Jean Hannah Edelstein makes a really great point about the things we choose to remember about authors. The Costa award lists a winner as "Former scooter salesman Raphael Selbourne," which Edelstein tsk tsks at. Selbourne had done a number of other things, but scooter salesman is the most romantic (quirky? Interesting?) thing they came up with.
I don't know about you, but I do not want to known as "Laura who once worked at a Mexican restaurant," unless I am being recognized for being a burrito connoisseur (which, by the way, I am).
Respect people's boring jobs as well!
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That's why bios are so annoying to write. You try to weave the tedium of your life into a fascinating snippet and end up with a heavy emphasis on the weekend you spent cleaning bloodstains from Adrian Zmed's hotel room.
ReplyDeleteA burrito connoisseur. Who wouldn't be proud of that?
ReplyDeletebingol, the blood stain story is intriguing, you must admit.
I suppose I'll be saddled with those artist model gigs.
If only it were true!
ReplyDeleteI'm never sure if I should lie while writing my bios. I mean, I'm a friggin' _novelist_. I lie for a living.