Saturday, September 28, 2013

Just Jack - With Clothes and Without


Jack is a friend of mine who models in the nude, and before we get started with the questions I’d like to take a moment to thank Jack for agreeing to this interview. Thank you, Jack! (((hugs)))

We met back in the 80’s where we attended the same summer camp as teens, and we were recently reunited on Facebook. I wanted to interview Jack to get an idea of what, where, why and who? You see, the summer camp we attended was a Christian camp. So how does one go from there to here? (Let’s forget for a moment that I write stories where my characters get naked - and I went to the same camp).

So, Jack….you dig nakedness, huh? Have you always been an exhibitionist? 
No, but I’ve never been shy and have always loved attention. I’ve sung in barbershop quartets and choirs. I’ve acted in plays and musicals. I’ve even done standup comedy. People have told me that I can make a conversation with a rock, I have a voice like a broadcaster and have a pretty good sense of humor. All those things get me plenty of attention, but I’ve found that the easiest way to get a higher level of attention is just to take off all my clothes.


When did you start modeling nude?
I think I modeled for my first nude drawing workshop in 2006. Of course plenty of people had seen me nude before that, but it was always people I knew (i.e. gym shower, doctor’s office, and a few select women). Modeling for a drawing class was the first time I was the only nude person in a room full of strangers.

How did you get your start in modeling in the nude?
I’d been doing commercial stock modeling for quite a while and had a pretty impressive on line portfolio. At the same time, I was doing quite a bit of standup comedy at various clubs around the city. One night, in a conversation with one of the other comics, he said to me, “Comedy is not like other performance work. If you sing, you finish the song and everyone applauds. If you act, you concentrate on your lines and finish the scene. In comedy, the audience needs to respond to everything you say, and if they don’t you get booed off the stage. You’re extremely vulnerable up there. You might as well be naked.”

Well, I decided to test his theory. I checked in the arts section of Craigslist, researched art schools and joined Meetup. I made a whole lot of contacts with art teachers by sending them a link to my commercial online portfolio. Eventually, someone from a Meetup group in Bushwick, Brooklyn contacted me and said he’d give me a shot at modeling for his drawing workshop. Once I landed that nude gig, I could market myself as an “experienced” nude model. It didn’t take long before I was modeling for drawing and sculpture classes all over New York City and even in Westchester and Long Island. Before long, I was making contacts with photographers (mostly students) for nude work as well.

By the way, it’s NOTHING like standup comedy.

What is it like being in front of the camera with no clothes on? And how did you find a photographer to do the job?

Whenever you’re not wearing any clothes, one thought repeats itself in your mind the entire time: I’m naked. Initially being in front of a camera nude was less intimidating than being in front of a classroom full of students.

In the classroom, I was fully aware that not only am I nude, but everyone else in the room is dressed and is looking at me nude and has come with the express purpose of seeing me nude.

For me, photography was deceptive because it gives the impression that while I wasn’t wearing any clothes, there was only one other person in the room who was seeing me naked. The reality is, however, that in today’s Internet age, posing for nude photographs had the potential of allowing countless people to see me nude, certainly more that the 30 or 40 I had encountered in the classroom setting.

Because I had already been involved in commercial stock modeling, I was on a modeling networking site… kind of like social media for models. On that network, models can answer casting calls and can make casting calls for themselves. I went to the casting calls that were looking for nude male models and answered a bunch of them. Most of them were looking for muscular 20 somethings. Remember, I was in my 30s at this time. I’m not a body builder, though I’m trim and in very good physical shape (I have what the industry calls a “runner’s body”… though I’m not a runner) and I’m not in my 20s, so a number of the castings turned me down before I even got to take my clothes off.

Through my networking, I eventually found a student photographer who cast me to do some nudes for a class photography project. When I got there, she told me that because it was my first nude project that it would be best if I took off my clothes right away and just remained that way throughout the session (most photographers don’t operate this way… I found out later). She told me it would make me more comfortable posing nude for the camera. Figuring she knew what she was talking about, I disrobed. It was strange because she hadn’t even set up her lighting and equipment and she even asked me to help her get everything ready. So there I was in the studio nude, helping her adjust the lighting and set up the background tarp. She told me there was water in a cooler if I wanted some and when I went to get one, she asked me to pick one up. After all the equipment was set up, she sat on the floor with her laptop to show me a story board of her concepts and asked me to sign the standard model release. It was probably a good 45 minutes to an hour between when I first took off my clothes and when we actually began shooting.

Having never modeled nude for photographs before, it was strange. Clothed modeling usually incorporates the clothes into the pose (ie. hands in the pockets, straightening the tie, etc.). None of that’s available when you’re not wearing any clothes. You really have to get creative. But since I’d modeled for classes before, I got used to it pretty quickly, plus I had been hanging out nude in the studio with her for about an hour already anyway. What did take some getting used to was having her direct my poses. When I modeled for classes, I would just pose however I wanted. During a photo session, the photographer tells you things like “hold your chin up more,” “give me more of a pouty expression,” or, better yet, “turn a little more to the right so I can see your penis.” You never hear instructions like that in an art class.

Anyway, from there, my nude photography work took off… pun intended. I found myself doing a broad variety of nude projects after that. Now, between classes and photography, about 85% of my modeling is nude.

Do you have a diet and exercise regimen you follow?
Nothing earth-shattering. I have a pretty big appetite and generally eat what I like. I don’t exercise, per se, but I stay pretty active, opting to walk places rather than drive there, etc. I do drink a lot of Snapple. I don’t know if that plays any kind of role. I think I’m blessed with a good metabolism, so I figure I should keep modeling nude as long as I can get away with it.


Have you ever had anything embarrassing happen to you while in the nude?
My leg went numb when I was modeling for a class in Brooklyn once. When it came time for me to take a break, I fell flat on my face when I tried to walk. A bunch of the students had to help me up and guided me as I walked until I could feel my leg again.

I think the most embarrassing thing was when I was modeling for a class that met in an industrial garage. One side of the garage had windows that faced a parking lot. The class was in the fall and began in daylight but it got progressively darker outside and the modeling session progressed. When you model nude for classes, they shine bright lights on you so as it got darker outside, I became increasingly visible to anyone out in the parking lot. Anyway, at around 4:30, a small crowd of high school girls had gathered in the parking lot. I knew they were high school girls by their uniforms. Although, the windows were shut because it was chilly outside, I could hear the girls chatting and giggling, and, of course, I could see them. As the crowd grew, so did the noise they generated. As the model, I wasn’t supposed to move or cover up so I maintained my pose until it was time to take a break. When I finally put my robe on, I could hear a collective “Awww,” from the girls. During the break, the instructor pulled down the shades so the girls wouldn’t get any more of a show than they already had. I asked the instructor why she didn’t pull the shades down earlier and she explained that she didn’t want to disturb the concentration of the artists during a posed session.



I’ve seen some of your photos, and they aren’t in a studio! How on earth did you get the shots in the NYC subway, on Wall Street, and on a pile of tires? Those are very public places.
Outdoor nude work is always a challenge. To get the best shots, you need to take risks, but it’s all about careful planning and strategy. The subway and Wall Street bull shots were done by the same photographer. We shot at 6:30 am on a Sunday. As you may be aware, the financial district is a virtual ghost town on weekends anyway, and is that much more deserted at that hour on a Sunday morning. Even still, the photographer brought a woman along to function as a lookout for buses, cabs and police cars. She warned me any time something approached that could get me in trouble.

The tires shoot, one of my favorites, was an accidental discovery. The photographer and I were looking around in Sunnyside, Queens for a creative location for a nude shoot. We noticed that the driveway next to an old warehouse was accessible, so we went exploring. Behind the warehouse, we discovered the big pile of tires and some forklift palates and decided to give it a try. It wasn’t entirely private though. On one end was a chain link fence with the Sunnyside train yards on the other side. Amtrak locomotives went by several times while we were shooting, but we didn’t consider them a threat because we figured they wouldn’t be very likely to call anyone while they were operating a train.

I also did a nude session at Five Pointz in Long Island City, Queens. It’s an old factory where graffiti artists come to practice their craft. Again, it was an early morning, weekend shoot. Some shots were done in full view of the elevated number 7 train above, but at that hour, the trains are practically empty. I’m sure someone saw us, but no one reported anything.

So you’re Just Jack, an average everyday guy. Would you agree that what you’re doing is taboo, which makes it more exciting and fascinating?
Absolutely. Most people with whom I have casual contact would never imagine me to be the kind of guy who would model nude. If you pass me on the street, you see a conservatively dressed, seemingly normal man. It’s exciting for me to know that countless people have seen me naked through my photo sessions, and I often wonder how many of them pass me in the street  and don’t even realize it’s me. Occasionally, I encounter someone who recognizes me, but can’t quite figure out why. Sometimes it hits them and they’ll say something like, “Ah. I didn’t recognize you with your clothes on.” Other times, it simply escaped them. Those are the times I wonder if they’ve seen my nude pics. When I consider that in the age of the Internet, my nude pictures have been viewed all over the world, and at all times of day or night, is it a guarantee that someone who doesn’t know where they recognize me from has seen me naked? No, but it’s certainly a distinct possibility.

Nudity has always been a part of Western art, but the advent of photography introduced a more authentic means of depicting it. Sculptures and drawings are artist’s renderings of what you look like nude, a photograph is an actual depiction of what you look like nude. It’s different. People always feel a little naughty when they see someone nude… man and women alike. The photographers I’ve worked with like the fact that they don’t need to do much photoshop work on me. What that means is that when you see a nude picture of me, you’ve pretty much actually seen me nude. If that makes you feel a little naughty, I actually kind of like that.


Quickies:
Tea or Coffee? Coffee
Cat or Dog? Dog
Beer or hard liquor? Beer
Vanilla or chocolate? Chocolate
Naked or clothes? Naked!

Tell us FIVE things about yourself that you normally don’t share with anyone:
1. I don’t wear underwear from March to October… even when I’m dressed up.

2. I have a Master of Divinity from seminary because I wanted to be a minister at one point in my life.

3. I can read Greek and Hebrew (it’s a bit rusty though… I don’t use this skill much)

4. I don’t put milk on dry cereal.

5. I’m left handed. When people discover this, they often say something like, “Why didn’t you tell me you were left handed?” as if it’s something I need to put out there right away. Well, consider yourself told. You’ve seen me naked so that’s something you deserve to know.


So what’s up for Just Jack in the near future? Anything exciting going on?
Right now, the biggest thing I’m working on is the Just Jack 2014 Nude Calendar. I expect it to be available in early November. I realize that’s a little late, but it’s still early enough that my fans can get one before the new year and even give them as gifts if they want to. It will only be sold on-line and I’ll provide the link on your blog and on my Just Jack Facebook group when it’s ready.

Speaking of the Just Jack Group, it’s a secret Facebook group. Only members can see what I post there as well as comments and “Likes” by other members of the group. The advantage twofold. First, I can post nude pics there. Second is that is that husbands, boyfriends, other friends and children have no idea what you’re doing on the group and you can visit as often as you like, interact with me, comment and “Like” my pictures. It’s a lot of fun.

***If you want to join Jack’s private facebook group to keep in touch with him - and see his other photos (like the one on the pile of tires), let us know and we’ll get you added.
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Monday, September 23, 2013

Red Phoenix Cover Reveal, Brie Surrenders her Heart




Book Description:
Brie’s submissive journey has been marked with self-discovery, humor, and sexual exploration. To her delight, Brie is about to enjoy the best scene ever with Master, carrying her to heights never imagined. Friendships deepen, a challenge is accepted, and her film career is launched. But life is a balance... judgment and vengeance are waiting in the wings to steal the one thing she desires above all.
This last of Brie’s After Graduation series sports the hottest sex and the deepest depths. There is no middle ground for Brie now. Brie's final installment comes to an epic close, enchanting all the senses. From birthday presents to mind-blowing sex, untold fun awaits our little submissive. Equally potent are the challenges Brie must face. Nothing of great worth comes without sacrifice. Join Brie in this spine-tingling conclusion to the After Graduation series.

Author Bio:
Erotica is a delicious fantasy created to entice both the mind and the body ~Red
Red Phoenix is an award winning indie author who started her writing career in December of 2011. She is best known for her novelette, Brie’s First Day of Submissive Training, which was published in March of 2012. The little book created quite stir when it was released. Since then, fans have been riding the Brie wave with the sociable author. In October 2012, Red published the wildly popular eBook serial into novel form, Brie Learns the Art of Submission. She is currently writing Brie’s continuing journey in the serial titled After Graduation, due out in novel form September 2013.
“I am a happily married woman who believes, based on personal experience, that love conquers all. It is a running theme in my writing.” Red is a mother of three and wife to one. When she is not writing, you can find her on Facebook or Twitter interacting with fans.
“One thing you will notice about my work, I'm all about variety. If a character beseeches me to write his or her story, I willingly give myself over no matter the genre or subject.”
* Red Phoenix has a total of fourteen titles available as eBooks (not including serials.)  Two of her novels are also available in paperback.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

County Girls, by Tressa Messenger



Marissa left town as soon as high school ended, carrying with her deep dark secrets that she never intended to divulge, but once she went back home after twenty years for her high school reunion she knew that was exactly where she wanted to be.  Once back in her home town in North Carolina it all comes rushing back to her, both good and bad, even the uncontrollable desire for her first love, who happened to be her best friend’s husband.
Marissa and her three best friends could never have imagined the events that would take place once these once inseparable County girls are back together again or the hot nights that are sure to come.


Links:

Enter the giveaway!

Monday, September 2, 2013

Cry Me A River, by Devyn Dawson ~ Blog Hop





RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY 
LISTED BELOW EXCERPT

Cry Me a River
by Devyn Dawson
Contemporary Romance


***MATURE CONTENT WARNING**** 
This book is intended for 17+ due to language, sexual situations, and drug references 

Caide thought he had a handle on his life...until he realized he doesn't.

He's 23, a professional chef, has his own TV show, a house at the beach, and a beautiful daughter; who can ask for more? That was his question until his ex-girlfriend (and mother to his child) dies from an accidental overdose. Caide is thrust into the courts and they order him to go to Al Anon meetings and parenting classes.

He has a foul mouth and bad attitude about being forced to go to a support group when he doesn't have a problem. He has a few drinks before he goes to Al Anon and comes face to face with River Murphy, the pretty group leader. She seems all together and doesn't fall for his gritty attitude like other girls do. One night, he finds her after being roofied in a bar, he takes her home to make sure she's okay. The next thing they know, River's life is being turned upside down and she doesn't know why. Caide steps in and the two find themselves in the middle of trying to repair their broken hearts.



Clean version excerpt.

Chapter One

We loved with a love
That was more than love
Edgar Allan Poe

August 7

My mind is wandering as the priest walks up and down the aisle swinging back and forth an elaborate incense burner.  The scent reminds me of the last time I was in church; it had to have been at least three years ago. I don’t go to church because it isn’t my thing to sit next to liars, the same people who I’ve seen in the bars, or wasted at the beach.  Not much gets past people in our little town, Emerald Isle, North Carolina, population 3800.  Most homes along the 14 miles of coastal Emerald Isle, are rental vacation property.  The tenants only rent the beach houses for a week, just long enough to party, make false promises and move on to the next.  Someone coughing brought my thoughts back to the here and now.  Right now, I’m in church with a massive headache and a hard-on.

My damn BLANK doesn’t care where it is, church, school, sitting at Sunday brunch with my mother.  No, my BLANK pretty much has a mind of its own.  I take in a few deep breaths and remind myself why I’m here. 

My daughter is sitting with her grandparents on the front row.  Heather’s dad hates me for things I didn’t do.  Heather’s mom hates me because I walk the earth.  She’d sooner see me six feet under than anywhere near my daughter, Lucy Marie.  I look over to where they are sitting and Lucy’s standing up and pointing to the person in the pew behind her.  Her eyes are bright and her chubby cheeks jiggle when she bounces around.  My heart swells with love every time I look at her.  They don’t realize I’m here; I snuck in at the last minute.

Everyone stands and holds hands as the preacher prays.  The woman on my left has wiped her nose with a tissue for the last forty-five minutes.  That’s all I can think about, her snot rag.  Maybe I am a germ-a-phobe, but is it wrong to not want someone’s nasty germs all over my hand?  I have hand sanitizer in my pocket, which I’ll use as soon as we part ways.  Until I do, I’ll fixate on the fact, I have her snot all over my hand.  I try to focus on the preacher, my brain is telling me to get up and leave before anyone realizes I’m here, but I can’t.  I’m not leaving until I hold Lucy.  I haven’t seen her since the week of the Fourth of July.  Heather brought her over and wanted me to keep her for the night so she could go out and party.  She fell off the radar for five days.  Her parents came over looking for Lucy and acted as though I stole my own daughter.  They berated me because I didn’t call them right away.  At least I called them.  The minute her mom saw a few empty beer cans on my kitchen counter, she flew off the handle and started screaming at me.  Did she bother to remember I’m twenty-three and four beer cans doesn’t make for a drunken stupor.

Everyone stands and pew by pew we line up and walk to the front of the church.  My heart races, every step feels like I am one step closer to God and to reality.  I’ve never taken communion; it always scared me to eat the body of Christ.  When you’re a little kid, your thoughts are literal and I didn’t want to be a cannibal. 

There are two people ahead of me, my palms are sweaty.   I hear people whispering, I’m sure they’re pointing at me and calling me names.  “Caide is a douche”… “Caide is an alcoholic”… “Caide is a sinner”…  They’re probably not dropping the f-bomb in church, since they’re all perfect.

Someone nudges me from behind, “You’re next,” she whispers.

I turn and I swear my heart stops.  The white casket is perfect for Heather.  The lining of the casket is pastel pink satin and her blond hair is curled and cascades down over her breasts.  My heart suddenly starts and is pounding in my ears.  My throat closes up and for the first time since the day Lucy was born, my eyes fill with tears.  Heather is dressed in a pink floral dress with a little white sweater.  Lucy’s teddy bear is tucked up under her hand as well as a picture of the three of us when things were better.

My heart isn’t prepared for the pain, the complete and utter pain.  I’ve never been to a funeral before and now I’m sure I never want to go to one again.  Her face is peaceful, something it hasn’t been in months.  I know they covered her arms to hide her track-marks and the make-up covers the dark circles under her eyes.  We were in-love once upon a time.  She’s the mother of my daughter and she’s dead.  I can’t wrap my brain around it all, how could she do this?  How could she check out like that?  She was supposed to always be in my life, but I wanted her happy and healthy.  I shouldn’t have turned my back on her.  If only I had tried harder, she’d still be here.

Without thinking, I reach over and brush my hand across her cheek.  I almost came apart in front of everyone.  Her skin was so cold and hard, like a cement bench in the dead of winter.  “Oh baby-girl, what happened?  I’m so sorry….I’m so sorry….I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you.  Heather baby, you were going to get clean.  What happened?  How did it happen?”  I shake my head back and forth and I know my tears are dripping on her dress.  It was her present from me when she lost her pregnancy weight.  I bought the dress during my lunch break and gave it to her when I got home that night.  She put it on and danced around the house like a little girl in a new dress.  I loved her that night and we made love until we both were exhausted.  Now she’s dead and I’m alive.  I take a letter from my suit pocket and placed it next to her.  “I’ll always love you baby-girl.  Don’t worry about Lucy, I’ll take care of her and she’ll know how much you loved her.  I promise.”

Someone clears their throat behind me and I take that as my time is up.  As I turn around I make eye contact with Heather’s mom.  She motions for me to come over to her.  Lucy sees me and her whole face lights up with excitement.  Her arms reach for me and I see how reluctant her grandma is to hand her over, but she knows Lucy loves me.

“Caide,” She says curtly.

“Darla, I’m sorry for your loss.”  What else could I say?

“I don’t want to discuss our differences today; right now we’re here to honor my daughter.  We’ll meet you in the lobby, please take Lucy with you.”  Her eyes are cold, her hands clenched together.  Darla’s in her early fifties but could pass for forty.  If I didn’t know her personally, I’d think she’s good looking.  Unlike Heather’s blond hair, Darla’s is short and dark auburn.  Darla and her husband, Alan, married right after high-school.  They went to college together and while they were still in school, Alan invested in a small company called Wal-Mart.  They made their money with blood, sweat and tears.  Alan is notorious for telling his rags to riches story to anyone who will listen.  Today, both of them look ten years older than they are. 

And like that, I have my daughter to myself for a few minutes.  She reaches for my face, placing both hands on my cheeks and leans forward, giving me the sloppiest kiss I’ve ever had.  I wrap my arms around her as tight as possible and tell her how much I’ve missed her.  Lucy is an eighteen month old firecracker.  She has deep dimples in her cheeks and bright blue eyes to go along with her dark red ringlets all around her head.  Heather and I thought she’d be bald forever, we actually asked the doctor if something was wrong with her.  He laughed it off and told us she was perfectly normal and right before her birthday, her hair started growing like crazy.  Memories like these make me realize that’s exactly what they’ll be forever and never again will we laugh about our little bald pumpkin. 

Heather and I were together until Lucy was almost six months old.  One day, I came home from work early to find her and the next door neighbor, Joan, snorting cocaine.  Neither of them realized I was there and after they did their line, they started to make out.  I was livid!  Thankfully, Lucy was asleep in her crib.  We fought about her bringing drugs into our house with our daughter in the next room.  She tried to rationalize that making out with another girl isn’t cheating, it’s a freebie.

 It was me who called Heather’s parents and asked if Heather and Lucy could move in with them.  I would have kept Lucy if my schedule wasn’t so unpredictable.  They agreed it would be easier for them to keep an eye on Heather if she were living with them.  We officially broke up about a month later.  She was doing harder drugs and her parents were with Lucy full-time.  I thought Heather would straighten up after she got the partying stage over with…she didn’t.

A heavy-set woman with big hair comes over to me in the lobby, telling me she is Aunt Josephine and she was asked to take Lucy back to the house.  I’ve met her before at a family function or two.  It’s time for Lucy to have a nap anyway.  She shouldn’t go to the graveside any more than I should.  I kissed her goodbye and promised her I’d give her a call tomorrow.  My parents are going to the graveside service; they weren’t able to get coverage at the restaurant to make it here in time.  I’ll text mom and tell her I’m going home, she’ll understand,.



About the Author Devyn Dawson


Devyn Dawson is the author of the best selling series; The Light Tamer Trilogy, The Legacy of Kilkenny Series, and new adult book Sapphire, A Werewolf Love Story. Her career has included working for Fortune 500 companies, grave decorating, and accounting. She enjoys spending her spare time riding on the back of her husband's motorcycle to the beautiful North Carolina beaches, or cuddling her new granddaughters. 

Devyn lives in New Bern, North Carolina (about 2 miles from Nicholas Sparks)with her husband of twenty years, two cats, three dogs, and two cockatiels (3 of her pets are named after vampires, Klaus, Bella, and LeStat).




Goodreads Book Giveaway

Cry Me a River by Devyn Dawson

Cry Me a River

by Devyn Dawson

Giveaway ends October 07, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
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