Please critique

[Kombi]

... I was attempting to make this photo be someone who is capable of writing horror stories, yet keep them as someone you could relate to. ...

with the theme in mind, for me i think the skin tones are to soft in the first post- combined with the smile - image doesn't say horror novelist.

second post I think that captures theme better.

after looking more at first picture something else bothers me.. the large black space over her shoulder.


--- In my mind if shot was taken further back, and you cold see her arms and perhaps she was holding a chef's knife just in frame.. then smile and soft skin tones would work