The Westhampton, Mass. Public Library is a beautiful thing, a monument to the wonderful things grass roots can grow. Some book lovers in the tiny village of Westhampton decided they wanted a new library, the town voted the idea down year after year. A small group of people would not quit, they got the biggest church in town to give up their parsonage, raised money for years, finally badgered the town into approving their idea.

It took a long time, it was worth it, the new library is beautiful, welcoming, beloved. Mikki Nevins of the library staff graciously invited me to the library to talk about the future of animals in our world and my newest book, “Saving Simon: How A Rescue Donkey Taught Me The Meaning Of Compassion.”

This is the eighth library I have visited on my hurriedly-crafted “Saving Simon” book tour, and  this was one of the best ideas I have had in my writing life. There was a good and enthusiastic crowd, they had lots of thoughtful and intelligent questions, and this personal and sweet tour has nourished and affirmed me as a writer.

I used to feel on some of my book tours that some people thought I was a dog trainer, they kept asking me questions about breeding and housebreaking. People assumed I emotionalized dogs as much as they sometimes did, and I often left bookstores and libraries feeling puzzled and frustrated about the kind of writing I was doing. It seemed people were not reading what I was writing.

Maria noticed that this has changed, our conversations are deep and thoughtful and wide-ranging. I never feel like a dog trainer, and I suspect one reason for that is the blog – most of the people I have met on this book tour are readers of the blog, they are eager to talk about the meaning of animals in our lives, and they understand the range of things I try and write about the subject. The blog has been a powerful tool for me to develop and advance my ideas, and for me to listen to the ideas of others. This book tour is the one I always wanted, how odd life is, the best things often come in the most unexpected ways.

If my publisher hadn’t orphaned the book – abandoned it because I was switching publishers – this tour would ever have happened. And I have never felt  better about my life as a writer.

This makes the tour especially meaningful to me. The Northeast leg of the book tour – plagued by a savage series of winter storms –  ended today, on May 2-6 I will be in Iowa, talking at the Des Moines Public Library, Drake College, and visiting Iowa City and Cedar Rapids – the Prairie Lights Book Store, among other places. That will be the end of the tour, I will bear down and finish “Talking To Animals,” due out next year. It is going well, more than half finished. It is a 15-year project of love and experience communicating with animals.

I’ve gone on book tours nearly every year for 30 years, this is the first one I have planned myself, and it is the best book tour.  It is a dialogue with my readers in the best sense of the term, and I am always in awe of the impact the blog has on people everywhere I go. They are thrilled to meet Red and Maria, she is often peppered with questions about her art (she loves to answer them) and Red is a rock star, people line up to meet him.

He knows how to work a room.

I appreciate the great questions, the kind comments about my photography, the warm and kind words about my writing. There is enormous interest in my farm, and more surprisingly, great  support for the New York Carriage Horses out in the world. There is also a great awakening about the urgency of finding ways to keep animals in our everyday lives. A retired philosophy professor sparked a meaningful discussion on morality, choices, people and animals. Definitely a far cry from housebreaking questions.

And there was even a food table with cider, cheese, crackers and fruit.

I had a great time in Westhampton, books and writing are alive and well in this small town. The library speaks to the power of citizenship and the things good people can do if they are determined. It was a pleasure to be in their hard won and beautiful new library. I hope they’ll ask me back.