Michael Perry's Blog, page 27

Floating Memory

Never won a Pulitzer, but my book was in a parade. And memories like this are why I’ll never catch up on thank-yous.

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Forty Acres Deep book information

As word spreads, we keep getting more inquiries about Mike’s book Forty Acres Deep, and–more specifically–where to find it.

Below are the basics. And then, at the end, the story of why the book isn’t “in bookstores everywhere” (but can be, if you ask).

The Sneezing Cow store has all of Mike’s publications and recordings, including lighter farming fare. This direct link to Forty Acres Deep also contains many of the outside options listed below. NOTE: paperback versions ordered directly from SneezingCow.com are signed by the author, printed locally, and shipped by a local small business.If your local independent bookseller doesn’t have it in stock, let them know it is distributed by Ingram. They will know what that means and can place an order. They can also order at quantity discount directly from our local SneezingCow distributor.If you’d like to order the book online but still support the independent bookseller of your choice, order through Bookshop.org, using this link.Direct Amazon link.eBook version available for Kindle, Nook, and many other platforms, including library loan.Audiobook version available via Audible, Libro.fm, iTunes, and many other platforms, including library loan.

WHY ISN’T THIS BOOK “IN BOOKSTORES EVERYWHERE?”

From Mike: No big conspiracy. As a rural-dwelling self-employed writer for three decades now, I’ve done a lot of work with major publishers as well as a lot of Do-It-Yerself. In this case the big publishers weren’t interested. So we–our little crew of 2 or 3, depending on the day–chose to go the homemade route. That means we don’t have major promotion. We don’t have national sales reps. We set up our own distribution. We make the book available on all platforms, but we also try to keep as much local as possible. Copies of Forty Acres Deep ordered directly from our site or purchased at my live events were printed within 15 minutes of our mailbox. Order fulfillment and shipping is handled by a family business next to a red barn less than four miles from the room where I wrote the book and am typing this note now. I write from the heart but also keep an eye on the mortgage, so I don’t want to come off as preciously self-righteous–tryin’ to make a living here–but we are pleased that some modest amount of this book’s proceeds are cycling directly back into the local economy. If that makes it a little tougher to find, I’ll take that chance. My whole career was built on word-of-mouth and approaching writing like my farmer father did. Just do them chores. 

ARE THERE TWO “FORTY ACRES DEEP?”

Yes. The title of the book is the same as the title of a song Mike wrote and recorded with his band a few years back. The subject matter is similar, although the characters are not. Video of the song is here. Shot on Mike’s farm with his faithful snowplow truck.

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Forty Acres Deep Interview

An article about the new book.

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Five Gigs in Eight Days

Setting up for a library event in a golf course clubhouse.Pre-show with the Long Beds in Oshkosh opera house. (photo by Dave Power)

It’s early evening Sunday. Sun and shadows flattening across the grass that turned green while I was gone. It’s quiet here. Some birdsong, that’s it. After I parked the van in the garage I took a walk around the yard, looked out over the valley. I do that after stretches of being on the road. I love being alone. Love the stillness. The solid feel of the land underfoot.

And yet…

How grateful I am for this odd, asymmetrical career path I’ve landed on. In the past eight days I got a lot of writing done. That’s goal one. Or better be. But during that stretch I also delivered a keynote speech for the Municipal Treasurers Association of Wisconsin. Day after that I delivered the keynote speech for a university swine and poultry conference. Few days later I told stories at a library event in a golf course clubhouse. Next I gave a talk on the writing life at a writer’s conference. Then, last night, I took the stage in a vintage opera house with my friends and bandmates for a Long Beds show that turned into a real heartwarming barn-burner.

How do you wind up with this job? It’s a rhetorical question, only to be understood by unraveling the whole thing in reverse, an entertaining but ultimately non-replicable blueprint for middling success. Rather, I’d like to once again express my gratitude. I mean, I will break form for once and say, there is hustle happening. Boxes and boxes of books lugged. Sleep lost. Miles racked up. Countless hours put in to prepare for that hour or two when the microphone is on.

But also…

At every turn–whether it’s municipal treasurers or front of house sound techs or the volunteer at the merch table–I meet so many good people. Helpers. Volunteers. Folks who gave up their evening for this little homemade show. People with a kind word. Encouraging words. Solid eye contact. And because I have never been successful at identifying One Big Thing and Triumphing At It, I meet a mix of folks from all walks and ways, and have the privilege of observing firsthand and from ground level (merch-table level, handshake level) how much how many of us are in this thing together even we don’t always realize it.

Thank you. I don’t know how else to say it. Maybe it was only seventeen seconds in the signing line, or how you said that thing I wrote helped, or just the nod from across the room as you ducked out the door after the show, but I don’t take an atom of it for granted, and if I’m happy to be home alone in the silence, it’s only because I’m carrying so many of your echoes with me.

See y’down the road.

 

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This Week’s Tent Show Radio: The Music of Riverpants

Check out Mike (Twitter: @SneezingCow) hosting Tent Show Radio (Twitter: @BigBlueTent). This week’s episode features “The Music of Riverpants.”

If you’re “fishing” for a good time and want to “reel” with “lunker” laughs, this knee slappin’ musical written by Warren Nelson is sure to do the trick. Energetic musical numbers, hearty fishing songs, mirthful interludes, and classic bits and skits makeup Big Top Chautauqua’s musical comedy revue Riverpants. Returning to the tent in 2022 after more than a decade, stars of the Blue Canvas Orchestra delighted audiences in this beloved original production. Warren Nelson’s Anglin’ Wayne guided the audience on his top fishing tips & trips, Jack Gunderson, Liz Woodworth, & Tom Mitchell shined as Midwest Folk characters Ole Lena, and Sven, and Ed Willet, Severin Behnen, Phil Anich, Otis McLennon, Betty Ferris, Randy Sabien, and Billy Knoblauch were on hand for additional hijinks and to provide the driving music behind the production.

Michael Perry shares humorous stories throughout on the Big Top stage. If you prefer to watch this and previous episodes, follow this link for all the available viewing options. 

Stream it here along with other Tent Show Radio episodes.

Tent show Radio is broadcast each week on many fine independent stations, which can be found here: https://sneezingcow.com/ten-show-radio-stations/

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See You Out There

Loading the van for Oshkosh. Lakefly Writers Conference tomorrow morning, Long Beds concert tomorrow night. Grabbed the guitar case, got gut-punched by these stickers, placed there by tiny hands a long time ago. On another day when I was leaving. Two daughters, grown and flown so fast. Sometimes gratitude is a tear in your eye and a catch in your throat. See you out there.

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Jeffrey Foucault Live

Twenty years of notes and emails and near-misses, finally got to see Jeffrey Foucault live last night. Was everything I hoped. Man’s music has fueled and informed so many of my late writing hours. Safe travels.

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Out of Respect

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On The Road Again (Free Listen)

This week’s Voice Mail is free and includes a caption that explains the situation in the photo above. Click here to listen.

P.S. for our blind or low vision followers, it’s a photo of me playing music for a crowd of very attentive folks. Except for one folk–a little girl–turned the opposite way and doing a yoga stretch (or something like it) with her hinder in the air toward me. The punchline: That kid…is my kid.

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This Week’s Tent Show Radio: Heavy Gus and Sasha Mercedes

Check out Mike (Twitter: @SneezingCow) hosting Tent Show Radio (Twitter: @BigBlueTent). This week’s episode features two artists.

California trio Heavy Gus blurs the lines between grungy garage band fare, hazy surf, and dreamy indie rock on their captivating full-length debut, Notions.

Originally hailing from the rugged shores of Lake Superior, Sasha Mercedes writes image-provoking songs and delivers them with passion and conviction.

Michael Perry shares humorous stories throughout on the Big Top stage. If you prefer to watch this and previous episodes, follow this link for all the available viewing options. 

Stream it here along with other Tent Show Radio episodes.

Tent show Radio is broadcast each week on many fine independent stations, which can be found here: https://sneezingcow.com/ten-show-radio-stations/

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