Meticulously researched and crafted by Bob Riepe, ‘Rough on Rats: The Trials and Tribulations of Buck Steichen’ fuses fact with fiction to tell the real stories of some of those buried at Minnesota’s Poor Farm Cemetery. Capturing life’s thirst for success and its unavoidable vulnerabilities, Riepe takes readers deep into a family who simply want a good life.

Perham, MN -- (SBWire) -- 03/20/2015 --While wandering around the graves at Fergus Falls' Poor Farm Cemetery, few are aware of exactly how many stories the site contains. With many of the deceasing living in America's rural late 1800s and early 1900s, their stories are often overshadowed by downfall, disappointment and defeat.

In the compelling 'Rough on Rats: The Trials and Tribulations of Buck Steichen', Bob Riepe tells the life story of one such family. Above all, their saga cuts to the very core of the human condition and its reaction to forces beyond control.

Synopsis:

Buck Steichen is doing his best to endure the tribulations that accompany living in rural Minnesota during a time of drought, insect infestations, and other hardships. Buck eventually finds happiness with Ellie Eberling, and in July 1874, he marries her, purchases farmland, and builds a house. It seems Buck has realized the American dream—or so he thinks.

As their family grows to include six children, Buck and Ellie bravely battle to keep everyone alive during harsh winters and farming accidents. But when typhoid fever eventually bears down on Buck and his family, tragedy strikes, causing Buck to shun his faith and seek comfort in alcohol. Now a shattered man, Buck places rat poison around his run-down homestead and attempts to move forward with his dismal life—until the day his daughter appears at his door with her intended husband and changes everything.

Rough on Rats is an epic tale of a family's struggles in rural Minnesota as they do everything in their power to survive amid trying times.

"This family's story is just a microcosm of how both rural and urban America operated over a hundred years ago," explains the author. "Times were often tough, success required work that would literally kill some and setbacks often came in abundance. This volume, however, celebrates the nation's ability to pick itself back up and carry on, even in the knowledge that folks would likely hit the ground again very soon."

Continuing, "I'm very local to Poor Farm Cemetery and worked diligently to research its inhabitants' stories, as well as extracting wisdom and life-lessons from them. In all, this is a powerful volume that perfectly contrasts life today."

Readers agree, leaving a string of positive reviews. Vicky Anderson comments, "The book captures your attention immediately and holds your interest throughout, wanting to find out what happens next to Buck. I think we can all relate to those who try so hard, only to be beaten down again and again."

Mike T. adds, "Highly recommend that everyone read Rough on Rats whether from a rural or urban background. Once the reader begins this book, they will find that it is an excellent read and hard to put down."

'Rough on Rats: The Trials and Tribulations of Buck Steichen', from LuLu, is available now:
http://amzn.to/1BSvvi5

For more information, visit the official website: http://www.bobriepe.com

About Bob Riepe
Bob Riepe earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Moorhead State College, served in the Navy as an Arabic and Russian linguist, and worked in both private and government sectors. Now retired, Bob lives in Perham, Minnesota, where he enjoys spending time with his children and writing. This is his second book.