Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Not by the hair... -- Jay

It's all about timing.

My chin has been covered up by either a goatee or a beard for nine years and I was beginning to miss that patch o' skin. But when you're an obsessive person, you think about way too many details before you do anything drastic. For example, what if I make a book-related appearance and no one recognizes me because I don't look like my author photo? (I know, I know, it's just a few square-inches of hair. It's not like I used a photo from twenty years ago...like some people!) Or what if eight years without sunlight makes it look like I painted my chin with Wite-Out?

So I put it off till there was a big gap between scheduled book events.

A couple Sundays ago, I sat on a panel with author Ron Koertge to discuss intellectual freedom and censorship in front of an audience of California teachers and librarians. The basic idea we were trying to get across is that censorship $%@&in' sucks! The next day I did my second book signing at Vroman's Bookstore. But this time, I teamed up with Jordanna Fraiberg, a fellow Razorbill author. Her debut teen novel, In Your Room, is a very fun and well-written love story that you absolutely must check out. For more info and pics of that event (including the last known photo of my pre-exposed chin), check out the blogs of Paula Yoo and Lisa Yee.

With those two bookish events concluded, my calendar was free till the end of January...which is plenty of time to cover my chin again if needed.

So my only other concern before shaving was whether or not the color of my chin would match the skin nearby it. And since the vampire look is in right now, no one seemed to notice when I let my never-very-present-anyway tan fade away from the rest of my face.

So out came the clippers and the razor.

And now, introducing, for the first time in nearly a decade...my chin!


- Jay

14 comments:

Christy Raedeke said...

Hey, it looks great!

I hadn't realized that you have the Perfect Human Nose...not a kink or bump or scar to be seen.

Disco Mermaids said...

Hi, Jay's chin! Welcome to 2008!

Alot has changed in the past ten years since you've been hiding...we've elected an African-American president, and people actually watch a show called Dancing with the Stars. It's a crazy world!!!

-Robin
(wow, that was the weirdest comment I have EVER written)

CJ Omololu said...

I had to stop and think whether you had facial hair to start with! I think that's just me though...my DH once shaved off his little patch of chin hair and I swear it took me almost a week to figure out what was different.

The drumroll question: does JM like it? Or did she even notice?

Disco Mermaids said...

Well, thank you, Christy. You're making my nose blush. Oh great! Now it's dripping...

Robin, yes, that was the weirdest comment you've ever written. I've told you, drink your coffee before you get online.

CynJay, no one noticed anything different at first. It was so odd. But JM does like, so I think it'll stay for a while!

- Jay

Anonymous said...

Me likey!

Anonymous said...

Hello, Jay!

I'm a huge fan of th1rteen r3asons why, and I've absolutely fallen in love with your tragic-yet-somehow hopeful-at-the-end story. One of the best books I have ever read, and I read a lot. It's absolutely moving and empowering, and really makes you take a deep, introspective look at yourself. I really think this book changed something in me, it had such an impact, so thank you. Beautiful work, truly. <3

I just wanted to bring to your attention a blog I recently discovered online a few weeks ago. I'm not sure if you're aware of it, but someone has actually done a live recording of an abridged version of Hannah's tapes. It's really awesome, and there are tons of fans following it. I'm sure we would all be honored if you made an appearance.

http://hannahsreasons.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

i liked the book but why did Hannah kill herself just because every one was grabed her ass and because they are just romuers like i dont belive any of the romuer that go around my school but after all the book was really good we are doing a project on the book at Qecvi

Natalie said...

I think you look younger sans facial hair. Not that you ever looked old, mind you. Just old*er*. ;-)

Disco Mermaids said...

Hey Sara! Yes, I've seen that blog. And I really like the voice of Hannah. Maybe I'll leave a comment soon, but it's been kind of fun reading what other people have to say (and I don't want that to change if the author stops by...but we'll see).

You brought up some interesting points, Tyler. Alone, some of the things that happened to Hannah weren't too bad. I think it was more that one thing piled on top of another until it got to be too much for her. Most of her story, though, is about how one thing...no matter how small...can directly lead to bigger things.

And thank you for not believing the rumors you hear at school. Rumors suck!

- Jay

P.S. Thanks for the continued support of my hairless chin, everyone!

Graeme Stone said...

Cute either way, but there's a nice youthful innocence to your naked chin.

Sarah Laurenson said...

Lovely chin, Jay. Just lovely.

Anonymous said...

Dear Jay;

I just started Th1rteen R3asons why and I absolutely love how you hooked me in from the very beginning.

What a great book!

Melissa Walker said...

Now THAT is a profile! Nice.

We just shared some blog love with you:
http://readergirlz.blogspot.com/2008/12/thanks-for-blog-love.html

xo,
readergirlz

Lee Wind, M.Ed. said...

Dude - maybe it's not the leeches, it's the removal of facial hair that's Demi's secret.

just a thought...

Lee