Errr...does this sound legit insane...?

[Virginia]

Hey Annie, for starters, I find most of your bio humorous, but as someone who has spent time volunteering for a mental health advocacy group over the past two years, I have to say I agree with PD's initial point about belittling people with mental illness. And, considering your self proclaimed manifesto:

"I am Annie Arcane.

And I have a mission. With one objective. To blast societal stereotypes into oblivion.
The Canadian Association of Broadcasters report found that disabled 'individuals are viewed as the objects of pity, and depicted as having the same attributes and characteristics no matter what the disability may be.'"

I think this would be something you'd like to avoid. I generally enjoy your sense of humor, and I agree that an author bio doesn't have to be full of personal information, or even facts, but to people living with mental illness and the folks they are close to, the nervous breakdown comment seems a bit too flippant, kind of like you're doing exactly what you proclaim to be against, perpetuating a stereotype of a disability.

Honestly, I think you could make the bio even funnier by sticking specific examples of "sobbing uncontrollably, eating whole boxes of cookies and lying on the floor in the fetal position" or similar, to get your point across and skip the issue of mental breakdown completely. You would still be conveying the great amount of angst that formatting caused you, conveying your sense of wit, and making the same humorous point, all without indirectly belittling the people who have dealt with nervous breakdowns or similar mental issues.

That's just my two cents, and as with all free advice, worth precisely what you paid for it. But you asked, and that's what I got. Hugs to you lady! Hope this is even vaguely useful.

[Annie]

@Miss Virginia: As always, you are positive, constructive and helpful, ma'am!

I think you certainly have a point about (unintentionally!!) perpetuating stereotypes. As I only write about physical disabilities, I'll admit that I never stopped to consider mental disabilities at all. But it's something I should be cognizant of, even if only in a joking manner.

Hmm. Some uncontrollable sobbing and freshly baked cookies might be in the works ^_~

VERY much appreciated! Thank you!!

Grateful hugs,
Ann

[Virginia]

Happy to be of service, Madam! And I of course assumed any perpetuation of stereotypes would be unintentional as that's clearly not your MO. To be perfectly honest it's not something that would have occurred to me until I started volunteering with this mental health advocacy group 2 years ago. I'm still working on being aware of it in my own writing and my own life and I'm sure I've got a ways to go. Here's to progress! :-)

[Joseph]

Some people just take things literally. Not much you can do about it. I think its funny....kind of along the lines of my kind of humor.

[John Hooker]

Ann, personally, I find your humorous "bio" more interesting and revealing of the writer and what I might find within the work than would be a dry "shopping list" of accomplishments.

[Annie]

@ Misters Joseph and John: Ahhh, you guys are just too accepting of my weirdness LOL Thank you very much, gentlemen!!

Yeah, I refuse to write a dry "shopping list" anyway. Would rather have nothing at all. We'll stick to either dorky or minimalist, eh? Maybe just "GO HERE" and a link to my site *giggles* I would seriously do this *straight face*

Hugs,
Ann

[Sam (Rescue Dog Mom, Writer, Hugger)]

John wrote: "With regard to caffeine addiction, in my town many years ago there was a conference on addiction. For some reason, the coffee that was supposed to be available was not. After a few hours everyone a..."

I'm still laughing at what John wrote yesterday. This is truly funny, John. Thank you for posting.

Seriously, I wrote my author bio, but need to edit it. It's too short and factual. I want to add some humor to it because I enjoy laughing and have written humor into my paranormal romance. I'm not yet confident enough to do cheeky or even close to eccentric, but I'm working on it. : )

[A.E.]

I thought it funny. Reading that kind of About-section would make me interested in the books. :-) Good job getting noticed by that woman. She's marketing you for you.

[John Hooker]

Sue (Dog Mom) wrote: "I'm still laughing at what John wrote yesterday. This is truly funny, John. Thank you for posting.

Thanks, Sue, Events that reveal a contrast between human aspirations and human performance always amuse me ( I must be a cynic!)

Having wrote mostly academic non-fiction, when I wrote a novel I didn't change my bio. It struck me that it would seem "schizophrenic" to do so.

[Riley, Viking Extraordinaire]

People are gonna people, just remember to keep being you. Even when I worked on a psychward trying to get people unstable back to some stability in their lives, giving reality checks and such, we always told the patients to remember to be themselves.
Don't try to fit in other people's boxes, it only ends up getting you hurt from trying to force yourself into so many shapes.

[Sam (Rescue Dog Mom, Writer, Hugger)]

John, Hmm... I think I'm a cynic and a realist, if that makes any sense.

Riley, Well said. I put myself into my writing, so I will do the same with my bio.
BTW... your head is floating... kinda creepy... just sayin'

[Annie]

@Miss Sue: I look forward to reading it (and possibly giggling...?), ma'am!! As for Riley's floating head? I dig it XD

@Miss AE: Thank you kindly!

@Mr Riley: Yes, I totally agree with you there. I suck at being other people anyway LOL

Miss Virginia did raise a good point about the whole disability aspect in general. I might go back to my actual bio (not the blip in my book) and revise that sucker to make it a bit less "rah-rah-I'm-an-advocate" sounding cuz that totally wasn't my intention either. I'll just make that one silly and over-the-top too. That way no one will accidently read my stuff and be shocked that I'm really not all that deep *smirks*

Eeeeek! You guys are awesome!! Just had to say. Again.

Hugs,
Ann

[C.B., Beach Body Moderator]

I am all for changing it to sobbing in a fetal position after eating an entire box of cookies. that's funnier to me anyways.

[Annie]

Sobbing? Check. Fetal position? Check. Eating an entire box of cookies? Yes, please!

[John Hooker]

Sue (Dog Mom) wrote: "John, Hmm... I think I'm a cynic and a realist, if that makes any sense."

Sue, makes perfect sense to me, but perhaps I'm being too cynical ;-)

[Annie]

Okay, weirdos! Here's my revised non-bio thingy:


About the author…

Up until recently, Annie was drinking copious amounts of coffee and magically transforming caffeine into her first novel. Unfortunately, the process of formatting this ebook drove her to eat an entire box of cookies and left her sobbing in the fetal position for weeks to follow. She is currently attempting to kick her caffeine (and now, cookie) addiction while writing her next humble offering to you.

To make Annie smile, please post a review wherever you purchased Hart Broken and tell your friends about it. Word-of-mouth is the best way to support indie authors.


Flog me, baby! I'm ready!! Just kidding. But still funny? Hopefully?

Hugs,
Ann

[April]

Annie wrote: "Hiiii!!

*waves happily*

Could I get your objective opinions on this, pretty please? Here's the scoop...

Someone recently posted the "author bio" from my book on a private (go figure, eh?) forum ..."

It's obvious just funny.

[Marie Silk]

Sounds excellent!!

[Annie]

@Miss April: Thank you, ma'am!

@Miss Marie: Yessss! *happy dance* Done and done!! Muuuchly appreciated!!

[Virginia]

Strikes me as funny and very you! Love it. :-)

[Annie]

*hugs Miss Virginia*

Thank you again for your help, ma'am!