The dreaded author photo by April Henry

Now that all my home computers offer me the ability to take photos of myself, I can see the way I really look any time I want.

But that's not me, I want to protest! I'm younger! And not so flushed! And where did that wrinkle come from?  And who took my eyes and replaced them with tiny raisins?

Then again I don't want to be like a famous mystery author I'm acquainted with. Her author photo is probably 20 years and 40 pounds ago.

Ten years ago, I was featured in Kipplinger magazine. They sent a photographer from San Francisco and a local makeup artist to my house. The makeup artist took about two hours to carefully apply layers and layers to my face. When she was done, I looked just like me, only an eighth of an inch closer to the camera. Still, I love this photo, which was taken with a Leica camera.  But to use it anyplace else would have cost a lot. So I didn't.


This is the author photo I've used for a couple of years. My husband took it. The blue background is actually a school. I'm thinking I want a new one.



I really like this snapshot someone took of me at an event in May. I just emailed her to see if she could send it to me - I snagged this off Facebook and it's a fairly small resolution.

If all else fails, I could use this photo from the FBI gun range. That was the first time I had ever shot a gun. I wouldn't recommend having your first time be with a submachine gun firing real ammo. However, maybe I could use the photo to intimidate anyone who is thinking of dissing my books.