Happy Trails: Businessman Signs New Book

By JIM LUKSIC

The Progress

Dustin Berg, co-owner of Mesquite Branding, has spent years chronicling data and insightful tips about UTV trails around Virgin Valley and vicinity.

In fact, his compilation is literally one for the books – namely All Around Mesquite.
On Thursday, Dec. 21, Berg spent two hours signing hardcopies of his 200-page tome at Juniper Outpost boutique on Mesquite Boulevard.

It turned out to be a novel idea indeed, given the steady flow of cheerful customers who appeared at the shop on the shortest day of the year to greet Berg and purchase a signed copy.

Berg, in a modest manner, expressed that he was simultaneously excited, happy, and relieved.
“I never thought I would finish writing it,” he said during a brief break from putting pen to paper.
Among those residents who are grateful Berg completed All Around Mesquite is Charlotte Sirianni, the owner of Juniper Outpost where the event was held. Sirianni said that she has known the author for a couple of years, and had welcomed the idea of hosting his signing.

“We love collaborative opportunities,” said Sirianni, who opened her shop in 2022. “The moment we knew about the book, we wanted Dustin in here.”

She mentioned the city’s “spirit” and described his reportage as “something exciting to share.”
The pages are packed with directions, maps, and insightful nuggets about myriad sites off the proverbial beaten path.

One of many good-natured customers on hand Thursday was Mesquite resident Karen Simpson, who purchased no fewer than four copies of Berg’s work – one for her family, and three more for a neighbor.
“I’m buying the book because I live here, so it’s nice to know more about the history of our city,” Simpson explained.

Berg said that when he moved to Mesquite three years ago for business purposes, part of that entailed learning about the city’s history, including the desert region encompassing the Virgin and Moapa valleys.
“I was intrigued by trails and UTVs as a kid,” he said.

Norman Utley, a local mortgage loan officer, made an appearance Thursday to support his buddy.
“Dustin and I are really good friends. I helped sponsor his book because I believe in it,” Utley said.
He explained that Berg covered the “backcountry of our community that most people aren’t aware of – and he investigated it with passion.”
E-book versions of All Around Mesquite are on sale at MesquiteBook.com.

When Berg isn’t writing about – or riding about – the trails, he operates Mesquite Branding with his wife, Jessica.