The Four Dogs of the Back Porch
People sometimes ask what my writing routine looks like.
The short answer is: coffee, the back porch, and four dogs who take their jobs far more seriously than I take mine.
I write most mornings out on the porch. It's where most of the Shaper Saga has been written. By the time I'm settling in with a mug of coffee, the staff has already clocked in.
They're terrible at deadlines, but excellent company.
Remington ("Remi")
Labradoodle. Six years old.
Remi is the sweetest goofball you'll ever meet.
He's also convinced the universe is one unexpected noise away from catastrophe. A leaf skitters across the deck? Emergency. A squirrel dares exist somewhere in the neighborhood? Emergency. The doorbell rings on television? Definitely an emergency.
He's all enthusiasm and absolutely no follow-through.
Fortunately, the world survives his daily security briefings.
Ronin ("Ro")
Shepherd mix. Three years old.
Ronin has exactly one hobby.
Catch.
If you sit down anywhere near him, a tennis ball will appear in your lap. Ignore it and it will mysteriously appear again about five seconds later. Refuse long enough and he'll simply stare at you with the quiet confidence of someone who knows you'll eventually make the correct decision.
Which, of course, is to throw the ball.
Ronin has never met a throw he didn't think should have gone farther.
Isaac
Lab mix. Eight years old.
Isaac is the gentlest soul in the house.
He also believes the safest place on Earth is under the bed.
Storms are his sworn enemy. The first distant rumble of thunder and he's gone, tucked into whatever quiet corner he can find until the weather remembers how to behave.
If you've ever loved a storm-scared dog, you know there's not much to fix. You just sit nearby and wait together.
We've waited out quite a few storms over the years.
Winnie
Hound mix. Twelve years old.
Winnie is the oldest member of the household and she knows it.
She's sweet, opinionated, and entirely convinced that experience settles most arguments.
To be fair, she's usually right.
The younger dogs somehow understand this without anyone explaining it. They give her space, follow her lead, and generally treat her like she's been running the porch since before they arrived.
Maybe she has.
That's the crew.
Four completely different personalities. Four very good reasons to step away from the keyboard every now and then.
You'll probably see them popping up here from time to time—usually somewhere in the background while I'm talking about writing, books, or whatever happens to be occupying the porch that day.
They photograph better than I do anyway.
-Jon
Before you head out, tell me about your crew. Who's waiting for you when you get home? Dogs, cats, horses, parrots—I enjoy hearing about all of them. Send me a note at jon@jdcoker.com. There's always room for one more story on the porch.