Five years ago, Emily Kimbro my design school buddy from Texas Tech University, gave me my first magazine assignment: A cover story about Rod Stewart impersonator, George Orr aka. Hot Rod. She knew I had a thing for weird and wonderful men in their autumn years (I still have a thing for weird and wonderful men in their autumn years). This issue (in seat-back pockets today!) is my fifth cover for Southwest: The Magazine. While I still feel like a rookie in more ways than one, working with pros Desiree Michelle Espada, Kevin de Miranda and Kimberley Lovato on stories like this is the equivalent of being piggybacked around the bases. A no-sweat home run. Who wouldn’t be grateful for that?

Creative Direction: Kevin de Miranda, Art Direction: Desiree Espada, Retouching: Patrick White, Photography: Mary Beth Koeth

WEBSouthwestTheMag_NapaSilverados_MBKoeth_1N3A9003 1.jpg

Web_SouthwestTheMag_NapaSilverados_MBKoeth_1N3A9074 1.jpg