m delighted you enjoyed BAY. Borders or Harris should at least be able to order CEECEE for you at no extra charge.
Brenda, all that time without a computer! Not sure I could make it. . . although Wednesday I’m leaving for a beach retreat for a week and the only internet access is at a little coffee shop. I have a feeling I’ll be hanging out there a lot.
And thanks for the Carlene Thompson recommendation. I really have to read her.
Guys, the bad part is I WAS NOT WITHOUT A COMPUTER. THere was nothing wrong with it. I only needed an updated Norton Virus…that is what took them 7 hours to do…I was beside myself…they would go off to help someone else instead of finishing me…finally, the manager intervened.
Carlene Thompson-I love her books…intriguing…
Alana-do you have Amazon.com??? available there…D’s books are there…also Overstock.com most likely and Borders online…
D. ENJOY your beach retreat. I look forward to June and my son’s beach retreat…for me, my daughter, and the little ones…
I might go two times this summer…
Take care.
Julie-I spent so much time in Texas when Nathan was in college, law school, and working…I loved Ft. Worth-it had a neat little part and the nicest unique movie theatre…
Dallas-what can I say…??? I loved it…esp. standing where Kennedy was…
Austin-the sculpture garden…and those horses on U.T. campus…Johnson’s library…One could spend years in Texas as did my son and not see it all.
San Antonio-riverwalk…that atrocious C.mas tree…sorry…
Houston-well-I liked the stores and the theatre…it was my least favorite of all…
I am glad he chose Florida over Texas this time…although the flying time is not that much different…
Diane-you could write a book set in Texas-good idea for a trip…
Julie-so could you…
brenda & diane – thanks for the advice. i’ve checked with borders and harris. expecting to get their replies by tomorrow! 🙂
Well, guess what, Brenda, my WIP is set in Texas. Strangely, it’s in Waco, which may be one of the least interesting spots. LOL I just wanted a smallish Texas city that was representative of the life, but also had enough familiarity to set a tone. (It’s where the David Koresh compound was, and also where Baylor University is.) I haven’t done much with the setting yet, but am working revisions now, and that’ll be one of the steps.
You must have been reading my blog again…you need to leave me a comment one of these days so I know you were there! 🙂
My daughter’s got the super curly hair… eeeesh! I’ll be glad when she starts taking a little more interest in caring for it, because I am utterly clueless.
Julie, have you read the book Curly Girl by Lorraine Massey? Lots of good tips in there. Your daughter will love it because it tells you never to shampoo and rarely to comb. 🙂
Julie,
It doesn’t let me post on your cite. One has to sign up to be a Google Blogger, and you know I don’t do those type of sites (inc. My Space, etc…)
I do read it though-very intriguing…
Look forward to reading your book.
Does it have anything to do with the college?
Diane-thanks for bringing us together-enjoy your retreat-read and rest.
I am so lucky..I was given a ARC copy of ” Before The Storm ” It is one of your best..but then I have read ( I think ) everything you have written and I say that about every one of your books. Just wanted to let you know your new book is wonderful . Now, I wait for After The Storm !..You are such a welcome pleasure to have in my, as I call it, book life.
Hi D, I’m thrilled you enjoyed Before the Storm! It’s always a little nerve wracking to have a new book on the way.
I’m sitting out on the deck of a beach house, in the dark, trying to see my computer keys, with the ocean right smack in front of me. Can’t see it, but I can sure hear it.