Michael Perry is a writer and a humorist. He has written three best selling memoirs and his work has appeared in Esquire, The New York Times Magazine, Backpacker, Outside, and Salon.com. Perry was born in rural Wisconsin. He has spent many years as a volunteer firefighter. The majority of his writing discusses his farming background and life lessons. He was educated at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Perry's books include Visiting Tom: A Man, a Highway, and the Road to Roughneck Grace (2012); Coop: A Year of Poultry, Pigs, and Parenting (2009); Truck: A Love Story (2006); Off Main Street: Brainstormers, Prophets, and Gatemouth's Gator (2005); Population: 485: Meeting Your Neighbors… One Siren at a Time (2002); Big Rigs, Elvis & the Grand Dragon Wayne (1999); and Why They Killed Big Boy (1996).