Teresa Driscoll - Author
  • Home
  • BOOKS
    • I AM WATCHING YOU - book club questions
  • Blog
  • My writing life
    • How to get published...
  • Telly days
  • Talks
  • Contact

Who am I turning into?! 

4/24/2015

 
Picture
I have never wanted to turn into one of those elderly aunts who says how much everyone has grown. And where does the time go?

But here I am noticing how everyone has grown. And wondering where the time has gone.

Take today. First I met a former colleague from my BBC TV Spotlight days – the lovely Simon Hall, pictured with me here. It’s been  nearly a decade since we worked together but, my goodness, it didn’t feel like it when we opened Exeter Library’s “Local Writers' / New Talent” Day together.

And then later on, I ventured out into the sunshine with the hubby to the National Trust’s Saltram House. We took a super tour of the house but, wonderful as that was, the thing that really caught our eye was a tree. Not just any old tree, you understand, but a tree that our two sons loved when they were tiny because of its huge and gnarly trunk, split into several twisty peep-holes perfect for climbing. And….well; peeping.


Fifteen years ago, it was – that we used to visit the grounds regularly for walks with our young boys.  And yet here again suddenly was this vivid, powerful  image, conjured from nostalgia and longing and love – fresh as the daisies in the grass.  Our sons peeping through that tree trunk.

And, on reflection, what's the point of embarrassment? May as well hold my hands up. To admit that I seem to be slowly turning into someone who gets increasingly misty-eyed over memories that have so shaped who I am. Mother. Writer. Journalist. Lover of trees.

It's an age thing. Obviously. No point fighting it, Teresa...Though, if you will forgive, I may just pass for now on the furry, zip-up slippers…

Have a great weekend and enjoy your own writing and reading.

  •      And will you forgive me also for mentioning that I have a Facebook Author page now HERE if you are part of the Facebook crowd.


Smile please!

4/11/2015

 
Picture
So – this is the new me. 

My official brand spanking new author photo which is to appear on the jacket of the German hardback edition of  my debut. ( Recipes for Melissa is to be called “Fur alle tage die noch kommen” over there….which means “For all the days to come”.)


Oh Gawd!  Can’t tell you how much I agonised/panicked over this. As soon as the email popped into my inbox via my agent, I was in meltdown. A new author  photo?  For a book jacket? Seriously?

Now - for someone who worked for twenty years in television, I must confess that I am surprisingly uneasy when it comes to having my photograph taken. Especially as the years roll sneakily by!

The truth is I always worked in live news as a reporter and presenter and the beauty of live television is you don’t actually have to watch yourself.

Not that I’m ungrateful – mind. It is, of course, hugely exciting to me to think of any publisher wanting to put my mug on a book jacket …but, all the same,  the pressure of my very first  “author photo”? What does an author headshot even look like? What pose? What outfit?

I decided to boost my chances of success  by booking a slot quickly with a lovely and very talented local photographer in Devon called Claire Tregaskis. I gave her the brief. “I just  need to look like someone who might write”…

I booked a haircut. I tried on a zillion outfits. I posed and smiled and Claire, to her credit, displayed the patience of a saint – especially as I was worried that smiling too widely would make me look too piggy eyed. “Bigger smile, Teresa” she kept saying. “I’ll have no eyes,” I moaned. 

In the end, we did just fine. Smiling and yet eyes not too piggy for an old bird. A medal to Claire. Whether or not I look like an author, I have no idea. But the German publisher seems happy.

Phew

  • ·  By the way RECIPES FOR MELISSA can be pre-ordered for Kindle from my UK publisher now at discounted price of just 99p  CLICK HERE (No author photo!! Double phew)
  • PS Just heard this week that the novel has also sold to Korea....my sixth country! I'm wondering now just how far this photo may get to travel :)


    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Author

    Teresa Driscoll - journalist, author, mother of two and lover of great coffee.

    Picture
    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Picture

    CATEGORIEs

    All
    Tips For Writers

    Archives

    September 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    September 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    September 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012

  • Home
  • BOOKS
    • I AM WATCHING YOU - book club questions
  • Blog
  • My writing life
    • How to get published...
  • Telly days
  • Talks
  • Contact