When you don’t look like in a model in real life you cherish great photos of yourself. When I was on Facebook, approximately 1/3 of my life was untagging bad photos of myself and sending messages to their uploaders saying: “WTF, you guys? Put another grim photo of me on the internet and I will fucking kill you.” So when I had to make my book cover, I wanted to look like myself, but the most cheerful, comely version of my life… and obviously in pink.
Now, “being cute” is not the inclination of a truly funny person. I have battled with this my entire life. Funny people are about truth, not cute. I am funnier when I wake up in the morning having slept in the clothes I went to work in the day before, with a greasy T-zone; not when I’m a fancy dress at some awards show. That’s the sad fact of life.
So to off-set the great photo of me on the cover (photographed by Autumn DeWilde, who also did Zooey’s amazing billboard campaign for “The New Girl”), I made this be my back cover:
People think I’m exaggerating when I say that I was a happy child who you could not tell was male or female. How could both facts be true? Well, this photo is the proof. (Notice how I’m holding a puppet of a Beaver. Did Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster get their movie idea from this photo? Can’t tell. All I can tell is that it is pretty damn inspiring. Enjoy.)
OMG I LOVE that photo! Do you still have the puppet?
Claire | October 13, 2011 |
Those glasses kick ass! I think it’s going to start a new trend. Where do I get my pair?
Adam | October 13, 2011 |
I love this post!
Awesome front AND back cover!
Taylor M. | October 13, 2011 |
You’re my hero.
tifa | October 13, 2011 |
Um… your childhood photo is the cutest!!
… and your caption of it is hilarious!
Claire | October 13, 2011 |
Bahahah LOVE this! Especially the paired caption!
Amanda | October 13, 2011 |
Oh Mindy. Look at you. Puppet looks a bit mangled however.
Melina
Melina | October 13, 2011 |
I literally LOLd at the caption under the photo of you.
Rachel Wilkerson | October 13, 2011 |
that is one of the cutest childhood photos i’ve seen yet!
Jen | October 13, 2011 |
i am digging the outfit. the stripe shirt with possibly a pink corduroy dress overall and that kick ass vest. you should have started blogging back then about your fashion sense and you could have been a Tavi Gevinson.
superjuicychicken | October 13, 2011 |
This is absolutely wonderful. =)
Erin | October 13, 2011 |
cute is funny!
also, where can i get a pair of those glasses?
Whitney Soup | October 15, 2011 |
adorable!
chris | November 1, 2011 |
Oh my good glory! I love those glasses! Cannot wait to get your book in the mail…
Kinga | November 8, 2011 |
I burst out laughing as I scrolled down – you are brilliantly un-selfconscious, makes me remember to not take myself too seriously. ^______^
SBC | November 8, 2011 |
You are the Cutest!!!
Dorangela | November 11, 2011 |
I was also a child who was happily androgynous and I adore the photo of you with your beaver puppet. My BFF just told me about your blog a few days ago because she just knew I would love it, and you know what, I do.
Courtney | November 12, 2011 |
I was just going to download the Kindle version of your book, but the back photo has sealed the deal: I’m ordering the actual book, because I swear there are about a dozen photos of myself looking pretty darn close to that (a lighter shade of brown, though – I’m Hispanic). My only gender indicators are some festive confetti-patterned glasses and a floppy pink bow headband. Memories….
PS I was not lucky enough to have a beaver puppet, though
Natalie | December 7, 2011 |