Well, it’s been a long road to this point. I’ll spare you those details (for now!). But the official publication date for I Hate It Here, Please Vote For Me: Essays on Rural Political Decay is almost upon us. August 1 is the day.
Have you seen the fantastic cover?
WVU Press has done an amazing job with the design. And I couldn’t be more grateful for their work and support.
And how about this “campaign mailer” that’s heading out?
I’m proud of this book, and most of all how it marks a wider impact of my run for the state House in 2020. You might have noticed that politics are rotten again, and that the forces of angry right-wingedness are still bullying their way forward. That has a lot to do with what happens in rural America, and it also has a ton to do with how people think rural America functions, laundering the awful ideals of the right wing as somehow appealing to a broad swath of Americans. Nope.
Anyway, here’s the shameless promotion. Why not order the book!? Now’s a great time, because the Press is offering a 20% sale all month long. Use code SUMMER24 when you order straight from WVU Press. Or, you could order the book from your favorite local bookshop, which would have the added bonus of introducing the book to said bookshop, making them say why yes we do need this book on our shelves for others to buy!
Also, if you don’t already know, I have a Substack, which will include author updates, and, likely, political musings, particularly related to rural stuff. Maybe subscribe to that!? Next week, there will be some stuff on the Tractor Supply kerfluffle.
Matt Ferrence 