I need to update my bio. I’ve been putting this off for years now. You know, the little bio I have on my “Author” page? I wrote it late one night when I was putting together my very first basic website, when I was an unpublished author with no actual books to mention–let alone any awards or honors or other nifty bragging points. And I was a frazzled mom with a toddler and a tiny infant. Between caring for them and writing, not much else got done. So I let my bio reflect that.

While I still like this bio because it sounds very “me”, it’s getting pretty out of date.

Tessa Dare is a part-time librarian, full-time mommy and swing-shift writer living in Southern California.

Tessa lived a rather nomadic childhood in the Midwest. As a girl, she discovered that no matter how many times she moved, two kinds of friends traveled with her: the friends in books, and the friends in her head. She still converses with both sets daily.

Tessa writes fresh and flirty historical romance, a blog, and the stray magazine article. To the chagrin of her family, Tessa does not write grocery lists, Christmas cards, or timely checks to utility companies. She shares a tiny bungalow with her husband, their two children, a dog, and many dust bunnies.

Tessa enjoys a good book, a good laugh, a good long walk in the woods, a good movie, a good meal, a glass of good wine, and the company of good people.

Tessa is represented by Helen Breitwieser of Cornerstone Literary Agency.

Tessa did not expect to enjoy writing about herself in third person, but what do you know? Tessa does.

Looking at this now, I realize I actually have edited it twice. Once to remove mention of our cat, who died a few years ago now. *sniff* And again to mention my wonderful agent, once I got one.

Fluffy and insubstantial as this bio may be, it has become increasingly inaccurate.

Technically, I am still a part-time librarian, but it’s more like part-part-part-time. Right now, I work one evening a week at my local library. When certain budget cuts take effect, even that may cease to be the case.

As for “full-time mommy” – I have had my darelings in some form of childcare or preschool, part-time or full-time, on again/off again, since I sold, so I could find time to work and meet my deadlines. However, I never feel like I stop being a mom, since my day is usually broken up with classroom volunteering, gymnastics classes, grocery shopping, laundry… I used “mommy” at the time because that’s what they called me. Now the darelings are a little older, and I’m just “mom” most of the time.

And for the most part, I’m no longer a “swing-shift writer”. I’ve arranged my schedule so that I can do most of my writing during the day (See points A and B above.) So probably that whole first sentence needs to go.

Other things have changed, too. While we still live in Southern California and in the same tiny bungalow, I pay a lovely pair of ladies to come in every other week and corral the dust bunnies. I do make the occasional grocery list. Mr. Dare now pays our utility bills online. And to the utter amazement of about two dozen people, last year I actually sent some Christmas cards.

I still enjoy the good books, movies, meals, wine, and people! And I still have my wonderful agent, thank goodness.

I’ve resisted changing this for years now because, even though about half of this bio remains unchanged, I feel like I need to just scrap it and start over. The result should probably sound…sigh…more professional. I should probably mention some of the books I’ve published. I should probably give myself a teensy bit more credit for household management. Teensy.

Any suggestions? Any author bios you particularly find entertaining or enlightening? What kinds of things do you want to know about an author, when you visit her website?


6 comments to “Identity Crisis”

  1. Linnea
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    1
    · April 6th, 2010 at 7:06 am · Link

    You could still write it in third person. I laughed when I read the bio. I found it delightfully irreverent. I don’t know, but it seems to me that you should probably clean it up a bit and make it a teensie bit more professional, while showing the world your personality. I’d be more apt to buy a book from someone I know doesn’t take themselves too seriously and isn’t afraid to show their personality.

    Oh, and you never ever stop being a full time mom. Just ask my very independent 14 year-old son that needed to cry on Mom’s shoulder last night. (I seriously need a nap.) Enjoy the time left before your lovelies discover the opposite sex. What joy then shall your life be.



  2. Liza
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    2
    · April 6th, 2010 at 5:15 pm · Link

    I really liked you writing in the third person. It was pretty funny and reminded me of one of my favorite Grey’s Anatomy episodes.

    I say have fun with your bio. I mostly check out author’s websites for blogs and current release/backlist information.



  3. Niveau
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    3
    · April 6th, 2010 at 11:16 pm · Link

    I agree with Linnea – keep it in the third person. I’ve had a crush on your bio since the first time I read it, months and months ago, because you did that 🙂



  4. Maggie Robinson/Margaret Rowe
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    4
    · April 7th, 2010 at 3:35 am · Link

    I find writing/talking about myself the hardest thing about this whole writing gig. On my websites, I have the long and short versions–one’s first-person, one’s 3rd person and I hate them both, LOL. I still like your bio–it’s witty and cheeky but now that you are ‘award-winning’ you need to make some note of that. 😉



  5. Tessa
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    5
    · April 7th, 2010 at 7:23 am · Link

    Okay, you guys are making it way too easy for me to continue my slacking ways! Thanks for all the compliments on the original, though. I must admit, I have a fondness for it, too. It’s partly sentimental, partly superstitious, and mostly laziness.

    Maybe I just need to tweak it, and then provide a longer, official-er bio for press purposes. Because, you know, the media are clamoring for information. 😆



  6. Keira Soleore
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    6
    · April 10th, 2010 at 1:57 pm · Link

    In keeping with the tongue-in-cheek tone, you could ask a few of your nearest and dearest fellow author friends to write their impressions about you (in a witty manner).