Mistaken Identity
By Jeff Salter
We’re blogging this week about mistaken identities… namely whether we’ve ever been assumed to be someone else (presumably somebody famous).
I’ve actually had at least two identities ascribed to me.
In the years I was clean-shaven, I had a bank teller say how much I resembled David Stockman, who was (at that time) budget analyst for Pres Reagan. Truthfully, I did see a faint resemblance, but only faint. I guess we could have been cousins.
In my years with a gray beard, I’ve had a waitress ask me if I was John Grisham, the author. Frankly, I never saw any resemblance whatsoever — I mean, Grisham doesn’t even have a gray beard! But I thanked her anyhow and gave her a nice tip.
Of course, there were some years when I was mistaken for the dashing young Bonanza star, Michael Landon. You decide for yourself.
About Jeff Salter
Currently writing romantic comedy, screwball comedy, and romantic suspense. Fourteen completed novels and four completed novellas.
Working with three royalty publishers: Clean Reads, Dingbat Publishing, & TouchPoint Press/Romance.
"Cowboy Out of Time" -- Apr. 2019 ///
"Double Down Trouble" -- June 2018 ///
"Not Easy Being Android" -- Feb. 2018 ///
"Size Matters" -- Oct. 2016 ///
"The Duchess of Earl" -- Jul. 2016 ///
"Stuck on Cloud Eight" -- Nov. 2015 ///
"Pleased to Meet Me" (novella) -- Oct. 2015 ///
"One Simple Favor" (novella) -- May 2015 ///
"The Ghostess & MISTER Muir" -- Oct. 2014 ///
"Scratching the Seven-Month Itch" -- Sept. 2014 ///
"Hid Wounded Reb" -- Aug. 2014 ///
"Don't Bet On It" (novella) -- April 2014 ///
"Curing the Uncommon Man-Cold -- Dec. 2013 ///
"Echo Taps" (novella) -- June 2013 ///
"Called To Arms Again" -- (a tribute to the greatest generation) -- May 2013 ///
"Rescued By That New Guy in Town" -- Oct. 2012 ///
"The Overnighter's Secrets" -- May 2012 ///
Co-authored two non-fiction books about librarianship (with a royalty publisher), a chapter in another book, and an article in a specialty encyclopedia. Plus several library-related articles and reviews. Also published some 120 poems, about 150 bylined newspaper articles, and some 100 bylined photos.
Worked about 30 years in librarianship.
Formerly newspaper editor and photo-journalist.
Decorated veteran of U.S. Air Force (including a remote ‘tour’ of duty in the Arctic … at Thule AB in N.W. Greenland).
Married; father of two; grandfather of six.
Angela Schroeder
Patricia Kiyono
Elaine Cantrell
Jeff Salter
Joselyn
Tonette Joyce
Four Foxes, One Hound 
Of these 3, I’d say David Stockman. But you are ALWAYS dashing, Jeff.
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aw, shucks. Thanks, Jenn. I still don’t see the Grisham thing. Maybe that author briefly had a beard when that waitress mentioned the supposed similarity.
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Run with it, Jeff. Next time, say yes, you are Grisham, then hand her YOUR book and how you highly recommend it. Score!
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I’d do better if I said I wrote the Jenn Weber books under that pen name
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Funny man! Hey, did you ell the waitress you were another (famous) author? And yes, you ARE dashing, Jeff.I think you are better in this mature image, judging by your cute younger pix. You and Denise are a very handsome couple, as we used to say.Joe made the comment several times after we met you in person last year.( He said he didn’t want me to be jealous only saying how beautiful Denise is!)
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thanks for your kind remarks, Tonette. I was too flustered to respond properly to the waitress… and that experience was back in 2007 when I was still working on my second novel and had not sold anything in the fiction realm.
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Now I have to admit, the above gentlemen are a nice feast to be mistaken of … esp Michael Landon! But I couldn’t agree more with Jenn, you’re ALWAYS dashing ….
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LOL. Yeah, “dashing” as in running errands…
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I can’t say I’ve ever been mistaken for a celebrity. But I didn’t know of any Asian female celebrities when I was growing up. Lucy Liu and Connie Chung came along later, and by that time I was umm, past my prime. I agree with Jenn – of the three you were mistaken for, I’d say David Stockman comes closest.
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I agree, Patty. Though I’ve seen more recent photos of Stockman and we no longer resemble each other. One of us got OLD. Ha.
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I can’t “decide” for myself until I see a picture of you at the same age across from Michael Landon. I’ve never bee mistaken for a celebrity. (except when someone here said I looked the “Ginger” type from Gilligan’s Island. LOL!
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Ginger was a real fox (though I preferred Mary Ann). So that’s a compliment.
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Thank you, Jeff. I thought so too, since I think of myself as more the “down home” type, like Mary Ann. 🙂
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I went to a party once with a friend on a blind date with her date’s boss. I’m telling you, every person that walked in, walked up to us and looked at me and said, “Wow, you look just like Renate!” I watched the door and every now and then I’d see someone similar and I’d say, “Is that her?” No, no, and no. All of a sudden a woman came to the door and I said, “That’s her!” She and I took off for the ladies’ room to stand side by side and stare in the mirror. It was pretty uncanny!
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so who was the Renate person? Did SHE see the resemblance?
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Yep. We were both pretty amazed. My dad is an identical twin so of course this happens a lot. At my wedding several people congratulated my uncle! My uncle’s grandchildren just decided they had two pawpaws and didn’t worry too much about it!
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Growing up, I knew identical twins — both blonde & lovely and smart. Even though they were “identical” I never had any trouble telling them apart… except maybe from a distance. I always thought it would be so cool to have a twin.
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