University Books, Mill Creek, just before my talk and signing. Tonight, 7 p.m., Third Place Books, Seattle.

I’ve been going on book tours for nearly 20 years and I’ve never seen them change as much as they have in the past few years. I believe book tours will continue as a means of writers meeting their audiences face-to-face. But I’m not sure in what form. The bookstores are uneasy. Hardcover books are not selling, and sales are being siphoned off by cheaper e-books and e-book readers. The stores have no way of drawing audiences to the bookstores. Neither do the publishers. It’s up to the writers.

Everywhere I go, people have Googled me – the bookstore employees, teachers, librarians,  the car drivers, hotel desk clerks and restaurant managers, even a taxi driver tonight. Everyone knows everything. Everyone is talking about gas prices. Everyone dislikes Congress. Everyone is worried about their jobs and money. Everyone loves dogs and cats and stories about dogs and cats. My blog brings people to stores,  as does Facebook, Twitter and You Tube. And, I hope, my books.

For years, it was a bit  frustrating to go to signings and mostly get questions about dog training. Now, we talk about dogs, animals, life, fear, attachment theory, spirituality, hospice, and yes, even writing sometimes. Kids love Lenore, but Rose is the dog that seems to hold people’s imaginations. Interest in Frieda is rising. People want to hear about Izzy and hospice work. Much interest in the donkeys and my writing about spirituality, fear and rural life. Humbling, humbling, humbling.