I don’t know about you but I’m having trouble keeping up with all of the names our Corporate Nation is giving to our holidays and weekends, the reporters are flummoxed trying to sort one out from another. Black Friday. Good Deed Wednesday. Small Business Saturday.  Bargain Thursday. Cyber Monday. I guess the trick is to come up with a lot of new ways and labels to take your money. And it is working.

The Corporate Nation has just gobbled up Thanksgiving like a piece of pumpkin pie.

This does not seem to me to be the realm of the book writer, but here I am, up to my neck in irony and mixed emotions. I have small things to offer – tote bags, photos, notecards, signatures and inscriptions. Everyone who orders a copy of “Saving Simon: How A Rescue Donkey Taught Me The Meaning Of Compassion” from my local bookstore, Battenkill Books, will get something, although nothing like a big screen TV or a new Ipad or Iphone.

I am leaving my publisher for another, and as my agent predicted, my book has been orphaned, just like Simon was. So I decided to launch the “Saving Simon Orphans Book Tour.” I feel like a rowboat in the midst of giant ocean liners even mentioning my book today, but I hope you will consider it. I won’t quit on my book, even in the face of such mind-boggling competition.

It’s time to think about Christmas, and this is a good gift for everyone who loves an animal, has rescued one, owns one, might get one, or wants to keep them in our lives. I will sign and personalize each copy bought at Battenkill Books, my local bookstore. Everyone who buys a book will also get a free tote bag that ways “Peace. Love. Books.” They will also all be eligible to win free coupons for Fromm Family Pet Food, the food my dogs eat. Also some potholders, photos, notecards.

I can’t say this will make Amazon tremble, but it will help Simon’s story, it deserves to be read and seen and heard, I believe. You can check out some of the early reviews here.

You can order the book from Connie Brooks at Battenkill Books right here. Or call the store at 518 677-2515. They take Paypal and ship anywhere in the world. While I am not approach billions of dollars in sales from bargain hunters, book buyers will each get something – a bargain, a free gift, the chance to support a worthy small business, and a chance to help spread the word about a donkey whose story ought to live. Not a big screen TV, but not bad. Thanks.