With his extremely humble demeanor and mellow-toned voice, New Auburn native Michael Perry makes writing for Newsweek, Esquire, and The New York Times Magazine or publishing his second book, Big Rigs, Elvis & The Grand Dragon Wayne, sound no more exciting or important than plowing a field or laying shingles. Of course, in his mind, writing isn’t much different than the work done by his hometown neighbors.

“Sometimes people want to make writing some mysterious thing, but it really is a job,” Mike explains. “That’s not to say I don’t feel very fortunate. I do feel compelled to write, and I love to write. It’s my favorite thing.” Mike pauses to redirect the attention away from himself, a common occurrence that reflects his unpretentious nature. “But there are some people who live to farm. There are some people who live to be butchers….” Mike turns his head toward the window and catches sight of a meat truck passing his house. “There goes one now,” he says, eyeing the truck until it’s out of view. Mike further de-emphasizes his uniqueness as a New Auburn-based writer by pointing to the inscription on the back of a commemorative plate from the city’s centennial year, which asserts that New Auburn was actually founded by an author.

In 1878, New Auburn was called Cartwright, for D.W. Cartwright, the pioneer. He was a hunter, trapper, etc., and wrote ‘Western Wild Animals,’ which had a considerable reputation at one time.

“I’m sure more people read ‘Western Wild Animals’ than will ever read my book,” Mike jokes. The book to which Mike refers is a new collection of his work called Big Rigs, Elvis & The Grand Dragon Wayne. According to Mike’s web site, www.sneezingcow.com, his new book contains, “essays on hitchhiking across America with truckers; cowboys and spirituality; the unavoidability of Elvis; the rambling life of 60s folk music icon Ramblin’ Jack Elliott; how it feels to be on the mailing list of the KKK; an inside-the-flames look at fear and volunteer firefighting; a piece originally titled, ‘Likkered Up Hookers Ain’t Nothin’ But A Heartache’; and several other pieces linked by themes of movement and place.”

Mike reveals that there are two different types of pieces in Big Rigs, Elvis & The Grand Dragon Wayne—pieces that he really likes, and others that are just exceptional stories. He mentions one piece about his ride with a trucker driving through Alaska. “We went over the haul road, and it was very cold and dangerous. I don’t think my writing is anything special there, but I hope the story is interesting. The driver was interesting, and it was an interesting little adventure.”

All the pieces included in Mike’s new book first appeared in publications such as Esquire, Salon, Utne Reader, Orion, Troika, and Road King. He worked hard to initially publish the pieces, spending most of his time and energy “pitching” article ideas to big city editors.

“You can’t write articles and then try to sell them. You’d go broke,” Mike says. “You have to sell ideas first. I spend a lot of my time coming up with ideas for articles and trying to convince—beg—editors to accept them.” Mike also writes essays and humor, which, by necessity, he must write before offering them for publication.

“You can’t pitch an editor on an essay on firefighting without writing it first,” he explains. “You can’t pitch a humor article and tell an editor, ‘I have this idea, and it will be really funny.’ They have to actually read it.”

While some may view his location in New Auburn as a disadvantage in the free-lance market, Mike says being based in small Wisconsin town actually seems to increase his appeal to most editors. “There’s this sort of Wisconsin Gothic thing. They’re fascinated with us because they have no understanding of us. Most of the editors couldn’t find Wisconsin on a map. When I tell them I can do an article about snowmobile water-skipping, they’ll say, ‘Oh, that’s fascinating!’ Well, we grew up with it.”

Staying immersed in the rural setting of his hometown of New Auburn keeps Mike grounded, and recent technology like e-mail and the worldwide web provide the necessary link he needs to stay competitive in his field.

“Five years ago, I couldn’t do this,” Mike admits. “Now I work with editors almost daily who are in New York. It’s like having them in the office or next door, because they can look at revisions within the hour. One of the drawbacks of that is I get calls from an editor in New York asking, ‘Could we have that piece tomorrow morning? We’ve decided to run it early.’ They know that they can get it now, so I have to say yes. Time has been compressed.

“The Internet is changing the nature of what I do. More and more things are getting published on the web.”

A number of Mike’s pieces have found their way onto the Internet through electronic versions of the magazines in which they were published. Mike has included a long list of links to his “electrified” works on his web site.

Another benefit of the new connective power of the Internet is that readers can find Mike’s books at such prominent retail sites as amazon.com. Of course, Mike still uses traditional outlets for promoting his books. He’s scheduled to appear for readings/book signings at two area book stores—Borders Books & Music, 4030 Commonwealth Ave., Eau Claire on Nov. 8, at 7 p.m., and Little Professor Book Center, 1033 W. Clairemont Ave., Eau Claire on Nov. 11, at 7 p.m. These appearances are a great opportunity for Mike to meet some of his readers.

“When I talk to people or students at school, I know a lot of them are looking to get out of a small town,” Mike says. “I tell them to look around. There are interesting and important things right here in New Auburn and Chetek.” He pauses. “And I tell them to quit watching TV!”

—Greg Adams

For more information on Mike Perry and his books and cassettes, visit www.sneezingcow.com, or write to Whistlers & Jugglers Press, P.O. Box 1346, Eau Claire, WI 54702.