Brooklyn, N.Y.-born writer Peter Meinke was the inaugural Poet Laureate for St. Petersburg in 2009. I initially met him when he presented at annual Creative Loafing Writing Contests, where his intriguing work caught my and the audience's ear. He is a soft-spoken, mild-mannered man who worked hand-in-hand with his wife, Jeanne Clark Meinke. He did the writing, and she did the illustrations.

For this photo, they invited me into their charming home and studios. There was a calm, welcoming energy in every inch of that house. Jeanne’s office was a sun-filled corner room downstairs. Peter had two prime writing spots: one with a beautiful oak desk downstairs and a converted bedroom office filled with books and memorabilia upstairs. For his photo, I did not want a lot of gratuitous trinkets. I wanted a simple kind of portrait of a kind and soulful man. They also honored me with a portrait of Jeanne and of one with them together.