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My 27th book is about to come out in October, it is called “Saving Simon: How A Rescue Donkey Taught Me The Meaning Of Compassion.” Red and I went to Battenkill Books today to touch base with Connie  Brooks, the owner of Battenkill Books. We are plotting our fall campaign to sell 2,000 copies of the book at Battenkill Books, my local bookstore. Last year, for “Second Chance Dog,” we hit 1,000 copies sold in the store. This year, we will start earlier, perhaps in July. . Any book purchased through Battenkill books will be signed and personalized by me, and can be shipped anywhere in the country.

We will also be offering some give-a-ways again, free books, notecards, potholders, maybe some free Fromm  food again. Connie has put up a pre-order page for “Saving Simon,” the book details the rescue of Simon from the farm where he was starving, his rehabilitation at Bedlam Farm and his move to the new farm, with Rocky, the blind pony, and with Red, who he repeatedly tried to stomp and drive off. It explores the theme of compassion.

The experience of working to save Simon – Maria said she had never seen a look on my face like the one when I first saw  him – and learning to love him opened me up in a lot of ways. He led me to accepting Red, to letting go of Bedlam Farm, to moving to the new farm, to understanding that compassion isn’t always about prolonging life it is sometimes about taking life. Simon helped me to look at compassion in a number of different ways.

I am happy to join the proud line of crazy writers who hang around with donkeys, and who walk through life with them.

Compassion is an easy thing to preach, a difficult thing to practice. You can now pre-order “Saving Simon” through  Battenkill Books. Many of you know the wonderful staff there, it is a great bookstore, an affirmation of the need for bookstores in our communities. So you can support bookstores and my work and Simon’s life all at the same time and strike a blow or two for individuality. Please consider pre-ordering “Saving Simon” from Battenkill Books, thanks. The book will be published a day before the October Open House at Bedlam Farm. Simon and I will be signing autographs and book jackets.