It is a surreal experience sometimes, I feel as if I saved Simon once, and now I have to save Simon again, or at least save his story. My book “Saving Simon: How A Rescue Donkey Taught Me The Meaning Of Compassion,” came out in October and was pretty much abandoned by the publisher. This happened in part because I am moving to a new publisher,  and in part because my publisher was losing interest in my books and my writing.

It happens to mid-list authors, especially older ones.

I am very lucky, I have a great new publisher, and we are excited about one another. Despite the fact that not even one dollar was budgeted to help promote “Saving Simon,”  the book got some great publicity and reviews and is in it’s second printing. I have fashioned a home-made book tour and am loving it (I will be at Market Block Books in Troy , N.Y., signing copies from 1 p.m. to 2:30 this Sunday). But I want to keep it going, especially at this time of year. Simon is a wonderful and amazing animal, his story deserves to be told. T

he book is about Simon’s rescue and recovery, and the powerful impact it had on my life, but also about what he taught me about compassion. The book deserves to live, just as Simon does.

I will be traveling around the country promoting the book now and through the Spring, but I am focusing a lot of my energy on my local bookstore, Battenkill Books of Cambridge, N.Y., my local bookstore. Everyone who buys a signed book there will help me and Simon but also a great independent bookstore. The first 2,000 people who buy the book will received a signed photo of Simon on a postcard and I will sign and personalize (subject to editing) each book. Purchasers will also be eligible to win potholders, notecards, photos and tote bags, also coupons for free bags of Fromm Family Pet Food.

I hope to sell 2,000 copies of the book at Battenkill. You can order the book from Connie Brooks and her store online, or call the store at 518 677-2515. We are approaching the Christmas holidays and I want the Orphan book tour, as I call it (he and his book have orphaned) to live and prosper. I am just getting started.