Eight Miles from Nowhere: Fence Line in the Fog, 44 Farms

Eight Miles From Nowhere: A Book Cover Story

If you're familiar with The Last Picture Show—either the novel or the film—you'll know it was written by Larry McMurtry, the same author behind Lonesome Dove. The story was set in Anarene, Texas, but filmed in nearby Archer City, where McMurtry had his bookstores. That's northwest Texas, just south of Wichita Falls.

From Depression-Era Memories to Published Memoir

Anarene is long gone now, remembered only by a historical marker and a handful of memories. But during the Depression, it was home to my mother-in-law, Frances Thomas. She lived there before her family was uprooted and relocated to northeast Texas. They had no indoor plumbing, no electricity, and lived through the hardships of the Dust Bowl—improvising just to keep the relentless dust out of their lives.

An Unexpected Publishing Journey

A few years ago, Frances quietly mentioned to my wife that she had been writing down her story. A relative suggested she try publishing it. She wasn't convinced anyone would care. But, as luck would have it, a publisher was interested. After reviewing the contract with a family attorney, she signed—and eventually titled the memoir Eight Miles From Nowhere, the distance she lived from the once-town of Anarene.

Finding the Perfect Cover Image

She needed a cover photo. And that's where I came in.

The morning I was at 44 Farms for a sale—the same day I photographed "Tripod," my three-legged Black Angus bull buddy—I noticed something I had never seen before. In the heavy morning fog, a run of old barbed wire fence stood out. Most fencing at 44 is modern metal, but this stretch was different—weathered, rough, and seemingly endless.

A Simple Shot with Perfect Meaning

I dropped to my knees in the gravel and made the shot. That image—simple, textured, and haunting—is now the cover of Eight Miles From Nowhere by Frances Thomas, available now on Amazon.

Woo-hoo, congrats, Frances!

Limited Edition Details

Available in a Limited Edition of 25, with 2 Artist Proofs.