Michael Perry's Blog, page 34

I Do Remember

Mom says don’t brag but gotta share this one because you know you’ve hit a small town high point when you make the local “remember when” column and it didn’t involve running over a cow or something. Thank you to one of Snook’s daughters for the clipping. (Yep, some folks still send clippings!) (Well, jpegs of clippings…) And thank you Bloomer Advance. Life currently has me at a different zip code but always grateful to say I’m of and from “Nobbern.” Was just up there the other day. It was a singular privilege to serve 12 years beside my neighbors on the fire department.

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We Got It On Tape

1995. Whatever’s the Scandihoovian equivalent of chutzpah, I had it. Rented the church, made my own posters, sheesh sometimes things succeed because we just don’t know any better. (Considered myself a bit of a whiz with the ol’ CorelDraw, too, I see.) And it’s still available. Click to enlarge.

 

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This Week’s Tent Show Radio: Holiday Special

Check out Mike (Twitter: @SneezingCow) hosting a very special episode of Tent Show Radio where Big Top’s very own Blue Canvas Orchestra does Christmas “Chautauqua” style. Tune in to hear your favorite BCO musicians cover Holiday favorites as they present a “Blue Canvas Christmas” in episode 22-53.

Michael Perry shares humorous stories throughout on the Big Top stage (Twitter: @BigBlueTent). 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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Indies, Self-Publishing, and Gratitude

These days I take a hybrid approach to publishing. I have one book under contract with a “legacy” publisher that has been good to me over many decades and many titles (Population 485 in print with them for 20 years now) and one with an exciting new top-tier publisher (both books are way overdue…if my editors see this I swear I’m on it). In the past few years I’ve also published with a smaller regional press with good success. And finally, in the past couple of years, I’ve gone back to my DIY roots and released a number of titles all on my own. It’s been a hustle, and as always I’ve benefited from good help (hat tip in particular to the persistent and professional Ben, who now knows more about ISBNs and independent distribution channels than he ever expected or intended) and word of mouth along the way. In light of all the work we’ve put in, it is especially gratifying to see our latest DIY baby Hunker made the 2022 bestseller list at one of the many indie booksellers still out there doin’ it and doin’ it above and beyond. Thank you readers, and thank you Arcadia Books!

Speaking of DIY, please consider signing up for our old-school mailing list so we can let you know when the next book(s) are wrapped and ready.

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Guessed the Secret Password

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Green and Gold and Cold

Thanks to dear friends, I got to stamp another square on the Wisconsin cultural bingo card last night: Freezing in the stands of Lambeau while wrapped in blaze orange. A tad hoarse this morning. Thank you to Gene, Jeff, and Joe for letting me tag along. Go, Pack, Go.

Taught this fellow how to walk when he was 9 months old. Now he’s a dad and husband and gainfully employed.My pal Gene (last seen in the book “Truck” when we attended the Punky Manor Challenge of Champions at the Red Cedar Racetrack and he was ringbearer at my wedding). We met way back when I was still working as a nurse.Chef Jeff. The tie doubles as a beer koozie, this is professional level stuff.

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This Week’s Tent Show Radio: Home Free

Check out Mike (Twitter: @SneezingCow) hosting this week’s episode of Tent Show Radio. Enjoy a special recording from the archives featuring award-winning acapella sensation Home Free (Twitter: @HomeFreeGuys) in episode 22-50.

Michael Perry shares humorous stories throughout on the Big Top stage (Twitter: @BigBlueTent). 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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The List

Check.

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Elevator Ride

Me and my brother* playing teeter-totter with the hay elevator. Inexplicably, we have made it to ages 57 and 55, respectively.

Wow this thing blew up on Facebook. Lotsa happy/dangerous farm kid memories.

*Whenever I do this I get a number of comments/emails/letters, some kind and some outright diatribes (people have TIME), about the grammatical incorrectitude of this usage. Here’s the deal: Disingenuous anti-intellectualism makes me grumpy. Intellectualism is responsible for–among other things–the turbochargers in our big diesel pickup trucks. And I myself often overdo it on the don’t-know-nothin’-’bout-nothin’ clodhopperness. But sometimes–as in the case above–the usage is an issue of comfort and verisimilitude (WOW) and on purpose and above all just the goddang we we talk. Always trying to strike a balance between correctness and comfort. Don’t always get it right.

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Lettin’Er Rip in Minneapolis Tonight

A few tickets still available for the Long Beds show tonight (Saturday Dec 10) at the Icehouse in Minneapolis. The smiles in these photos say it all. I just love to step back and let the band rip. See y’out there.

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