Red is no dope, he loves women, he is figuring out that bookstores will play a role in his life, he is loving flirting as much as he loves herding sheep, so it is no surprise that he and Connie Brooks, the owner of Battenkill Books and he are pals. He is also learning how to pose for the camera. We will be spending a lot of time at Battenkill this year. I am working on Saturdays as Recommender-In-Chief. Yesterday Connie suggested (her mother Marilyn also) that I pose for a portrait – me, Frieda and Maria – for the “Second Chance Dog” book for the special order page she is putting up on her website. I said no, I didn’t want to do that. Then she suggested that my friend George Forss take the photo, and when I told Random House about it, they said they would love that for an author’s photo at the back of the book.

Connie and her mother are smart. Don’t mess with them. I could not say no to that. George was excited, he has all kinds of ideas about how to do it.