When I found out Amy Hale Auker was considering coming to the Women Writing the West conference this past fall in Walla Walla, Washington, I told her I’d buy her a drink if she came. I’m not saying I was the deciding factor in her attendance, but she definitely collected on that drink, and we formed a quick bond over our love of writing, the outdoors, and good tacos.
I was drawn to her Instagram posts of ranching and hiking in Arizona. Then I read her book, Ordinary Skin: Essays from Willow Springs and I fell in love with her words.
I hope you’ll spend a little time getting to know this talented force of a woman. She writes, and rides, and is a reminder to us all that we should follow our passions and engage with the life around us. Also, because Amy is so generous and because I want you to get a taste of her words, you can win one of Amy’s books. Enter by commenting at the bottom of this post.
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I live and work on Spider Ranch, a 50,000 acre grazing allotment on the Prescott National Forest, in Yavapai County, Arizona. I work for day wages and write in the creases of time that I can.
How did you come to work on the Spider ranch?
I grew up in Texas and married a working ranch cowboy when I was 19 years old. For the next eighteen years I raised and homeschooled children as well as cooked for cowboy crews. When I experienced an earthquake in my life (self-induced) I ended up in California working at a pack station and then came to Arizona to be with Gail Steiger. He was very blunt… saying he didn’t need for me to cook for him, or clean house, or do his laundry. He needed me to get on my horse and ride. He needed me to cowboy for him. It changed my life.
Are there insecurities or doubts related to ranching or riding that you’ve had and how did you work through them?
We should all have doubts about what we are doing or we are just phoning it in. I had never carried a rope on my saddle when I came here. When I explained this to Gail, told him that my father and my ex-husband didn’t allow me to carry a rope on my saddle, he said, “You are not welcome to ride with me without a rope.” Within the first week we branded our first pen of calves together. I didn’t know what to do with either end of my rope, but we got the job done! Doubts and insecurities should DRIVE us, not stifle us. We should always want to be better, whether writing or riding.
What do you hope readers take away from the words you share?
I hope readers feel a drive to get closer to the natural world, have a better understanding of where their food comes from, and recognize that life is happening out there whether we are present to witness it or not. And I hope they want to witness it.
How did you get into cowboy poetry and what do you love about it?
It was an accident. My son started performing in 2001 and I was his companion at many gatherings. When Rightful Place came out, gatherings began to ask me to perform. I was appalled at the idea of reading essays aloud to audiences! I turned to my husband (singer/songwriter Gail Steiger) and said, “What do I do?” He said, “If I were you, I’d get busy and write some poems!” Cowboy poetry is an oral tradition and I love sharing the stage with talented wordsmiths who share my passion for beautiful language. They inspire me. And being up in front of an audience makes me realize, over and over again, that beautiful language should be lifted off of the flat page and shared. Stories and songs and poems bring us together. And we desperately need to be brought together rather than divided further.
(Jessica Brandi Lifland/for the Western Folklife Center)
What would you want someone who knows little to nothing about cowboy poetry to know about it?
I have to admit to having run with this question directly to my editor and dear friend, Andy Wilkinson, who is often a clearer thinker and better communicator about labels and definitions than I am. I tend to simply write what I write and bang my head against category later. Wilkinson responded to my query in this way: The only way out is to question … artificial categorization. Stevens didn’t write “insurance executive” poetry, Williams didn’t write “pediatrics” poetry, Frost didn’t write “farmer” poetry, etc. Poets write poetry, and though their poems may be about a kind of life, the poets are neither the subjects nor the classifications.
I agree with Editor Dearest, but would also add that it is not my job to ask any reader to look more closely at any culture. It is my responsibility to simply do my job and step back (my clumsy paraphrase of Lao Tzu). This question looks too closely, in my opinion, at genre, marries me, as a writer/poet, too closely to a day job, a skill set, a means to earn a paycheck. Of course, my work in the natural world, with animals, growing food, informs my writing, my creative process, as did Frost’s… as does Wendell Berry’s. And yes, there are stereotypes out there, always, surrounding any profession or region that has been grossly, and often erroneously, romanticized to the point of becoming myth rather than reality. But an astute reader and listener will be quick to see where the stereotype breaks down and were reality shines through. Poetry is poetry, no matter who writes it. I invite people to come and listen.
What is one thing you wish the general population knew about ranching/cattle work?
That most ranchers, especially those managing livestock on your public land are environmentalists. That we care deeply about the land and how it is used. I also wish people knew how much we want to eat food that is raised in a sustainable and healthy way. We eat what we produce, so we want to cook and serve a healthy beef to our families. Also, I wish people knew that cowboys, farmers, ranchers, and other people who choose to work in agriculture are not peasants. I cowboy for a living. That involves a skill set that is not easily, or ever, mastered. It is a verb.
What is something that no one has ever asked you about before that you want the world to know?
I have been asked a lot that I didn’t want the world to know. But I do have a dirty little secret. Up until a few years ago, I didn’t like dogs. I was bitten as a child. I was terrified of other people’s dogs, but tolerated a few pets when my children were at home. I sorta liked my husband’s dogs when I moved here. But until Jim came into my life, I didn’t really like them. My son asked me to keep Jim for him while he went to a job where he couldn’t have a dog, and then never reclaimed him. I fell in love with Jim. And now, because I can’t bear to be without a piece of Jim someday, we have a dog house full of puppies! We have SIX little pieces of Jim. We will give four of them away, but keep two. And in the spring, Jim and I will walk away from headquarters for a four day, three night solo hike in the wilderness, an annual tradition for us. He keeps the bears out of camp, keeps me warm in the early morning hours, and is the most polite, constant companion I have ever had.
Oh, and I like cows more than horses. Shhhh….
What inspires you?
When I am actively writing a manuscript, in the throes of creative process, EVERYTHING inspires me…. the fire in the wood stove, a memory, a crumpled napkin on the kitchen table, a return address on an envelope, puppy breath…. It is a state of being. But, for the most part, my inspiration always comes from the natural world. That is where the metaphors are kept.
Happy Galentine’s Day!
Win Amy’s book, Ordinary Skin: Essays from Willow Springs or her book, Rightful Place, by telling me about your most memorable Valentine’s Day in the comments below. Memorable doesn’t have to be good. I’ve been under a skunk attack, been with someone who had a medical emergency, and even fought with a date on Valentine’s. They were memorable, but I don’t care to repeat any of them. Contest will close next Wednesday, February 20th at 5pm PST and winners will be announced later that week. Comment below and on the Facebook post for double entry!
10 responses to “Get To Know Author & Cowgirl Amy Hale Auker”
My long-time “heart” horse died just before Valentine’s Day and my brother-in-law lost his job the day after, in the same year.
I hope this year is a better year for you both, even though the horse could never be replaced.
My husband & I actually celebrate Valentine’s on the 13th. When were dating our first Valentine’s was coming up & I was supposed to make reservations at a fancy restaurant. I forgot and when I called on the 11th of February they had seating for two at 2:45 p.m. or 9:30 p.m. I enquired if there was any availability on the 13th, the person on the phone sort of scoffed and said name my time. My now-husband proposed to me on that February 13th many years ago, and we continue to celebrate the 13th as our personal Valentine’s Day.
I absolutely love this! And I’m really surprised the person scoffed. I’ve worked in food service and hospitality and I would be encouraging the people to come in on a different night. Valentine’s is so busy and so many places have limited menus, it doesn’t have the special feel that a place might normally have. So neat that he proposed on the 13th. Happy Anniversary today!!!
My hubby and I have been married for 12 years this November, together 14 years. I made him date me for 2 years because I was a “package deal” as I had a preteen daughter! I wanted to make sure he knew what he was getting into. He tackled fatherhood pretty good. We have had our ups and downs, as I’m writing this I’m home recovering from pneumonia, I know he’s worried about me. We’ve always held jobs, road trips together, laughed about strange stuff and marvel at the fact that we are 8 years and 8 days born apart…me being the older of us. He’s still “the One”, we annoy each other…but no one else would be able to put up with us. He’s my “Left Brain to my Right Brain”.
What a good mama you are! I hope you feel better soon, pneumonia is awful.
I rarely celebrate Valentine’s day because my husband and I have birthdays just before-we are usually celebrated out by the 14th. I do give out copious amounts of chocolate to my high school students.
Because you are a fantastic teacher! I’m sure the kids appreciate it 🙂
Since im only 21, i haven’t had many Valentine’s day memories. I remember when i was little celebrating Valentine’s day with special dinners cooked at home with my family. I love to read new stories and would love to win and find a new author to enjoy.
what sweet memories! My mom’s birthday is Valentine’s day so we always had some sort of family celebration too 🙂