Ack. Author profile?

[altivo]

So they asked me for an author profile to go in the back of this anthology that will include my story. I suppose I can say anything at all, since the story is signed with my fursona name. "'Tivo Overo is a broken down old Clydesdale who accidentally learned to read and write as a result of chewing on a newspaper..." Well, maybe not that strange. But for all the thousands of pages of material I've actually published in the past, I've never had to provide more than a one-liner like "Mr. Overo is a systems engineer in Chicago and has worked with VAX equipment and VMS for the last five years." Or "Altivo Overo holds an M.A. in Library Science from Dominican University and has over twenty years of experience in library work and systems analysis."

But what do you say to describe yourself as the author of a piece of anthropomorphic science fiction? "'Tivo Overo is an impractical dreamer who has wondered all his life what it would be like to have hooves instead of feet..."

My mate offers to write it for me, but that sounds just plain dangerous. I'm not sure I'm quite that adventurous. I'm reminded of a college classmate who had some poetry published in an artsy journal. They asked him for a profile and he sent a page full of stuff and told them to pick out whatever they liked. What ended up on the back cover of the magazine was "Dennis X lost his virginity in Paris." Yep, that's all. They tossed all the rest of it. ;p

EDIT [28 Jan 2007 07:05] Have a look at this poll that tinbender created. Go ahead and vote, and I'll probably use it as a basis for one version.

Comments

[quickcasey.livejournal.com]

Oh, don't get me started.
I find publishing with just your pen name, or fusona, as it is, fascinating.
In my stillborn webcomic, I don't see why the artist wanted to incorporate. Yes, he is a profesional artist, and wanted a Paypal button. I couldn't care less about being paid. So I am involved in a corporation that does nothing. I don't see why I just couldn't use my pen name. Paypal could have just dumped into a joint account with my real name on it. Right?

Having your partner do your profile could also be flattering.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm sure Paypal would deposit into any account you set up. They don't care who you are or whether you are a corporation.

I may let Gary write something just to see what he says, but I'm not at all sure I'd use it. ;p

Awww

[avon-deer.livejournal.com]

Broken down old Clydesdales have lovely personalities most of the time. Or the ones I met at Staitondale did. :)

See what your mate comes up with, and then tweak it. Sometimes the best person to describe you, is someone else.

Re: Awww

[altivo.livejournal.com]

See note to Casey, above, in re having Gary write something.

Lovely personality? Sure. Just don't get between me and my grain or keep me up late at night. XD

Re: Awww

[avon-deer.livejournal.com]

Heh..the last clyde I met was more interested in grooming my head than harming me. :D

One more thing that might be worth trying is looking at other people's author profiles and changing specific bits of it to match your personality. Anne McCaffrey's is a good one.

Re: Awww

[altivo.livejournal.com]

You mean the "lives in a castle in Ireland, has green eyes, and everything else is subject to change without notice" one? Heh. I've always thought that was rather arrogant of her.

I'm seriously thinking of using tinbender's poll as a basis. It's funny at least.

[tinbender.livejournal.com]

I created something so that all of your friends can "help". : )

[songdogmi.livejournal.com]

Perhaps you can have it say, "Unlike certain poets, Altivo Overo did not lose his virginity in Paris."

Tinbender's poll is funny. That could be a good start, at least.

Or how about just mentioning your critters: "Altivo and his mate are kept by three horses, several sheep, etc. etc."

[altivo.livejournal.com]

That last has some possibilities. I was considering something along those lines.

[vakkotaur.livejournal.com]

"Altivo and his mate are kept by three horses, several sheep, etc. etc."

"...in decreasingly rural northern Illinois where he must deal with the encroachment of what is mistakenly called civilization, which he finds to be not very civilized at all."

"Altivo works as a generally mild-manned librarian by day and sleeps by night. When not working or tending to livestock, he might be found spinning fibers or weaving. While he might also spin the occasional tale, he does not spin tails as not only would the animals vehemently object to that sort of thing, he thinks it would be quite rude."

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I confess I've sometimes threatened to spin a tail or two, particularly those belonging to misbehaving canine or feline residents of the house, but it hasn't actually happened yet.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Broken down? I'll get me tools :D *advances on you with a grease gun* Grease your joints?

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Wah! *proves that he is not broken at all by galloping away very fast indeed*

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

*ears go flat and whiskers droop* Awww

XD