Michael Perry's Blog, page 399

Rear View Mirror

Just came across these photos sent to me months ago.  They were taken at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park, Washington, during the Coop hardcover tour.  Photos like this always remind me how beautifully strange this life can be…a couple of hours in a bookstore, laughing and sharing stories with readers, then it's back on the horse and on to the next spot, and suddenly a year has passed.  But when I revisit these photos and see the smiles and heartwarming connections (note two women, one w...

If You Missed COOP On The Radio

Thank you to Jim Fleming and Wisconsin Public Radio for the gracious reading of Coop.  It's a humbling honor to hear that coming out of the radio.  And for two weeks I've been running into folks who've caught a listen.  One of those things a guy never expected…and as a lifelong cheesehead, even more meaningful.

They're reading a chapter of Coop on Wisconsin Public Radio every day from now until February 12. If you missed a segment, the five most recent chapters are available here:

New Auburn's First Author (Kinda)

In the process of researching the history of my hometown (New Auburn, Wisconsin) (now Population: 562) (urban sprawl!) for the book Population 485, I discovered that the town's founder David Cartwright had written a bestselling book in 1875.  I tracked down an actual copy of the book, but it took some doing.  This morning a reader sent me a Tweet with a link showing me that along with everything else in the world the book has now been scanned into Google and you can read it here.

Here's a...

Recording Interviews

Pursuant to this post, someone asked me how I record interviews.  In just the past year I switched to a Livescribe pen.  It has so far been nothing short of amazing and worth every penny.  Quite literally a magic wand.  Pen and ink, paper and electrons, all talking to each other.  However: when they released the most recent software update they removed the ability to use keystrokes to control the player. When transcribing the recording, I often toggle back and forth between a Word document...

Snow Plow Gratitude

Snow plow operators: They go out at all hours of the day and night, they get phone calls, they get unsolicited advice, they get ignored…but they get the snow off the road.  We're especially grateful to them this year, as a road re-design has complicated our hill climb.  The local snowplows have redoubled their efforts and dropped enough sand to remake Daytona Beach.  So give them room to work and don't forget to wave.  Thanks.

The Perfect Cow

At many of my events I perform a piece called "The Perfect Cow."  It's just a description of a Holstein.  I do go a tad overboard.  The piece is included in the current issure of Rosebud magazine.

I Make Them Sleepy

Cats are totally into my books…as sleep aids.

This is Thistle:

This is Boggs:

Thanks to their owners for sending these photos.

True Knowledge

I'm working on the next book.  No idea where it will wind up, but for now I'm focusing on an old-timer near me.  He's 80 years old.  When I talk to him I simultaneously marvel and despair at his breadth of knowledge and how much of it will disappear with him.

Here's a transcription of what he had to say on a recent day when we started out looking at different sets of oxen yokes he made over the years (for his two prize oxen Chester and Lester) and then wound up in his shed by his iron lathe.  ...

Long Beds on Tour

You never know who's going to show up backstage (this was at the theater in Alma).

Much more normal audience members in Spencer, Wisconsin:

Thanks to photographer Glenn.

Y'Know Yer Home

When Jay on Moose Radio announces that the Chetek VFW will be holding their meat raffle.