Michael Perry's Blog, page 5

Sharing the Shelf

Traveling friends sent this from their lodgings at Phantom Canyon Ranch near Livermore, Colorado. Long before I ever had a book deal I saved up and went to hear Tracy Kidder give a writing lecture in Maryland. I remember because the airline lost my backpack. And Louis L’Amour? When I was a farm kid reading his books in rural Wisconsin, they planted a hunger in me to see the far blue mountains…and beyond. And long before I thought of becoming a writer the bio at the end of his cowboy books subconsciously planted in me the idea that a roughneck midwestern kid could also become a writer. And I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve sat in a deer stand reading “Education of a Wandering Man” and marveled that I’ve been allowed a similar trip. Lately every day ain’t been all sunshine and spangles, but I’ll never become so jaded a photo like this doesn’t trigger a quiet gratitude. Safe travels, K & B.

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Beverly Hills Cop Who

Reminded for the umpteenth time how this unplanned random form of self-employment of mine has led from cleaning calf pens in rural Nobbern to equally random moments like the one where I see this clip from Beverly Hills Cop and think, that guy and I had a wonderful talk about our lives and loves and marriages backstage one evening and then off we went on our separate ways. I don’t know what Mr. Cox is up to next week, but I’ll be in Viroqua. I hope you can join us: https://ridgesandriversbookfestival.org/events/an-added-bonus-michael-perry-live/

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Free Episode (#258) of Michael Perry’s Voice Mail: Neighborhood Meeting

Howdy folks:

Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 258. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click HERE to listen.

In this episode I talk about a brief and impromptu neighborhood get-together, then head off in a slightly different direction than usual and request your input. I also reveal the phrase I used last week to describe why I’ll never be a fashionista and why there will always be limits to my refinement.

In random news, a few years ago we gave the chicken coop from Coop to the neighbors. They have since moved and the new neighbors have offered to let us have it back. So I’m gonna head down there and see if it’s still in any shape to be moved. This is how we moved it when it was brand new:

From Coop:

The tractor moves across the yard with the coop in tow. In a rare moment of foresight, we removed the windows so they wouldn’t bust in transit, and Buffalo is riding crouched in the window waving at the kids like an underweight troll, his head of curls and big black beard flopping in the wind. For my part, I keep ’er steady with the tractor, one arm raised and pointing to the distance as if I am Hannibal headed for the Alps.

As ever, I remain grateful for your time and attention.

Thank you.
Mike

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Michael Perry Joins the Okayest Hunter Podcast

Mike on a hunting podcast? You bet. Hunting has been a part of Mike’s life and culture since he could toddle. And food-wise, the freezer is always full of venison. So when the hosts of the Okayest Hunter Podcast invited him to be a guest, he jumped at the chance.

In a freewheeling, good-humored conversation, Mike and the hosts dove into being an outsider in hunting culture, deer hunting as “New Year’s,” the tricky balance between trophy hunting and just hunting, what it’s like hauling a buck out in a rebuilt 1951 International pickup, and how hunting pops up in Mike’s books (specifically Chapter 12 in Truck: A Love Story).

NOTE: As a courtesy in case your ears don’t prefer it, be aware there are a couple of NSFW words in the mix.

To listen or view this humorous chat about hunting and life, click one of the links below.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2wf5xXojlyWdRalEjOLbvb?si=25c0ebe355e34e63YouTube: https://youtu.be/6BKTV2iQteo

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Not Just Any Dill Pickle Soup

Fond memories from a South Dakota gig.

Soup or no soup, Mike speaks and performs at a wide range of venues and events. Booking information here.

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“All Thumbs” – Michael Perry live at The Stoughton Opera House February 22, 2024

In this live performance clip Michael Perry reflects on how just because your buddy shot his last thumb off doesn’t mean you can’t put your foot in your mouth.

Filmed live at The Stoughton Opera House. For more info on booking Mike click here. For all his books and merchandise, visit https://sneezingcow.com/store/.

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Population 485 Onstage in Hutchinson, MN

We’re grateful to announce that the Hutchinson Theatre Company of Hutchinson, MN, is not only performing the theatrical version of my novel, Population 485 (scored by S. Carey), they’ve added two more shows to the bill to accommodate demand. It’s wonderful to see the story of one small town reaching so many other small towns. And a special thank you to all those firefighters, first responders, and others who volunteer on behalf of their communities.

You can grab your tickets here. Full event details in the poster below.

Plenty of opportunities to see the show once, twice, or all of ’em:

Thu. Mar 20th 2025, 7:00 pm
Fri. Mar 21st 2025, 7:00 pm
Sat. Mar 22nd 2025, 2:00 pm
Sat. Mar 22nd 2025, 7:00 pm
Thu. Mar 27th 2025, 7:00 pm
Fri. Mar 28th 2025, 7:00 pm
Sat. Mar 29th 2025, 2:00 pm
Sat. Mar 29th 2025, 7:00 pm

 

 

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“Bob the One Eyed Beagle” – Michael Perry live at The Stoughton Opera House February 22, 2024

In a clip perfectly illustrating how his live performances fall somewhere between stand-up comedy and a blue-collar poetry reading (listen to the end!) Michael Perry tells the story of his lifelong friend and firefighter Bob the One-Eyed Beagle and what it’s like to respond to an emergency with a crew that could use a little help themselves! Filmed live at The Stoughton Opera House. The excerpt is from Mike’s book, “Population: 485,” which can be found with all his other titles and merchandise at https://sneezingcow.com/store/.

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On The Wayback Machine With Marty Stuart

Every now and then I come across this link and can’t even believe I got to go on this trip. I shot all the photos, too. And I remember having to hunt all over for a phone line and saying prayers while I waited for the dial-up to connect to the World Wide Web and then rocking back and forth nervously waiting for that day’s dispatch to upload at the speed of a snail across sandpaper and just praying it didn’t all end in an error or a disconnect. Sometimes I even had to hold the phone cord the whole time because just one little wiggle would disconnect it.

But man, oh man, what a trip that was.

PART II of the trip.

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Free Episode (#253) of Michael Perry’s Voice Mail: Derp Alert and Deep Scythe

Me holding a portrait of Tom. Portrait by Shimon & Lindemann. Photo by Andrea Paulseth.Howdy, folks:Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 253. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click here to listen.In this episode I start out to share my latest dunderheaded derp-stunt only to realize I already covered that in this episode, which we have switched to free so you can access it without a subscription.Then I switch gears to discuss eggs and chickens and then why I’m not a farmer which leads me to a passage from Visiting Tom about harvesting oats with a scythe while my toddler daughter eats windfall apples. The piece concludes with Tom (figuratively) yanking me back down to earth when I wax a tad too poetic.Many related photos below.Thank you for giving this your time. I don’t take it for granted.Forward,
Mike

Signed books, recordings, T-shirts, and more at The Sneezing Cow store.If you’d like to receive all episodes of Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, click on the button below (it says “Subscribe Now” but you won’t actually be subscribed until you review your options and confirm):

You can also share this episode with a friend:

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DERP!!!

Here’s another free episode about how DERP!!! is a way of life with me.

 

Tom with his car. Photo by Shimon & Lindemann.Tom at his lathe. Photo by Shimon & Lindemann.

 

The scythe in question.

 

The results.

 

Helpers.

 

The apple eater.

 

Our late neighbor Mr. Lindgren floppin’ sod.

 

 

MARGINALIA

(Annotations from books Mike is reading, or annotations related to the episode)Sneak peak of a new thing I’ve got coming out. Just sent the manuscript in with final corrections:

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