Writing a bio is hard. I’ve been using the same bio for the past few years. I’m not sure if I should admit this (or in all likelihood, I already have somewhere on this blog) but my bio was conceived during an IM chat session with four authors in a moment of silliness. But it stuck.
There have been times where I’ve sent my bio out and been asked if I’d like to see examples of what other editors and agents are using. I think that’s a gentle hint to change my bio. But one thing about it is that it does get comments and attention. Is that what a bio’s supposed to do? Or is it just supposed to be there, to inform you (if you’re awake enough to listen because I think dry facts can be, well, dry).
So my bio is short, and kind of goofy (hey, quite a bit like me, in fact. I’m also short and goofy). But actually, it’s the perfect representation of my personality, I think. I’ve never asked the people who know me if they agree or not.
Anyway, here’s the bio I’ve been using (I’m pretty sure this is on my about me page here on the blog, but I’m too lazy to look):
A former harem princess, Duchess of York and globe-trotting superhero, Angela James has lived an extensive fantasy life thanks to the world of books. But after all that, she settled for the job of Executive Editor at Samhain Publishing, where she’s worked since its inception in 2005.
In love with everything involving the world of publishing, and most especially epublishing, every day is a new adventure for Angela as she is constantly learning something new about editing, publishing and the digital age.
See, really short and more than a little goofy. After some thought, I realized I have no intention of changing that first bit or the last bit. They’re both “me” and I don’t want to be like everyone else. In truth, epublishing isn’t like everyone else, and it seems a bit appropriate that my bio reflect that. Today I played around with it, tried to lengthen it and add more information, but honestly, I didn’t know what people cared about. Do you care how many books I’ve edited, what I did before editing, authors I’ve edited, what some of my daily tasks/resposibilities are, where I live, etc? I wrote a few words. Deleted. Muttered. Thought some. Wrote a few words. Deleted. Here’s what I ended up with:
A former harem princess, Duchess of York and globe-trotting superhero, Angela James has lived an extensive fantasy life thanks to the world of books. But after all that, she settled for the job of Executive Editor at Samhain Publishing, where she’s worked since its inception in 2005.
In love with everything involving the world of publishing, and most especially epublishing, every day is a new adventure for Angela as she is constantly learning something new about editing, publishing and the digital age.
Yes, exactly the same.
Tell me, what do you expect from an editor/agent bio?
It wraps around you, twisting in and not letting go. It starts as something small, but grows and grows until you’re nearly consumed by its unstoppable ways. It’s mommy guilt, and it’s coming for you.
Yes, I did decline to chaperone Brianna’s field trip to the farm today (I went last year). Yes, I have been feeling horribly guilty and a little sad all morning, especially after said three year old’s face FELL when she asked if I was going with and I said no. Yes, I am taking off both Wednesday and Thursday morning to do vet appointments for the animals. Yes, I do have a crapload of work to do, and am working on getting it done, but that doesn’t stop the mommy guilt from creeping in and repeating “bad mommy” to me over. And over. And over again.
I know I’m not alone. Mommy guilt. It’s not going to go away, is it?
That’s the kind of day I had today. No matter how often during the day I realized I was being completely unproductive (and by unproductive, I mean I got just about no work done. But I did bake bread) I couldn’t get myself motivated. Not to look at edits, not to answer emails, not to update spreadsheets…nothing. Maybe it’s the weather–we’ve had driving rain, gusting wind and some generally chilly weather since yesterday evening. Whatever it was, I spent the day feeling lethargic and icky. I did research the Asus Eee and Asus 900 and decide that I’m going to buy an Asus 900 for traveling. Because lugging my 17″, 8lb laptop through over 20 security/custom checkpoints and across multiple airports and cities in the next six months holds about as much appeal as drinking milk that’s been left out on the counter for three days. Yeah, that much appeal.
However, one thing did make me smile today. The rather fun irony (as pointed out to me by my husband) of this particular advertisement being packaged together (in the oh-so discreet black plastic–which oddly, my Romantic Times magazine is also packaged in) with this particular magazine. Heh.
I had new headshots taken last week, as well as some casual fun shots, by my friend Melissa, of Bluebug Photography. I have to choose a new headshot a little quickly, because I have to get it sent out to two different conferences. So far, the people I’ve polled have been split pretty firmly down the middle on two shots. These are the two that almost everyone picked out, and then had a preference for one or the other.
So I’m asking you. If you were to see my photo on a conference website or brochure, which would you consider the best representation of me?
#1
#2
Those are the two I’m trying to choose between, but I’m sharing this one just because it’s fun and a lot of people liked it as a fun photo. (you can’t vote for this one because I’m not using it as a headshot).
There are more to see, but I’m not going to share them until they’re all ready, but they are all amazing. Melissa is an incredibly talented photographer!
On my playgroup board, we were asked to share some of our favorite pictures of us and our child(ren). We have thousands of pictures, but very few are of Brianna and I, since I’m usually the one taking the pictures, but I did find I had more favorites than I thought, too many to post on the message board, so I’m sharing them here.
If Jon Bon Jovi ever watches some of these old videos, or looks at pictures, and wonders what the hell he was thinking with that hair? I was watching Totally 80s on VH1 (because, yes, I am that old and that much of a geek) and saw a video of “Shot Through the Heart” that made me wince with the long hair.
And omg, the Air Supply Hall and Oates** video. Mrs. Giggles and I just had a short conversation about them in the comments of her blog, and then this video, which I’ve never seen before, came on Totally 80s. Really, really bad (and I like Air Supply Hall and Oates, actually! But this was bad even for me). Watch the first 30 seconds for some really bad dancing that will make you laugh your ass off
And here’s a version of “Shot Through the Heart” that I stumbled on and am posting here especially for Mel and Goose.
And yes, this is what I do on Mother’s Day. Watch 80s videos. In between doing the laundry. My life. It is glamorous (but I AM being taken to lunch for blue crabs, so at least a little glamour)
Happy Mother’s Day!
**I was sitting at lunch, and I was telling Josh about this video, and realized I’d said Air Supply when I meant Hall and Oates (they’re pretty hard to mistake, especially that mustache!)
The subject of herbs has come up twice today already. Once on my playgroup forum, where someone was asking if anyone had seen purple basil plants for sale in the area, and once on Sela Carsen’s blog, where she mentioned that her herb garden is planted.
I also spent time planting this past weekend. Because of the nature of my backyard (very, very shady with icky, sandy soil) I’m unable to have either an herb garden or a veggie garden. I’ve always wanted to own a house that has an area for a garden, like we had when I was growing up, but sadly, that’s not been the case to date. Maybe the next house.
Instead, I do some container gardening. Last year I did a few tomato and jalapeno plants, with some basil and cilantro. This year, I have onions, 6 tomato plants (2 each of 3 different kinds), zucchini and if I can find a cucumber plant, I’ll plant that (they were all sold out everywhere I went this weekend). But I also planted two different kinds of basil (sweet and genovese), chocolate mint (purely because it smells so good), lemon thyme, and mint. During the yard clean up, I discovered last year’s cilantro plant by the fence, in the shade, forgotten. Growing like mad. So I pulled it out and put it back on the front porch with the other herbs (herbs go in the front, veggies in the back). I also planted two aloe plants for inside. I figure with a toddler, it’s time to have aloe again.
But the sad truth is that, with the exception of the basil, which I use the heck out of during the summer, it’s unlikely I use many other fresh herbs more than a few times. I’d actually love to grow more herbs, like oregano and rosemary, just because I love growing herbs, but I feel guilty for not using them more often. I think I don’t because I’m not sure how to use fresh herbs, with the exception of the basil. But now that I’m also the proud owner of a dehydrator (bought before Christmas) I was thinking I could dry some of those herbs. But that would involve some research.
So I’m wondering, do any of you grow herbs? And if so, what do you do with them? What herb do you think everyone should grow at home?
Perhaps the most unwise purchase of my parenting “career” to date.
Behold! The Pooh Singing Toothbrush Holder. Don’t be fooled by its innocent appearance. It is pure evil, my friends. Pure evil. Found at Target one Sunday for a mere $4. Brianna was enchanted and I thought, for $4, sure, why not? Why not? WHY NOT? Let me tell you why not. Because said toothbrush holder has no off switch and no volume control. And is so sensitive, that closing the bathroom door (which is across the room from the damn holder) has the ability to set it off. So you get to listen to TWO minutes of “Winnie the Pooh”. I should have known before we ever left Target to somehow dump this thing back on the shelves because it spent 30 minutes in my cart going non-stop. And then in the back of my truck all. the. way. home.
Never has Brianna owned a toy that I more wanted to take out back and put behind one of my truck’s tires. I can hear it now. Crunch! “Winnie the Pooh, Winnie the Pooh, cuddly little–” Crunch! Crunch! “bear all st–” Crunch! Crunch! “with flu–” Crunch! Crunch! Dammit Crunch! “–uff is Winnie the Pooh.” Yep, it would be the toy that won’t die. I have that kind of luck.
Consider this my public service announcement for the year. If you encounter one of these evil toys in your local Target or Disney Store, get out while you can! Run! Run for your life! Grab your child(ren) and don’t look back. Do not let them make eye contact for this toy is wily, and will end up on your bathroom counter, driving you, too, to the need for booze and drugs before you know it.
I hope you get served bad fish at some restaurant, and that the aftermath of the bad fish hits you when you’re miles from the nearest restroom. So there.
You’ve got to see Amy’s Song, it’s a wedding toast done musical theater style. Really amazing and so touching to see how loved one person is. Amy is a pretty lucky girl to have friend(s) and family who would go to the time and effort to arrange something so creative and moving. Watch it, you’ll see.
http://amcvideo.com/weddings_blog/?p=30
Props to my friend Melissa who shared this with me.
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(but I AM being taken to lunch for blue crabs, so at least a little glamour)
