Snow and ice storms have followed the Orphan Book tour this week, this time in Manchester, Vt., where Red, Maria and I went to talk and sign books at the Northshire Bookstore.  The weather was nasty – ice, snow and freezing rain – but 30 or so people braved the weather to come and talk with me, and we had a great time, a wonderful discussion about the future of animals that lasted an hour or so past my talk. It was the kind of talk I really love at one of the country’s best independent book stores.

I don’t mind the winter much, but I have to say freezing rain and black ice are taken seriously up here and I am very grateful to the hardy Vermonters who decided to deal with the weather and come and see me. It makes me proud and happy to be a writer. We talked about communicating with dogs and also about the New York Carriage Horse controversy, which I am learning has touched a deep chord with horse and animal lovers all over the country. This struggle is not over, it is just beginning.

The Orphan book tour will move back onto my blog until 2015, when I will hit the road again. I am loving this book tour, it has character and feeling and a great sense of connection. I wouldn’t mind if the weather improved, but that is life happening, beyond the control even of the Gods.