The Dilemma of the Unknown Author

“Hi, I’m Rae Ellen Lee, an internationally unknown author,” my friend says to the bicycle rider who has stopped to chat with us in a Utah canyon.

Rae Ellen is more forward and much funnier than I am, and I love this line. It cuts through the embarrassing back-and-forth that, for me, usually goes something like this:

I’m not lying, I actuallyam an author! This is me signing books at Seattle Mystery Bookshop

Me: “I’m an author. I write mysteries and romances.”

Polite Stranger: “That’s great!” Then,...