Episode #207: Andy and Alabama

Took us a few years, but here we are.

Welcome to Michael Perry’s Voice Mail, episode 207. This one’s available to free and paid subscribers alike. Click the player above to listen.

In today’s episode I share the story of heading down to Alabama to tell stories and sign books in roadhouses and meet a friend I’d never met before. It all began thanks to a tornado and a guy who used to live under a bridge. And although we didn’t read Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea, we coulda, and probably even finished it during the three hours we found ourselves adrift in the Gulf of Mexico.

It’s not my usual episode, but I hope you’ll enjoy tagging along as I introduce you to a fellow who went from living under a bridge to selling 20 million books

A fish. The fish.

---

None of this would have happened if Andy hadn’t stopped by Arcadia Books.

All about Andy Andrews. And Andy’s books.

All about Mike’s books (including the Montaigne one).

A special thank you to Austin Andrews who opened for us at the Flora-Bama. Stunning singer/songwriter. Hear three of his songs here.

Bill-E’s, the place with the amazin’ bacon.

Mike’s recent YouTube visit with Andy:

This was a free episode. If you’d like to receive all episodes, click on the button below (it says “Subscribe Now” but you won’t actually be subscribed until you review your options and confirm):

Share this post with a friend:

Give a Voice Mail gift subscription:

---

The desk in Andy’s studio.

I made the desk!

Tellin’ stories in the Flora-Bama roadhouse.

Signin’ books over there by the foosball table…

…and the pool table.

MARGINALIA

From Andy’s book The Bottom of the Pool (which I marked up on the flight home).

So good to know I’m not the only one. This section of Andy’s book could have been pulled right from the “Confound the Fool” chapter on absentmindedness in my Montaigne book.

Andy’s books are different than mine. But I learn from them if I read with personal intent.

The man in the boat beside me. Thank you, friend.