Pretty Takes Practice: A Southern Woman's Search for the Real Meaning of Beauty

Charla Muller’s first book, 365 Nights, was called “entertaining” (Albuquerque Journal), “surprising [and] remarkable” (The Independent [London]). It also launched her into the public eye—and brought her to a moment of painful realization . . .

For an average working mom like Charla, going on a book tour was both intimidating and exciting. It also turned out to be horrifying: When she saw herself on a screen in glorious, unforgiving HD, it magnified all her flaws, prompted comments from una...