You are what you write?
I've made no secret of the fact that I'm a tank top person. I've been that way for the last few years, ever since empire waists came in style and did good things for those of with short torsos. In winter, my wardrobe simply carried over with the addition of a cardigan.
Recently, with springish weather, I've found the tank tops to be too cold and the additional cover-ups too warm. So, for the first time in years, I've started wearing more T-shirts. T-shirt technology has changed quite a bit in my lifetime. It used to be that women were stuck with shirts cut for men that were too long and never fit over the hips right. Nowadays, stuff is more fitted and in stretchier fabric, so it's comfy and actually looks good. The bulk of my collection has been coming from Urban Outfitters which, while overpriced for T-shirts, makes quality comfy stuff.
Since there are only so many fairy and artsy shirts a girl can own, however, I've started looking elsewhere and ended up on the aptly named 80sTees.com website. My whole childhood came rushing back to me, and seriously, it was a wonder I'd gone this long without a Darkwing Duck shirt. Yet, as I found myself adding up what I wanted to get, I realized I didn't want to go overboard and make this my entire wardrobe. I still need nice stuff to wear to signings and other events. Then, a wise part of me pointed out that there was no reason I couldn't wear funky T-shirts to signings. That could be my thing: Richelle, that author who wears wacky T-shirts.
Except, I already know an author who wears wacky T-shirts. And I created him.
Succubus Blues readers will recall that Georgina's tormented love interest, author Seth Mortensen, almost never shows up in anything except T-shirts displaying some bit of pop culture. It's a continual challenge to find the wackiest references I can. I'm pretty sure the most brilliant line in the forthcoming Succubus Dreams is when Seth wins an auction, and the auctioneer says: "Sold to the gentleman in the Welcome Back, Kotter T-shirt." Oh man, I crack me up sometimes.
Still, the parallel to my character was a bit unsettling. Some people know about the "Mary Sue" phenomenon where authors write idealized versions of themselves into their books. But what happens when authors start turning into their characters? Not sure, but it bears further examination. And a bit of restraint with the T-shirts.
Recently, with springish weather, I've found the tank tops to be too cold and the additional cover-ups too warm. So, for the first time in years, I've started wearing more T-shirts. T-shirt technology has changed quite a bit in my lifetime. It used to be that women were stuck with shirts cut for men that were too long and never fit over the hips right. Nowadays, stuff is more fitted and in stretchier fabric, so it's comfy and actually looks good. The bulk of my collection has been coming from Urban Outfitters which, while overpriced for T-shirts, makes quality comfy stuff.
Since there are only so many fairy and artsy shirts a girl can own, however, I've started looking elsewhere and ended up on the aptly named 80sTees.com website. My whole childhood came rushing back to me, and seriously, it was a wonder I'd gone this long without a Darkwing Duck shirt. Yet, as I found myself adding up what I wanted to get, I realized I didn't want to go overboard and make this my entire wardrobe. I still need nice stuff to wear to signings and other events. Then, a wise part of me pointed out that there was no reason I couldn't wear funky T-shirts to signings. That could be my thing: Richelle, that author who wears wacky T-shirts.
Except, I already know an author who wears wacky T-shirts. And I created him.
Succubus Blues readers will recall that Georgina's tormented love interest, author Seth Mortensen, almost never shows up in anything except T-shirts displaying some bit of pop culture. It's a continual challenge to find the wackiest references I can. I'm pretty sure the most brilliant line in the forthcoming Succubus Dreams is when Seth wins an auction, and the auctioneer says: "Sold to the gentleman in the Welcome Back, Kotter T-shirt." Oh man, I crack me up sometimes.
Still, the parallel to my character was a bit unsettling. Some people know about the "Mary Sue" phenomenon where authors write idealized versions of themselves into their books. But what happens when authors start turning into their characters? Not sure, but it bears further examination. And a bit of restraint with the T-shirts.