Okay, I'll admit it. I look at the photos of authors on their book jackets. I'm not certain why, except I feel it personalizes the book for me. Coming from a family of storytellers, it gives me an idea of who is telling me the story.
Just minutes ago, I received "The Search" by Nora Roberts. I've no idea how the book will be --she does write reliably good romantic/ suspense--but I do love her photo on the back. It does remind me of some of the later photos of Robert B. Parker, which is not a bad thing. Looking at the photo, my impressions are (1) I wish I were that thin, (2) I love the woods in autumn, and (3) very nice dogs--a bit of something for most everyone.
Have you ever been put off a book by the photo of the author? For me, a photo won't put me off from reading an author but I must admit I do like a current photo. I know we all get older, grayer, balder (mostly men), often heavier, and have more wrinkles, but such is life. Seeing the same photo ten, or more, years later, bothers me.
So what about you? Do you look at author photos?