Connie and Marilyn Brooks broke out the wine at Battenkill Books this morning to celebrate the sale of the 1,000th copy of “Second Chance Dog: A Love Story” at the bookstore. If you are in publishing, you know this is a very big deal, selling that many copies of a hardcover book in a beautiful but small bookstore in a town in upstate New York. The 1,000 buyer was Karen Pedevillano, a school teacher in Massachusetts.
As often happens in a small town, the news spread quickly, Leslie Parke, a well-known artist was in the store, Deb Foster, our friend and pet-sitter came in (she mostly fussed with Red, but she did celebrate book sale with some wine) and we all shared this very sweet moment. It is a wonderful affirmation of Connie’s bookstore, already much-loved by her new customers, of my new book tour campaign, and of course, of my book as well. Maria and I will be back there this afternoon signing another load of books to ship out in time for Christmas.
Karen will get her book for free, and she will get some other free books as well – two of my paperbacks and some other stuff we are tossing in. “I read Jon and Maria’s blog each night before I go to bed,” she e-mailed Connie, “I teach 5th graders reading and writing all day and it helps me wind down and become introspective about my students and life. My husband John and I, like Jon and Maria, have been given a second chance. I would love it if they both could sign the book: “Karen and John, second chances are a gift to be treasured.”
It will be a great pleasure for us to sign the book Karen, and to invite her and John to visit the farm when she can. I feel like we ought to meet. It is a great milestone for me and my book, of course, but it is a particular testament to Connie, for her wonderful bookstore and the wonderful people who work there – Connie, her mother Marilyn, Kate Reid and Colleen. The book orders were overwhelming for a small store with a small staff, but these remarkable women handled the orders with unfailing organization, warmth, courtesy and graciousness. A pleasure to see.
People tell me every day how much they enjoy calling Battenkill, talking to the staff, supporting this wonderful independent bookstore. We have ignited something much larger than my book, I think this is part of a new wave sweeping the country – there are some things we will not let go, not even to the corporate behemoths gobbling up our world. It is sometimes cheaper to buy a book elsewhere, but never as humanizing, fun, and connecting.
Karen, from her message, is the perfect person to be the 1000th buyer of my book at Battenkill. Honestly, this was an ambitious goal, even for me. Connie had grave doubts we would make it, I wavered a few times myself. In this market, that is an astounding number of books for one small store to sell, especially when there is nothing promoting the book but a blog.
But I have been working for years to advance the notion that new digital platforms offer writers like myself a new way to connect with their audience, to build communities rather than simply sell books (one leads to the other.) In the talks I give, I like to say that Amazon did not change publishing, the future changed publishing. I embrace the challenge of the future, and I am awed and humbled that this ferociously loyal and supportive and compelling community has coalesced around that idea. The future is diverse and challenging, but it does not exclude community, individuality or bookstores like Connie’s.
One thousand books are one thousand votes for the centrality of writing in our culture, for our love of books, for our determination to preserve small and independent bookstores so that we may retain the sense of community, individuality and service that large corporations can never offer. It is also empowering for authors like me, I believe new technology gives the writer the empowering tools to shift to the digital future. Many of the people reading my blog bought their books from Connie, many bought them online or elsewhere.
I wanted to support Battenkill, but I also wanted to make a point: people care where they buy what they buy, and from who. Battenkill become a rallying cry for my book, a reason for people to support it. I did not imagine how deep that current might run, but I am overjoyed to see it.
My blog triggered three printings of “Second Chance Dog.” We are making a lot of noise. This was a big step, a loud vote for community. I thank you so much. I’ve been trying to phone Karen all morning, but she isn’t home, I’ll keep trying.
With this landmark, I have achieved much of what I wished to achieve on my new book tour. It is time for me to move on and take these lessons into the future. I feel quite wonderful about it, and grateful. The blog is my work, my great book, it is my mother. I’ll have another book tour lined up next year at this time: “Saving Simon: How A Rescue Donkey Taught Me The Meaning Of Compassion.” Thanks Karen, I’ll be talking to you soon.