Born in El Dorado, Arkansas, Ford attended college at UCA in Conway where he focused on public relations and writing. He graduated in 2003, moved to Fayetteville in 2004. He says he soon landed a job for a local women's shelter. "Doing PR work mostly," he says.

Peace at Home Family Shelter?

"Yeah."

Early 2004?

He says, "Yeah."

I tell him I interviewed for that job.

He smiles: "Really?"

Small world.

"Yeah, I worked there until about a year ago," he says. "I still work with them from time to time. It's a terrific organization."

Ford says since leaving the shelter he's gone back to school to get his master's in communication.

"And I've written a second novel," he says.

"I'm actually a fellow this summer at Dairy Hollow Writer's Colony," Ford says.

We've jumped again. I remember scribbling down that he'd written two novels, one while in college, and one about an Iraq war vet within the last year—neither published just yet. I flip back a few pages in my notebook to find where I'd scribbled Warthogs novel. I ask him what he plans to do while he's at Dairy Hollow.

"I'm probably gonna work on revising War Dogs," he says.

I slice Warthogs with my pen and write WAR DOGS.

"It's about this Iraq war vet who murders his wife," Ford says. "Actually, let me say it this way: It's about a guy named Jack, and Jack's best friend is an Iraq war veteran who murdered his wife. Jack works to figure out what drove his friend to do this."

"The story," he continues, "is really about how war stays with people. You know, after the treaties are signed and everything. The title," he says, "comes from something a friend of mine told me. He's a Marine vet who spent time in the South Pacific during World War II. He told me how they'd teach these dogs to attack anybody and everybody except their trainer, and that after the war, they reconditioned these dogs and gave them to families as pets. You can't do that with people."

"My friend's name is Kimbrough, by the way," Ford adds. "He helped guard a Japanese general who was tried and hung for cannibalism because he and some of his men ate American POWs."

"Did I tell you I was a pundit?"

My pen stops again.

"I was writing for the Log Cabin Democrat after college," Ford says. "Arkansas Week called and asked for someone to appear on the show, so my editor sent me. I was supposed to be the young, hip guy offering the youth opinion, I guess."

So you wrote for the Log Cabin?

"Yeah," Ford says. "While I was there, my editor asked me to develop a publication that would appeal to younger people, so I created this monthly tabloid called The Libertine that we distributed in Conway and Little Rock. It won an award, actually."

I'm trying to get all of this down when:

"Did I tell you I interviewed Huckabee?"

I shake my head, trying to keep up.

"Yeah," Ford says. "I interviewed him a couple times. One of the interviews was my first front-pager when I wrote for The Bray at Southern Arkansas University. Thing about Huckabee, he's a charming, charming guy. I don't know if he ever gave me a clear answer, but he's so likable when you're talking with him that it's forgivable."

So you follow politics?

"Oh, yeah. Every morning I read through Huffington Post and Drudge Report," he says, adding, "You've got to keep it balanced."

Ford says he was largely disillusioned with politics until Obama came along. "I think he's done a terrific job reaching out to young voters," he says. Then: "Did you see the Will.I.Am video?"

"I've done two short episodes that are on YouTube now," Ford says.

We're talking about Rockwell, an online sitcom Ford developed and co-wrote with Shane Bronson.

"I'd had the idea for a long time," Ford says, "back before YouTube even really took off. I just didn't really know about how to go about doing it. Let me tell you: film making with no budget is no fun."

Do you plan to produce more episodes?

"I'd like to," he says, "but I don't know. I'm so busy."

"That's actually how I met Benjamin," Ford says, referring to Benjamin Del Shreve. "I wanted to use 'God is a Dancer' for Rockwell. I'd heard his music, and I really liked it."

Is that how you became his publicist?

"Well, I guess that happened around October," he says. "I reviewed his CD, and after it was published, Ben asked me to help with publicity. Now he refers to me as his consigliere."

Ford says Benjamin enjoys working with non-profit organizations, particularly those that benefit women and children in need.

"Benjamin's a real gentleman," Ford says.

"I also represent Lauren de Miranda," Ford says. "Little d, little e, Miranda. Lauren de Miranda. She's awesome. I met her through Benjamin."

What kind of—

"She's a phenomenal talent. She's doing stuff no one else is doing around Fayetteville."

So, like—

"Aggressive stuff," he says, "kinda like Kelly Clarkson." He stops. He thinks. "No, more like...like catchy pop music with a rock and roll twist," he says. He smiles. "Yeah, I like the sound of that."

Ford says de Miranda's new single, "New Life," that is receiving airtime on local radio, has been licensed to an Internet video game called "Audition" and that she's recorded four more songs with producer Mark Jackson.

"Actually," Ford says, "let me call her." He produces his cell phone, punches a number. Waits. Says, "Hey, Lauren, it's Kody. Who else has Mark produced? Jordan Taylor?" He looks at me: "Jordan Taylor." To Lauren he says, "With a y?" He nods. "Jordyn with a y," he says. Then to Lauren again: "Who else?"

D12.

Eminem.

Pete Yorn.

Josh Kelly.

Nancy Sinatra.

Ford closes the conversation, thanks Lauren, then snaps his phone shut. He sets the phone on the table and says, "Actually, I think I'd like you to interview Lauren, too, if you're interested."

Ford says his friend Gabe Gentry, with whom he's presently developing a reality show about young people in public service, recently offered him some advice. "Gabe says the keys to happiness are to do something you love, have something to look forward to, and to find someone to love.

I ask Ford about the reality series.

"Most reality series today show the worst in people," he says. "We want to do one that shows the best in people, so we're developing a series that focuses on young people in public service. I believe there are young people out there that want to work to make a difference, they just don't know how to get involved."

OK, so back to writing.

"Yeah."

What got you into it?

"Tom Wolfe," he says. "My friend Kara Bibb gave me a copy of The Electric Acid Kool-Aid Test. After I read it, I knew I wanted to write. I'd never considered it before, but after reading that book, I sat down and wrote my first novel."

"Ultimately," he continues, "I think I want to be a writer, but I'm really open to anything. I love PR, it's a great job. I love working with talented people. And who knows. I think as long as you're passionate, you can successfully pursue more than one interest."

I flip back to where I wrote Tom Wolfe and ask Ford about his own unique fashion tastes, wondering if perhaps the perpetually sharp dressed author had inspired him in other ways.

Ford smiles. "You mean like the fedoras? The vests? Probably inspired by Pete Doherty of The Libertines. That's when I started wearing them. Then I met Benjamin and he had a similar style, probably a little more pirate than me though," he says. "I like looking good. I love old clothing, like suits with a twenties or thirties feel."

I tell him I could never pull it off.

"It takes balls," he says. "It does take balls. You have to own it, but I like having my own look."

Having seen Ford around town countless times, I tell him he does have a great, sharp look.

"Yeah," he says. Then: "Last week I wore this bird broach."

Bird broach?

"Yeah," he says. "I've got this bird broach Chuck Pahalniuk sent me."

Kody Ford can be found around town.