Lots of pictures today. Let’s get right to it, shall we?
First category: Most Athletic
Here’s Captain Joe again, making me feel better about the fact that I still play on the springy horses too. The name of his mighty steed? Captain Joe dubbed him “Thunderplum.”
I don’t know what sport is being invented here. But I’m reasonably sure that 1) It kicks the ass off Polo. And 2) I really don’t want to play without some serious protective gear.
I love this one for many reasons, not the least of which is that it led to me learning an awesome new word: arabesque.
I don’t know the word for this pose, but I wish I did. I like to think that if I knew the word, I could make use of it at some future point in my life and be better off for it.
Why is this photo listed in “Most Athletic?” Well, apparently it was shot while running away from security on the set of Johnny Depp’s new movie, “Public Enemies.”
Someone might need a lesson about sharing. And about keeping his center of gravity low during a bout….
See? Apparently three people can read the book at once.
I really appreciate it when people are careful with the book. Since they have someone there whose express purpose is to catch the paperback if it falls, they get the runner-up position. Since it’s a group shot, they each get a prize.
I love the pointy toes here….
Another item for my long list of Fun Stuff I Would Hurt Myself Doing.
Also, I would like everyone to appreciate the degree of restraint I’m showing by not making a swinger joke right now.
Next: Most Anthropomorphic
Another thing I didn’t expect when I started this competition was that folks might dress up my books or to put them into people-ish situations. Such as this…
The caption for this photo was something along the lines of, “A great book, but does it cuddle?”
And yes, that is canned frosting and a pair of fuzzy handcuffs. It appears my book is continuing in the fine tradition of getting more action than me.
…or should that be “more action that I?” Meh. Witness the deep wellspring of my not really giving a damn.
Moving on.
This is my book reading a magazine. Some flights are so long that even your leisure reading can get bored.
This one is bound to screw with your perspective a little bit…..
… especially combined with the runner-up. Who knew my book was such a rebel?
But this is the unabashed winner. The caption:
Old Grandpa muses on the new addition to the family…”It’s sure a good thing the little whippersnapper looks so much like my daughter. Look at that husband of hers – using a length of rope to hold up his pants. In my day, I had a rippling naked man chest – but I had to cast that vanity aside. Now days all you need is daisies to woo a woman and she’ll ignore your ridiculous pants!”
Every time I look at this picture I find something new to love. But even before I read the caption, I was marveling at the pants.
The next time I’m at some convention, and there’s a group of new authors hanging around at the bar trying to out-awesome each other, I’m going to sit back until everyone else has bragged their biggest brag. Then I’ll pull out my trump card: “Someone made pants for my book,” I’ll say, “And then they took a picture of it.”
So I declare this a double win. I’ll send the genius behind it a couple of prizes of her choice. She deserves them.
Later all,
pat
Photo Contest Part IV – Celebrities and Foriegn Climes
People have been taking pictures of the book all over the place.
Based on some of the other photos that were included with this one, I’m guessing this is actually an honest-to-goodness desert-y area. As opposed to a beach or a gravel quarry.
This one was, apparently, taken on Mount Hood.
Not all of the locations were exotic. This one was taken at Uncle Hugos, a bookstore that deals exclusively in fantasy/science fiction. In an interesting side note, the guy who runs Uncle Hugos was one of the very first people to get excited about the book after reading a galley copy, and to ask me to come out for a signing. So this bookstore has a special place in my heart.
I’ve had several photos where the book was shown with famous landmarks. This one brings back some memories. I haven’t been out to the statue of liberty since I had to fetch that shipment of Ambrosia for UNATCO all those years ago….
Not all the landmarks that people used were universally well known. But anyone who has spent any significant amount of time in Madison knows exactly where this photo was shot.
Here we are above the clouds….
And here we are below the ground, in a New York city subway.
Here’s another by the same photographer. Can you guess where it is?
I have to say, I really like the composition of these shots. Even if it didn’t say, BITTER Photography I’d have a strong suspicion that they were taken by a pro.
Here’s the runner up in “Most Foreign.” This was taken in the catacombs in Italy. Apparently, the photographer got yelled at because taking pictures in there is, well, forbidden. The fact remains that it’s a pretty awesome shot.
But this has to be the winner. Not only was this the photo that gave me the idea for this contest, you can’t get much more foreign than this. The photographer told me that it was balmy out when he took this – a mere 60 degrees below.
And, because I admire ingenuity, an honorable mention for the photo of my book at the West Pole. Let me know which prize you’d like too.
Another thing I didn’t anticipate when I started this contest was the celebrity angle. A lot of folks sent in pictures of the book with famous people.
Of course, sometimes the celebrities weren’t really willing participants in this activity….
Other times the celebrities involved were completely fictional….
Or both.
Generally speaking though, the celebrities in question were desirous of the book….
Even Indiana Jones…
…and Benito Juarez.
Some celebrities were forced to make difficult choices….
Here’s Captain Joe again. Looking to help out the allied powers. As we all know, the hardcover will stop a bullet.
Here’s one obviously taken by a fellow Buffy Fan.
The caption to this one read: “The lute?… bah! A _real_ hero would have played the accordion.”
The runner-up does a nice job of illustrating why I like Batman better than Superman. Superman obviously can’t be bothered with the book. He’s obviously too busy flexing and reciting the pledge of allegiance in his head.
Batman, on the other hand, is obviously into it. I could see him appreciating Kvothe’s character.
And here’s the Winner of the celebrity category. On one hand, this picture can’t help but make me happy, as it is packed with all sorts of awesome: a beautiful woman, my book, and a Boba Fett made entirely out of Lego. But on the other hand, this picture makes me sad, as I’m guessing it’s probably the closest thing to a three-way that I’ll ever have.
Still, in terms of a three-way, you have to admit that’s pretty hot.
There’s more to come. And rest assured, I’m saving some of the best for last.
pat