Every day I learn something new about the new book tour and I am doing something new, things I could not be trying if I were on a plane or sitting in hotels rooms waiting for a ride. Quinne Rogers of Random House, a social media whiz, suggested using photos in a new format on Facebook, she helped me enable the posting of photos and videos on my Facebook Page, something I vaguely knew how to do but never really applied to my writing or my book tour. (It is hard to open up the mind.)

This really opened my eyes to a whole new window of opportunity for my new book tour, a way to sell more books at Battenkill Books (we are heading for 1,000 this week, the first week of publication for “Second Chance Dog”), promote my book to the wider world, engage my readers in the never-ending dialogue that is the hallmark of true interactivity. It is fascinating for me to see how my mind unfolds gradually and deliberately to the possibilities of this kind of a book tour, as opposed to flying all over the country, staying in fancy hotels (I liked that part) and leaving my blog – my umbilical cord to my readers – behind.

Many of you thank me almost daily for sharing my life with you, and today, I am offering you in earnest the opportunity to share you lives back, sharing photos and videos of your animals, your lives, your loved ones, your family – the things that are important to you, just as I share the things that are important to me. And every day.  I will be posting almost daily Facebook topics asking you to share the images of your life, with animals and beyond. Tomorrow I will ask you to post photos of your three-legged cats and dogs – a celebration of Minnie and her recovery and your pets and their recovery.

Technology gives us the opportunity to redefine not only what writing is, but how writers can interact with the people who support us and share our work. Readers have moved online, but this doesn’t mean the end of writers and writing as my new book tour is beginning to demonstrate, it means technology can connect us to them in new and very powerful ways. I loved following technology, but no one can follow all of the possibilities and opportunities, it is foolish to try, you have to be open and listen and find a Quinne Rogers to help guide you along.

This is another chapter in the new “Second Chance” book tour. Today Maria and I return to Battenkill (or call 518 677-2515) this afternoon to sign another few hundred books. I think we are a few hundred away from 1,000, the goal this week. Buy local, support individuality and creativity, save us from the corporate onslaught. People are liking this book for it’s happy endings, and for Plaid Friday and Christmas. You can check out the reviews of the book here and buy it from Battenkill or check out your other outlets here. And check out my Facebook Page where you will be able to share your lives with me and others in a completely different way.

I learn almost every day – and teach almost every day – that telling is one thing, showing is another.