Writing
“Somehow, her words transform ordinary life in South Dakota into something enchanting.”
-Katie Hunhoff, South Dakota Magazine
My Book:
Accidental Rancher
‘Lambs in the Laundry Room’ and other stories from Perkins County
When Eliza Blue first moved to northwestern South Dakota, she didn’t plan on staying long. After all, the singer/songwriter had spent most of her adulthood hopping from place to place. But then she fell in love with a Perkins County rancher — and the land, the wind, the livestock and the giant blue expanse of a West River sky.
Now the former urbanite tackles her daily duties on the ranch — bottle-feeding bum lambs, milking her dairy cow, Rita, and wrangling two young children — while somehow finding time to contemplate and write about life on the high plains. In Accidental Rancher, Blue shares a collection of these writings, bringing a new voice and a musician’s grace to the culture of rural America.
Recognition for Accidental Rancher
Meet An Accidental Rancher
Book Review by South Dakota Magazine: “She brings a musician’s grace. Her stories, like her songs, have a catchy way of grabbing attention.”
Pigeons: An Excerpt from Accidental Rancher
Book Excerpt by South Dakota Magazine: “The glimpses into Blue’s world are poignant and written with the uniquely lyrical perspective of a folk singer turned modern-day homesteader.”
Praise for Accidental Rancher
“
As a fellow smallholder who raises sheep, milks her own cow and adores the beauty and grandeur of the Great Plains, I find Eliza’s book to be another coming home. It’s not just the stories she tells, but the way she tells them. I placed her book on the same shelf in my library with James Herriot and Ben K. Green for good reason—the three of them are the epitome of storytelling for me and authors whom inspire my own work.
—Heather Benson, Dalarna Farm
“
When Eliza Blue first came to South Dakota, she didn’t think she would stay long. She was a city girl, a suburban woman, and a successful folk musician with gigs and albums and fans. Why on earth would she plant roots in northwestern South Dakota (one of the most remote areas in the country) raising chickens and herding sheep?
Eliza’s new book is called Accidental Rancher. It’s published by South Dakota Magazine press. It’s a book that honors the work of ranching, life in South Dakota, and family. It’s a clear and frankly beautiful exploration of the delicate moments that make up our lives, from a toddler’s steps across a beat-up ranch house floor to how a menagerie of farm animals reflects our human selves in ways that both surprise and delight.
—Josh Haiar, South Dakota Public Broadcasting
“
Having been raised in a small town, then traveling the country while living in big cities, I never dreamed I would find myself living my best life on 83 acres. With cows. Goats. Chickens. Dogs. Cats.
‘Accidental Rancher’ makes me feel so not alone with this feeling. This life was not my plan…but I am so grateful and blessed to be living it.
Eliza is so easy to relate to and her words bring such comfort to her stories. This is such a pleasant read, you can not help but smile or feel a sense of peace at the end of each story.
Take this book, find a little quiet spot, and hide from the world for a bit with this read. It is absolutely worth it.
—Carrie, Review via Amazon
My Column:
Little Pasture on the Prairie
“Little Pasture on the Prairie,” is a weekly column based on my experiences living and working on a cattle and sheep ranch on short grass prairie of the Northern Plains.
I’ve been compared to Laura Ingalls Wilder and E.B. White with a cowgirl slant, though I consider the poet Mary Oliver to be my biggest influence.
Current Distribution
The column is currently carried by 18 different media outlets, including the Black Hills Pioneer, Cattle Business Weekly, Farm & Dairy, and Daily Yonder, and has an ancillary audio version that has been broadcast on South Dakota Public Broadcasting and Prairie Public Broadcasting.
A Day in the Life of a Rancher
The column deals with themes related to rural living, and reads like a short story, capturing vignettes from the seasonal cycle of chores. After a decade spent touring as a folk-singer and fiddler based out of New York City, and then Minneapolis, I fell in love with a cowboy and made the crazy decision to put down roots on the western prairie and become a ranch wife. My inexperience, as well as my love for this life, lends itself to some colorful tales.
Work With Me
Want to carry the column in your publication? Use the link below to get in touch with me.
Collected Writings
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Lessons from the Cottonwoods
Image by Christian Begeman This week, the sandhill cranes passed over our ranch. Their distinct whirling coo and haphazard V formation are easy to recognize, and it always feels…
Articles & Features
New York Times Op/Ed:
“A Shortage of Steak? Yes, and Ranchers Knew It Was Coming”
Daily Yonder
Read my column featured in the Daily Yonder
The Guardian
‘We’ve been on fire watch for almost nine months’
Fresh Words Direct to Your Inbox!
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