For those of you who are new here, and there are many, I am happy to report that the “Saving Simon” Orphans book tour resumes tomorrow at 1 p.m. at the Williamstown Public Library in Williamstown, Mass., a neat town where Williams College and a whole block of neat restaurants (and an independent movie theater) are located.

Last October, my book about Simon was published by Random House, my long-time publisher (27 books). Because I am leaving Random House for another publisher, “Simon & Schuster”, Random House decided to not spend a single dollar on the marketing of this book – no book tour, advertising, nothing. In publishing, it is called “orphaning” a book.

It was a shock to me, the least amount of support and attention I have ever been given in my writing life. I loved my time at Random House, they have been very good to me, I am deeply grateful for them buying and publishing my books and giving me a lifetime as a writer who could earn a living by writing books.

But they are a big corporation now and while they do many good things, loyalty and sentimentality are not important, although I was taken aback, angry and hurt. Then I decided to grow up and move on, my own ideas about loyalty and commitment are not in fashion. I’m not into whining and complaining, even when I do it.

I launched the “Saving Simon” book tour since we are both orphans in different ways, and it has been successful. The book has gone into three printings, although the amounts are small and I have been invited to a number of places this Spring – Iowa, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York. It’s a fun book tour in it’s own right, I am grateful for it and excited about it. And flattered, my ego was battered, it is restored by all the interest in my work.

Tomorrow, the “Saving Simon Orphans Book Tour” resumes after a break for the holidays and interruptions from Mother Earth. We have two more storms coming in the next couple of days, but they will all skip the Williamstown, Mass.,  Library at 1 p.m. Red is coming with me, Maria too. The library appearances have been great fun, this tour is turning out to be one of the best, and isn’t that how life works?

The library website calls me a “famous” author, so there, I must be somebody. I’m excited to kick off the book tour again.