Good Things Are to Come

This past month has been a whirlwind of activity since the May 7 release of my memoir, A

SOMETIMES PARADISE, under the label of Sandra Jonas Publishing. I have been as busy doing public programs and updating social media as I ever was when I was Wyoming State

Archaeologist. The release of the book is not the end, but just the beginning of the publishing

journey.

Amazon has announced that the book is a Best Seller in its Kindle edition, #1 in the

History of Western U.S., #1 in Rural Sociology, and #1 in Sociology of Rural Areas. And I’m so pleased with the early reader reviews:

“A wonderful slice of time in the ranching history of southern Wyoming. . . . Great read.”

“Mr. Miller captured the essence and beauty, as well as the harshness of Wyoming and the West superbly.”

“While reading this, I had moments of sadness, laughter and a longing for how things were and should be!”

I am grateful to my publisher, Sandra, and her colleague, Jill Tappert, for getting the word out about my memoir. It’s even available in Australian bookstores! And Sandra is working diligently on an audio version of the story.

With Sandra Jonas, my publisher, outside the Buff restaurant in Boulder, Colorado, celebrating the book release.

In the meantime, I have been interviewed by Grady Kirkpatrick on KUWR Open Spaces, which has aired a couple times in the past week or so. Last Saturday, my brother, Rod, and I read from our books and talked about growing up on the I Lazy D to a full house at the Carbon County Higher Education Center in Rawlins.

The event was sponsored by Carbon County Museum and the Carbon County chapter of the

Wyoming Historical Society. We had a blast discussing Wyoming with the crowd, reacquainting with our cousins, Susan, Sandy, and Bill, who grew on the ranch with us and even meeting some old friends who used to ride for the brand.

Signing copies of A SOMETIMES PARADISE at the Carbon County Higher Education Center, Rawlins, June 1, 2024.

Currently, I’m lining up a book reading in Cheyenne, one in Encampment, and a radio interview on KOWB in Laramie with Glenn Woods on his Wake Up Wyoming program, which also airs in Casper and Cheyenne.

I want to thank everyone who has read, rated, and reviewed A SOMETIMES PARADISE. I

appreciate your support.

To learn more about my book and purchase a copy, click here.

Words of Encouragement

Several incidents during my 30 years on the I Lazy D Ranch stayed with me as I aged and became commitments I try to live by. Whether in words or deeds, I witnessed important principles from various members of my family that became the building blocks of my own intellectual growth and maturity.

I describe many of those experiences in my new memoir, A Sometimes Paradise. In my upcoming blogs, I’ll share a few of them with you, along with their impact on me and how they carried meaning toward life goals.

When I was a young boy, I idolized my grandfather Kirk. He managed the ranch then, and my brother, cousins, and I saw ourselves as his crew. He called me his “pardner.”

Through a series of painful events, he taught me to always forgive those you love. No matter how unpleasant a situation becomes, family is the most valuable resource in life. This truth is the building block for personal growth.

It is not always easy, and sometimes it seems unattainable. Sometimes it takes a long time to achieve. But it is a goal to strive for, and that target helped me focus my attention many times. I hope this post can help some of you who may be dealing with similar situations.

Mark Your Calendars, Folks!

My memoir, A Sometimes Paradise: Reflections on Life in a Wyoming Ranch Family, has gone to the printer! It has a planned release date of May 7, so expect some announcements about preorders and reviews in the coming days. The story has been a labor of love that focuses on the land, my family, and the enduring legacy of the American West.

The book takes the reader on a poignant journey through the rugged beauty and

hardscrabble challenges of Wyoming ranch life. My adventures there taught me valuable lessons that shaped my personal growth, instilled in me a sense of wonder toward nature’s allure, and exposed the enduring power of family and friendships. Ride along on the journey and open your senses to the addictive stimulus of ranching culture that captured my heart and soul when I was a boy.

I have been working with Sandra Jonas Publishing on the final memoir preparations. She is an ideal editor and one of the hardest workers I know. Sandra and her assistant, Jill Tappert, has helped build my author page on Facebook to keep readers up-to-date on developments. Please be sure to "like" my facebook page.

We also have established a Launch Team to promote the book. Feel free to join it and receive an advance electronic copy of my book and write your honest review on Amazon. The process is simple, but very important. My book publisher tells me that early reviews are critical to a successful launch. You can join here: https://bit.ly/SomeimesParadiseLaunchTeam. Thank you in advance.

Additionally, we are planning several promotional activities over the first month

following release. I already have a radio interview scheduled with Grady Kirkpatrick on KUWR for May 16, which probably will air a day or two later. See my events here!

Once the book is available, I will send a copy to Bill Sniffin of Cowboy State Daily to review in

his periodical. Glenn Woods from Casper has offered to interview me for his radio show, Wake Up Wyoming. Then I will do a book signing and reading at Carbon County Museum in Rawlins where Tom Mensik is Director.

Many more opportunities will develop in the coming weeks, but please order your book

as soon as they are available. That way you can familiarize yourself with the story and ask

questions if you attend one of my events. Thanks for your continued support. Happy reading!