Behind the Scenes of a Different Kind of Shoot

A little while ago I was asked to do a photo shoot for the cover of a magazine. It is strange business, let me tell you.

First of all, you have to think of things that I don’t like to think about, namely freshly pressed clothing and lots o’ perfectly applied makeup.

In case you’re wondering, I have been wearing sweatpants ever since. I need to balance the general order of things in the universe after three days of smiling, and not smiling, and just smiling a little, and looking very serious, and sometimes looking surprised.

And then there was another thing… I had just woken up in Arkansas the day before and couldn’t stop sneezing and sniffling. I was hoping it would go away when I got to Texas… but alas, it got worse. Luckily Terry the photographer is a pro and was stocked with tissues.

If I am looking at these places as potential places to live, what am I supposed to do about the allergies? I didn’t even know I got allergies until a few days ago.

He’s my favorite outdoor photographer, you should check out his stuff.

The good thing about Terry is that he’s very mellow.

And so when you have to hold a large pheasant, an old double barrel gun, and try to hide your “perspiration,” it helps to have someone mellow around.

He also showed me how we were doing along the way, which was helpful. I hate seeing myself on camera, and it doesn’t help me improve, but when the gun stock needs to be tilted a certain way and the dogs need to be looking a certain way, and I need to be looking a certain way, it helps to look and see how it’s going.

By the way, this is how you get a dog to look up. You have her trainer climb a tree and wave wildly. I’m just sayin’. In case you were planning on doing this kind of thing soon.

This is Lacy. She’s shy.

This is Boogy. She just had a litter of very cute puppies. I played with one by the fire pit at night. Then I stuck him in my suitcase and took him home. Wherever home is.

Actually I’m hiding out somewhere right now… near a library. I’m not telling anyone because I can’t afford any more distractions! My editor may or may not have sent me a friendly “checking in” email while I was in the airport. My agent may or may not have as well. That’s how you know you have a book due… people start sending friendly “checking in” emails. So yes, no more distractions! I’m hiding. No one shall know where I am.

You can call me dragon slayer.

Until next time, I’ll be in the library. Somewhere classified.

p.s. I’ll post the cover and the magazine details when it comes out!

p.p.s. I also paid a visit to William Faulkner’s house while in Oxford, Mississippi… I want to move there.

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Behind the scenes photos by Ric Dentinger