I have the most wonderful relationship with Battenkill Books, a great independent bookstore, my local bookstore,  in the process of showing the world why independent bookstores are important, why they provide unique and valuable services, why they can succeed in the Digital Age in the Corporate Nation. Connie Brooks has sold thousands of my books, and other people’s books.  I sign and personalize every book she sells.

I was in the store this morning signing some books and I looked over and saw this very pretty sign – a whole shelf of my books in different colors. A parade of my animal-writing and rural-life book life. A rainbow, eye candy for any author. You can order any books or any of my books by going to the Battenkill Bookstore website, or by calling 518 677-2515 or by e-mailing Connie at [email protected]. I will sign any books you buy from Battenkill in any (reasonable) way you wish. So will authors Jenna Woginrich, Megan Mayhew Bergman or James Howard Kunstler. We are all Washington County-based authors eager to support a wonderful and worthy bookstore.

We are all different and write about different things in different ways. We share a love of Battenkill Books, and we are all determined to see that it stays around a long while. The experiment is working. Connie sold more than 1,100 copies of my last book, “Going Home: Finding Peace When Pets Die.” Battenkill had its best year ever in 2011. This year will be better with your help.

Connie  is not whining about Amazon or seeking charity. She is working hard, changing and becoming increasingly relevant and important, and so is the Battenkill Experiment. It is working. Humans count.