Michael Perry's Blog

Episode #285: Mike’s New Book, and…

…the story of the cover.

Howdy folks:

Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 285. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click here to listen: https://michaelperry.substack.com/p/episode-285-mikes-new-book-and

In this episode, I describe how we arrived at the cover design for the new book. And what it’s got to do with rock ‘n’ roll posters.

You can share this episode with a friend: Share

Forward!
Mike

 

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It’s Here!!!

FRESH FROM NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

MICHAEL PERRY

Improbable Mentors & Happy Tangents

How firefighters and poets, truckers and nurses, soldiers and singers, and other improbable individuals can show you the way in business and creativity.

“If Mark Twain had written a book about seeking wisdom, this would have been it!”
          – Andy Andrews, The Traveler’s Gift

Bestselling author, humorist, and speaker Michael Perry delivers real-world lessons on leadership, creativity, resilience, and entrepreneurship.

Entertaining and fundamentally useful no matter the form of art or business you pursue, Improbable Mentors & Happy Tangents is a masterclass in identifying unexpected opportunities and concludes with a chapter titled, “The Most Improbable Mentor Move of All.”

This witty and insightful book details how unlikely encounters shape creativity, business, and life. Brief, punchy, humorous, and packed with memorable characters, it is a powerful read filled with practical wisdom and warm storytelling for readers, entrepreneurs, and dreamers alike.

Raised among farmers, loggers, and cowboys, Michael Perry worked as a registered nurse and emergency medical technician before building a career as a New York Times bestselling author, humorist, and in-demand speaker with over 20 books to his name—all the while navigating the dynamic crossroads of creativity and commerce.

“This compelling narrative illustrates how true growth comes from recognizing unexpected opportunities, aligning decisions with core values, embracing adaptability, mastering resilience, fostering connections, and staying in motion toward long-term success.”

Dr. Joe Sanfelippo, speaker, author of Lead Where You Are and Hacking Leadership

Available in PRINT and EBOOK via all popular platforms. AUDIO COMING SOON (sign up here to be notified).

BOOKSELLERS: Wholesale available via Ingram or contact ben@sneezingcow.com

MORE INFO: ImprobableMentors.com AUTHOR WEBSITE: SneezingCow.com

INTERVIEWS/PUBLICITY/BOOKINGS: contact Ben Shaw ben@sneezingcow.com

 

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Michael Perry Joins The SHARKFARMER Podcast

From Mike:

Man, I been wanting to do this interview for a long, long time. When I finally met Rob in person, he was everything I hoped he’d be. There are certain people–when you grew up where and when and how I did–there are these people where you just skip past pleasantries and head straight into shootin’ the breeze and swappin’ stories, and needling each other in a way that makes more civilized people nervous but you know is a sign of respect and comfort, and that’s how it felt talking with Rob. That carried over into this interview. And although there was plenty of good knuckleheaded fun in it, I’m glad toward the end there we touched on the idea of empathy and common ground. A special thank you to Rob’s wife Emily, who followed through and made sure this happened.

Rob Sharkey is a risk taker and out-of-the-box thinker. Better known by his digital alias, The SharkFarmer, Rob is an Illinois grain farmer, owner of a whitetail deer hunting outfitter, podcast & radio show host, and host of multiple TV shows on RFD-TV and PBS.

You can stream the episode by clicking HERE.

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Nicholas Gulig

Somewhere in some decrepit computer’s cryptolocked file there sits an email–maybe more than one–I received from Nicholas Gulig years ago while he was in Thailand, asking how to be a writer. Or something along those lines. I know I answered. I don’t know that what I had to say was any help. I’ve never been punk, as such. Pragmatism prevented me ever becoming purely poetic. And compared to Nick and his crowd, I’ve always felt the naive (oblivious?) elder. Square, in short. But I absolutely knew what it was to work the imposter DIY lane. Knew what it was to both mine and bemoan the parochial. To strive for that writing life, to make that writing life, never mind the odds or good sense.

Nick has done the work. It was a pleasure to read this piece and watch this video:

 

 

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Free Episode of Michael Perry’s Voice Mail – Episode #280: The Rockford Files and…

Howdy folks:

Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 280. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click HERE to listen.

In this episode I discuss my enduring affection for The Rockford Files, how I have failed to recruit my own family as fans of the show (but did introduce them to the music of Isaac Hayes), and share a piece of writing tying the art of Edward Hopper to International Harvester pickup trucks, The Rockford Files, and the Portuguese concept of saudade.

Thank you,

Mike

P. S. If you enjoy the episode, feel free to email orders@sneezingcow.com for a month on us!

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My Manager Ben’s Other Gig

You want a song that starts slow, gets rocky and crunchy, and then soars? My manager Ben has a new single out and it’s helping me get more done around here. You can find the track on your preferred digital platform here: https://ffm.to/qyxmjeo.

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Michael Perry Live: “Not So Frequently Overheard at the Implement Store”

In this excerpt from one of his live shows, Mike reveals how his skills stack up against the folks who raised him. From Michael Perry’s memoir, Population: 485. Available at The Sneezing Cow Store, your local bookstore and other major online and brick and mortar outlets.

Filmed live at The Stoughton Opera House. For more info on booking Mike see https://sneezingcow.com/book-mike/.

If you would like to know when Mike is coming to your area to perform solo or with his band The Long Beds feel free to join our mailing list: https://sneezingcow.com/mailinglist/

You can see Mike live as he is performing two free all ages shows this coming weekend.

Friends of the Western Taylor County Public Library present Michael Perry
Friday, August 8,2025
Doors at 6:00 pm, Author presentation: 6:30 pm with book signing to follow.
Registration required. Please register here.

Celebration Hall
235 Main St.
Gilman, WI 54433

The Friends of the Winona Public Library host a talk with Michael Perry
Saturday, August 9, 2025
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Winona Public Library: Central Exchange Room
151 W 5th Street
Winona, MN 55987

Event Details here.

 

 

 

 

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Michael Perry’s “Truck” on WPR’s “Chapter A Day”

“How fondly I remember being pulled over by a Nebraska state trooper during my first book tour,” says Michael Perry. “I say fondly, because although I shouldn’t have been on my state-of-the-art flip phone (with the little antenna), I was returning a call to my New York publicist who said someone wanted to read my book on the radio for a program called ‘Chapter A Day’ and he thought that was kind of odd, whereas I happened to know that ‘Chapter A Day’ was a statewide institution that reached far beyond the state lines and could make a big difference in an author’s career and that my publicist should call them right back and say yes as quickly as possible, and indeed he did, and indeed it did make a big difference in my career, and so it is with warm heart I report they’re gonna do it again…Truck: A Love Story is coming back to Chapter A Day!”

Starting Monday, July 28 through Friday, August 15, 2025, Jim Fleming will read Michael Perry’s Truck for a half hour each weekday on Wisconsin Public Radio.

The show will air live on the radio on the following shows at the times below:

– WPR Music: 7:00 pm (CT)

– WPR News: 9:30 pm (CT)

Your local station can be found here: https://www.wpr.org/find-your-station.

If you miss a chapter on the radio, you can listen to it here: https://www.wpr.org/shows/chapter-day

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The Other Thing Ben Does

I’m lucky enough to work with many multi-talented folks, including my manager Ben, a terrific musician who’s just released a new single.

For a list of all digital platforms where you can listen to it, please click here: https://ffm.to/zoj5pax

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WHYS Radio Fest

Our friends at WHYS Radio will be holding their annual festival and fundraiser Saturday, August 16, 2025. The Long Beds and I played there last year and had a blast. Good people, good times. Hope you can join them. And check out the historical document from back when a band called “Town of Sampson” played the fest 20 years ago.

For more info, head on over to WhysRadio.org.

And how ’bout this from 20 years ago?

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