Marilyn Brooks is an artist and a friend. She is the mother of Connie Brooks, owner of the Battenkill Bookstore, and it is a lovely thing to see the two of them working together and supporting one another. Marilyn also does some video reviews of my books – her review of my short story collection “Dancing Dogs” is going up later this week.

Marilyn is also an emerging artist. Maria and I were in the bookstore – I am in there every day signing books now – and I saw this on the wall. I was surprised, as it is very different from Marilyn’s other works. Marilyn is shy and very uncomfortable selling herself and at first she was too flummoxed to want to sell it and she couldn’t name a price for it, so I did and she agreed to sell it to me.

It is a beautiful thing, untitled, and I took it right over to the New Bedlam Farm and hung it in my new office. I am no artist, but I love the use of colors and the feel of this stream. I admire Marilyn. She has overcome some challenges in her life and she is brave and loving and creative. I am lucky to have this.  It is, to me, a gorgeous piece of work. Got it pretty cheap, too.