Would smile lines help?
24Jan2007 Filed under: BookThis morning I did a taping for a local talk-show to pimp my book. In an attempt to look professional and authoritative and maybe my age, I went and bought an overpriced sharp little blazer. I probably undid any help the blazer might have done me by wearing my braids, but I love my braids and they’re part of the whole "offbeat" package.
While waiting back stage, I got to talking with Norah Vincent, another author who was taping a segment for the show. At one point she looked at me and said, "Can I ask how old you are?"
"Why, because I look like I’m twelve?" I winked.
When I told her I was turning 32 soon, she laughed and said I looked like I was maybe in my mid-20s.
"But I’m wearing a sharp little blazer!" I protested. "…It’s the braids, isn’t it?" She agreed that was it.
Damn.
PS: Norah is on a book tour — you should check her out if she comes to your town.
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10 Responses to “Would smile lines help?”
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Hey there. I'm Ariel Meadow Stallings, a native Seattleite who's written my way up and down the Left Coast. Electrolicious is where I post daily randomata, but I also write for a living. My first book, Offbeat Bride, was published last year.
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michelle
January 24th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
a) you look great. braids rock. b) you answered my burning question: will jeans fly on tv? c) congrats on making it through the first tv spot. d) how cool that you met NV. i love the premise of her book. saw her on dateline or one of those shows last year. rock on, woman! and way to go with the freelance, too.
Matt
January 24th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
How I love this crazy book business. My second’s being edited at the moment and I’m biting my nails to the quick trying not to go berserk at the cuts being made and the rephrasing of phrases - but my editor is that good he can actually anticipate me.
Crazy marketing lot are gonna try and get me on the radio to pimp mine; I don’t know about that, as I go to pieces before an audience. I’d have to get severely lagered up first, which I may put in my rider.
Sarah
January 24th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
ugh! i get smacked with this issue every time i go out…it gets old doesnt it? people are constantly thinking i am much younger than i am. i have always felt like i have to try a tad harder than other people because they dont take me as seriously as others who are the same age but look older.
on the bright side, my parents are always being told they look like my silblings =] i guess it’ll come in handy one day!
DOUG.
January 24th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Steve Pool rocks!
lily
January 24th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
Don’t complain about the looking younger thing…almost 37 and rocking the 4 1/2 inch platform boots w/ skulls right now!
(and vertical striped socks, of course)
Ariel
January 24th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
Lily, I’m all for looking younger in my personal life … but it’s frustrating in my professional life when I feel like I have less clout or authority because I look so young.
Kai
January 24th, 2007 at 7:21 pm
You met Norah Vincent?!!!! I am SO JEALOUS!!!!
JenInSeattle
January 24th, 2007 at 11:19 pm
I agree about the age thing. I look young and usually love it–except when I’m at work (a male-dominated field). I’m 37, and when I talk about my 11-year marriage or 3- and 6-year-old kids, I get comments about how young I was when I got married/had babies. When I tell them how old I was when I got married/had a kid, I get blank stares and I can see the wheels turning in ther brains as they do the math. Yeah, you can stop treating me like I’m 25 now. Frustrating.
Anyway, congrats on your book publicity (when will you be on NW Afternoon?)! And I am also jealous that you met Norah Vincent. Awesome.
Ariel
January 25th, 2007 at 9:44 am
The segment airs next Monday at 3pm. Are there any TiVo geeks in the house who can help me get it online?
chasmyn
January 26th, 2007 at 10:45 am
Oh, good, I haven’t missed it! I look forward to seeing you on NWA