Mistress, slave mindi and I were at Southplains Leather Fest (Dallas).  We were all at Inquisition Dallas, the most established of Dallas’ dungeons and owned by some of the local Leatherfolk.  Mindi was in standing present behind my right shoulder as I was watching Midori do some suspension bondage. If I rotated about 30-degrees right, Tristan Tiaormino was dong anal play using a dildo/tuning fork she had designed (later called the “Fork You”). Mistress was in the next room watching a scene.

A gay gentleman came up to me and struck up a conversation. He was a writer, he said; his name was Tim Brough. Would I like to see his books? he asked.  “Sure,” I replied. “Okay,” he said, “they’re on display in the lobby. My publisher has a book display there. Let’s say we meet at 9:30 before classes start?”  “Sure.” I replied.

NOTE: Timmy is very important in my life. Some years later, at Cleveland Leather Awareness Weekend (CLAW) he named me “Dr. Bob.”  I was horrified, as I’d tried to avoid being called “Doctor” anything all my life—I’d not taught at the college level. Anyway, this was my first introduction to Tim Brough and we’ve remained friends to this day.

The next morning we went down to breakfast and, before the 9:30 classes started, went to see the book display.  Timmy was there with his publisher and he showed me his books: “Sergeant Vengle’s Revenge,” “White Gloves, Black Magic.”  These are what are referred to as “gay handbooks.”  

More interesting, though, were the book covers. The publisher must have had 30 books spread out over three tables. He was a gentlemanly sort of guy; very handsome. He spoke with an extremely cultured, deep and resonant voice. He inspired confidence.  I looked over the books and asked:  “Do you ever need a photographer for your covers?”

He looked at me for a moment, picked up a book, and asked: “Can you do that?”

“With one hand tied behind my back,” I replied.

“Really?” he asked (Herbert, the owner of Nazca Plains Corp., the publishing company, has a particular way of pronouncing “really” so it carries a lot of unstated sentiment. When he says the word, it lingers on past a second or two.  It’s closer to re’_uhl-lee.)

I contacted him, as he lives in Austin, and we set up a date for a first shoot in my studio. He brought his own boy and the model. Herbert always had twinks as models: really gorgeous young gay guys.  The cover was a great success.  

Just for the record, here is one of my covers. This was shot for one of Tim’s books and the model is David Henry. I first met David at Master’s Retreat. He has the deepest voice of anyone I’ve ever met

NOTE: Herbert had promised to pay me $500 for each book cover I shot.  Over the next two years I shot about 20 covers for him. He never paid me a cent. He didn’t pay his writers any royalties, either, but that’s another story.

Because Herbert didn't pay me for the book covers I shot for him or royalties on the books, Jen and I decided to publish our new books under our “Red Eight Ball Press” indicia.