Thursday, January 07, 2010

Contest Giveaway

I have a new book coming out soon. Charming the Devil will hit the shelves on January 26th. I’m considering making new bookmarks for it, because my last publicity photo makes me look like a realtor. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against realtors, I just have zilch ability to sell houses. So I thought maybe it was time for a change. That’s why I did a little research to try to figure out what I wanted. But comparing authors’ pictures is like comparing apples to chimpanzees. There’s a wide variety.

Some novelists go for the straight-forward face shot. If you have a face like Shana Aba that’s great. I sat next to her at a book signing once. It was extremely depressing, because not many of us get to have her face.



Authors frequently have their photo sessions done with something they love. Apparently Mary Janice Davidson loves footwear. I’m assuming Robert Parker has a thing for his dog.







Nevada Barr sometimes goes for the natural look, but no one wants to see how I look naturally.


Nora Roberts, aka J.D. Robb, can pull off drama. But I gotta tell you, if I were as successful as Nora, I wouldn't want an alias. I'd be Nora 24/7.






A few brave authors set their sites on sex appeal. I assume that’s what Rosemary Rogers was aiming at here.

Kim Harrison seems to be telling us something about her books...or she has a gravestone fetish.


Most of us seem to want pictures that tell something about ourselves. When I mentioned this to my daughter, she said, “I’ll go get the horses cleaned up.”

So there you have it. It’s almost impossible to portray the real me without including the equine species. That’s why my boy Sage appears on every potential publicity photo I currently have to choose from. But I still don’t know which one to use. Do I go dramatic? Girly? Silly? Here are a few of Sage’s favorites. But he’s very vain and frequently forgets how I look, so I thought I’d take a Top Down vote and give away a copy of Charming the Devil to someone who takes the time to help me out.

So…if you had to be the person in these photos (nope, you absolutely cannot be the horse...there is only one Sagacious Sage) which one would you choose?



www.loisgreiman.com

56 comments:

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kris said...

OK I would go with either the first or third. You can see your face the best in those two. Now with that in mind, the third has better lighting on yur face. (all that technical stuff aside the second is my favorite) OK I am no help huh? If I had too choose I'd say the third. :)

http://thecajunbooklady.blogspot.com/

ksg_amg(at)yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Wow I had no idea...
If I had to choose one picture for myself I'd probably go for the simple face-shot. The idea to have a picture with your favorite pet or animal is good too. The sexy shot on the other hand... hm, not for me !! lol.

Now as for your pictures... I definitely prefer pic #1 ;-)

Congrats Lois for your new release. I admit I haven't read any of your historicals. I have a few contemporaries from you though and enjoyed your sexy humor immensely. I think I definitely need to give this series of yours a chance.
Congrats again !

Linda Henderson said...

None of them are bad shots. However, I like picture #3. You can see your face really well and also the face of your horse.

CrystalGB said...

They all are good. I would choose #3.

D Twomey said...

I like #3 the best.... it's "softer" than the other two. Does that make any sense?

mariska said...

My choose will be #3. you look great on that pic :)

Jill Sorenson said...

Definitely #2!! Your eyes are bright in that one and I love the horse's profile. For some purposes, you need just a head shot, so you can zoom & crop that same picture.

Helen Brenna said...

Unless Sage wrote the book, don't go for the middle one. hehehe.

Between 1 and 3, that's tough. #3 is a great photo and you can see you face much better, but I really like the arrangement of you with Sage in #1.

You probably should go with 3.

cait045 said...

I really like the first one. It doesn't look so posed because your not on Saga. She is a beautiful horse.

Virginia C said...

Hi, Lois! Happy New Year! You are far too pretty to let a horse upstage you in a picture. I love animals, and the horse is beautiful, but I'd rather see a larger shot of your smiling face. I'd choose #3 from the pictures you posted.

gcwhiskas at aol dot com

Cindy Gerard said...

Congrats on the new release, Lois!!
And oh, my. LOVE those photos. all of them are great but I'm torn between 1 and 3.
#1 is unique - great pose, different and it's just good all around. shows the trust you two have with each other and that sends a really positive message
#3 is perfect of the horse. It's so hard to get those ears forward!! And it's great of you. And it's soft, as someone else said. very friendly.
any chance you can chose 2 shots and alternate them on your promo material? No reason you can't have both or all three on your website here and there.
but if you want a bottom line, I think I'd go for #1 because it is so unique

KylieBrant said...

I love #2, but I have to admit, Sage and I had a whispered conversation about it, and I can't be sure he didn't influence my decision. #3 is great of you both. Sage told me they caught his bad side in #1 but I like the one of you there with the smile.

Charlotte D. Margolis said...

I like the 3rd one. It looks fun!

Kathleen O said...

I like the 1st and the 3rd, but I think I would choose the 3rd. To me in prepresents being relaxed and happy with confidence...

Unknown said...

Okay, here's a question, is it best if the photo depicts the kind of book the author writes? Is the evening gown shot better for my romances etc? Or doesn't it matter?

Unknown said...

Virginia, thank you so much for the compliment. But really, no one wants to see my face up close these days. I have a picture of me on a galloping horse and I swear my wrinkles are blowing in the wind.

tetewa said...

There all good but I would pick the third one!

Kathleen Eagle said...

Lois, you and Sage are so gorgeous together, you should find uses for all three. You've never taken a bad picture, and I'm soooo jealous of you for that.

Without looking at anyone else's vote, I'm going to say the best of the best is #1 because it's such an unusual pose, and the horse frames you. You're both doing something you love--you're cuddling and he's eating--and your smile is particularly inviting. Second choice is #3 because Sage's ears are so pretty and you look great sitting sidesaddle, but since I'm less a fan of hand in chin than straight-on glad-to-see-you smile, I'm going for the shot on the left.

Kathleen Eagle said...

What fun to read all the opinions after I posted mine!

chey said...

It was a difficult choice, but I'd choose #3.

Unknown said...

Thank you, Kathy, but you know that's not true. Most of my photos are really scary. Sage, however, is really handsome, isn't he? Sigh. I'm his number 1 fan and even tho it maybe doesn't make sense to have my promo pic done with him, and just love to see him. Funny huh?

Armenia said...

I like #2. It says "feisty and playful."

Congratulations on the release!!

Unknown said...

Feisty and playful definitely seems better than old and weird!!

Unknown said...

I like #2 but I think #3 shows your face more! You can't go wrong on any of these, they are great photos. There is also a beautiful back ground in #3 so over all its my favorite.

lead[at]hotsheet[dot]com

Keri Ford said...

NUMBER ONE! I like the comfortable look of it and as Cindy mentioned, the trust you have with Sage. It really says, okay, that's her baby and not just some random horse she posed with.

Not big on number three. You look cold and huddled and barely squeezed in the frame.

Number 3 looks all right, but you look somewhat uncomfortable and Sage is overpowering you in the picture.

And let your photo reflect you! Great job. they're all wonderful (even if I'm trying to get you to lean to number 1)

catslady said...

Oh my goodness they are really all good. The first one shows your love for your horse, the second shows the sportsman in you (like the hat) and the third is more whimsical. All three say something important. Too bad you can't use them all. If I HAVE to pick just one I am going to say No. 3 because that seems more like what an author would want to portray. (you really can't lose with any of them).

The Scarf Princess said...

I like the one on the far right (#3). It looks the most natural and relaxed.

joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com

Unknown said...

Yeah, the green background looks good this time of year, doesn't it?

Christie Ridgway said...

I am partial to #2, but again, it may be Sage talking because he looks as fabulous as you do. They're all good, Lois.

I don't think you need to have different shots for different kinds of books. These days, readers know a lot about us. They know you're a devoted horsewoman (or should). It makes you even more interesting!

susan said...

so pleased to join in here and thanks for sharing the news and all the pictures. I was quite interested in all. susan L.

Anonymous said...

I vote #3 as first choice, and #1 as second.

This is a picture to promote you and your work, I think the hat in #2 hides more than it shows.

Marcia in OK

LSUReader said...

I like the first photo. It is an unexpected pose and both you and Sage look comfortable and relaxed. I like these photos much better than a lot of author photos.

Unknown said...

I kind of think that's a good point about # 1, Keri. We look like buds, which we are...if I've stocked up on treats. :)

pjpuppymom said...

They're all great shots but I'm going with #2. There's so much happiness in your eyes in that shot. I love it!

Unknown said...

It's fun to see how different everyone is. Thanks, PJ.

mindy said...

the first one thanks minsthins at optonline dot net

Pamela Keener said...

I absolutely love the first picture.
Love, Hugs & Happy New Year
Pam

Unknown said...

Kris, I've been meaning to ask you about your cajunbooklady status. Are you a bookseller?

Maureen said...

I like the first one the most although they are all good.

MaryC said...

Love all the pictures, but #1 is my favorite. I don't know of any author who has a picture with an arm wrapped around a horse's leg while he's grazing!

Unknown said...

MaryC...good thinking...originality should surely be taken into consideration.

Michelle Santiago said...

i'm going with #2. it's a fun picture and you look really cute in it :D

Martha Lawson said...

They are all great photos but I'd go with number 1!

mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

Jane said...

I like the first one the most and my second choice is the third pic.

robynl said...

the third one for me.

yourstrulee(at)sasktel(dot)net

Ali said...

You're too funny!
I would go with the first one.
The third one looks a bit like a high school graduation pose with the hand.
The second one I love the hat but the picture is too much horse. That would be my second choice though!

buddyt said...

Obviously all pictures of this type are POSED but unless you want to go for the dramatic, I think that the less posed and more natural a picture looks the better.

Having said that, I think the first photo is the best.

Carol

Mitzi H. said...

I would go with picture #2 (in the middle) but crop it. I just love your smile in that picture!

They are all good and I think you'll be happy with whatever you choose.

mitzihinkey at sbcglobal dot net

Venus Vaughn said...

If I had to be any of those women, I'd be the one in the third picture. It's the only one you're the center of.

The first one would be a better shot if you weren't in dark. The second one is more horse than you, and in the third, you're closest to the center of the frame.

Margay Leah Justice said...

I kind of like the one where you're sitting on the ground the best.
Margay

Georganna said...

I really like #1. It's very unique and shows that you and your horse have a strong relationship.

Dina said...

ok, I swear I replied yesterday. hmmmm.

Anyway I'd choose #2, looks like having alot of fun and ready to ride.

Bani said...

I'd have a face-shot similar to Shana Aba's. Nice and simple.

bison61 said...

I like them all but I picked #3 because you can see your face better

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

Brooke said...

The second one is the most fun but the third one is the best photo. The lighting and energy are the best for you (and Sage)... weeshenanigans (at) gmail (dot) com