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Time in the Turkey Woods
In Tales From the Roost, you share with readers a collection of both heartfelt and humorous tales taken from decades of time spent sharing the experience of hunting with friends. Why was this an important book for you to write?
As with the other turkey hunting storybooks, it is a capture in time. It is an important period as many changes in life had taken place in that period. It has altered my perspective, and how I experience my time in the turkey woods and I hope that my readers see that in this collection of time in the turkey woods.
Is there anything you left out of this book that you now wish you had included? Any anecdotes?
My initial response to that would be no, but as I give it a little bit of thought, I might have captured more with how I rough out my writings now. Voice-to-text is something I am using to make it more immediate, maybe a bit rawer emotion. From there I can edit and apply more nuance that I strive for. Any delay in capturing the experiences for me tends to gloss over or omit many finer details.
Why was it important for you to use a conversational tone when writing Tales From the Roost?
It goes all the way back to my first book, Hills of Truxton as I was greatly inspired by Tim Herald’s book Gobblers I Have Known that came out in 2001. It reminded me so much of the conversations at the local diner, or at the back of a pickup truck at a gate.
Can we look forward to more work from you soon? What are you currently working on?
Two long-term projects are next to finish up. Empire Limb Hangers is wrapping up. It’s a wild turkey records book for New York, and a data-intensive, with and lot of moving parts to finish. The second big project is D.D. Adams: Evolutionary Turkey Call Pioneer, which is a biography of the famous turkey call maker, and again, it has many moving parts to it, and several setbacks that occurred. Both projects have been interrupted due to career and life changes I have had, but it will be a great thing to complete both of them.
I have other titles in various stages and will be coming out with my first novel in 2026. In addition, I am working on a wild turkey cookbook with my wife and several interesting novel concepts with my cousin in Australia!
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Tales From the Roost: Roost’n Time Tales
Mike Joyner’s Tales from the Roost is a heartfelt, often humorous, and nostalgic collection of turkey hunting stories pulled from decades of woods-walking, gobbler-chasing, and camaraderie among fellow outdoor enthusiasts. This book is about the moments that make up a hunter’s life. Each chapter offers a fresh snapshot of Joyner’s exploits across the U.S., from foggy Maine mornings to sun-drenched Texas pastures. Through it all, Joyner captures not only the thrill of the hunt but also the quiet reflection that comes with time spent in nature.
Joyner’s writing is conversational. He doesn’t hide behind fancy words or inflated drama. Instead, he tells it like it happened—funny, awkward, successful, or not. I found myself laughing at his misadventures (hello, Whack O’ Mole) and nodding along during his more poignant moments of introspection, especially when he reflected on aging, loss, and the irreplaceable bond with his hunting friends and family.
The sheer volume of stories could feel a bit overwhelming at times, and some tales tread similar ground in terms of setup and outcome. But honestly, that’s how campfire storytelling goes. You don’t critique your buddy for retelling the same tale—it’s part of the ritual. What kept it fresh were Joyner’s sharp observations, his eye for detail, and his emotional honesty. He doesn’t shy away from talking about personal health scares, the passing of loved ones, or the bittersweet ache of time slipping by. That vulnerability is rare in books about hunting, and I appreciated it more than I expected.
I’d recommend Tales from the Roost to anyone who’s ever sat under a tree waiting for a gobble or just dreamed of doing so. Die-hard turkey hunters will see themselves in Joyner’s predicaments, and those new to the woods will come away with a genuine feel for what makes this pursuit so addictive. It’s not a technical manual or a how-to guide—it’s better. It’s a tribute. This book is for the storytellers, the memory-makers, and anyone who knows the joy of a quiet sunrise and a bird that finally answers back.
Pages: 287 | ASIN : B0F1MLQNMH
LITERARY TITAN 