September 4, 2009 – In the post-movie morning, I am eager to move on with my life. Had a wonderful visit yesterday from my children’s book editor, Sally Doherty from Holt and her family, Christopher and Anna. She came to meet Lenore, of course, as much as me, and Lenore would make a great agent. So would Izzy, they both turned on the charm. Sally bristles with ideas and Anna is a premier dog lover, and at several points, I looked over to see Rose, Izzy and Lenore all snuggling with her and licking her at once. Good work, guys, I thought.
We are both excited, I think, to make some children’s books. It will not be easy, I sense, but worthwhile.
Frieda watched from across the room, moaning and growling, and taking a break to come over and steal ice cream from Christopher’s bowl, after which she huffed and barked at him.
We all went out to dinner – Maria too – while the movie was aired on HBO. It was a warm and wonderful evening, filled with ideas and connection. Today, the book tour resumed at 8 a.m., with an interview on “America’s Morning News with John McCaslin and Melanie Morgan” on the Talk Radio Network, a conservative radio network with a huge audience.
I’ve been invited on several conservative radio broadcasts – I guess the subject matter, spirituality, souls and animals – and the interviews have all been intelligent, entertaining and thoughtful. Tomorrow, Saturday the tour resumes at Gardenworks in Salem at 2 p.m. for “Art and Soul”, an art show we are especially proud of. Then next Wednesday, 7 p.m., Barnes & Noble, Framingham, Mass. and Thursday, the defiant and redoubtable Monson Free Library in Monson, Mass. 6:30 p.m. (413 267-3866).
We are fighting for this library, reputed to be the “best little library ever.” Fight for libraries. We need libraries as well as banks and insurance companies. We ought not let libraries vanish into the corporatist maw of layoffs, profits and budgets. What is at stake in many ways is our humanity, the traditions, records and stories that embody our culture and aspirations, the things that give us context and meaning.
If you can, come to Monson. If you can’t, think about helping your local library.
4
September
Spirits of Dogs
by Jon Katz