Jodi Picoult

I have read a few books by Jodi Picoult, and I have enjoyed them thoroughly. So, I decided to look her up online and see what her facebook page was like. I have been to her website before which is her promotional website for her books (jodipicoult.com). However on facebook I see posts that she has personally written about her political views, and pictures she has recently posted from events she has attended. Her headshot appears in both her website and her facebook profile. I personally think she’s overusing the shot, and could have more variety. She has built herself an online profile full of pictures of books and book signing sessions. She has many fans, and her latest picture is a large billboard with that same headshot. I think she is kind of a diva as far as authors go. I don’t see many other book billboards these days. Her online profile does look very professional. She is always dressed will in all of her pictures, and she is self promotional without going over the top. I think she has a nice balance between personal posts, and promoting interviews and new books. One thing I noticed about both of her pages is how much she involves her kids. She is obviously happy to be a mother, and I think that appeals to a lot of people. She has most recently written a book with her daughter called, Between the Lines. She is not only promoting her own career, but starting her daughter’s. She seems more human than most authors. It may seem egotistical to put a large picture on the back of a book, just as all of hers have, but I am starting to think it is smart. She is a celebrity in the world of novels. Her headshot is just as recognizable to me as any other celebrity. Does this make people want to buy her books more? Should an author have to do all of this advertising to sell a book if it is a good book? Her political orientation can not only be found in her books and her writing, but it is the first thing on her facebook page. She has posted a link to the Huffington Post article about Obama backing the issue of gay marriage. I personally like this because I read the Huffington Post and support gay marriage, but if someone did not support the issue would that hinder their view of the books? Would they stop reading her books all together? She has taken a political stance and I admire that, and I don’t think she takes it too far. I enjoy her books, and her websites actually make me want to read more of her books. They are simple, and interesting. She has a family value in her sites which makes her seem more like a real person. Her family vacation pictures definitely outline that. Her three children obviously mean the world to her, enough to put them as co-authors of some of the books she writes. I think that is a very smart idea.