Publishing has changed almost beyond recognition, but there is one perk that publishers still concede to writers, that is two copies of a new book fresh off the printing press. “Talking To Animals: How You Can Understand Animals And They Can Understand You,” is my 25th or 26th book, depending on how you count them.

it is always exciting to hold a new book with my name on it. Maria is insisting on taking me out to dinner. I think before that, I’ll take a long walk and let it settle in.

“Talking To Animals” will be published by Atria, a division of Simon and Schuster, and is available for sale on March 5. By contract, I get my first copy about a month earlier, and then another box of books after pub date.

There are no more grand national book tours for me or most authors, but I do get to do some readings around the Northeast and will do a lot of promotion online, and especially on Facebook and other social media, where books are promoted now.

My first reading will be at Battenkill Books on May 2, at 7 p.m. I’ll be at Northshire Books in Manchester, Vt. early in June. I’m also speaking at the Connecticut Library Association meeting near Mystic, Conn. on May 4.  I’ll post the other appearances as they are firmed up.

The book is smallish, not a long read. But it’s full of stories and ideas.

It recounts my lifetime experiences with learning how to communicate with animals and also learning to listen to them.  I talk about my experiences with visualization, emotion and body language.

There are a lot of new anecdotes about that, going back to my early childhood. It also focuses on my feeling that we need a wiser and more mystical understanding of animals than now exists, and I use the story of the New York Carriage Horses to help me make that point.

I’m currently working on my book after that, “Lessons Of Bedlam Farm,” and that is turning out to be a rich and uplifting writing experience. It will be published sometime next year. This is my first book in two years, since “Saving Simon,” it feels very good to me.

Much of my writing now is on my blog, and I love that nearly as much as book writing, it fits me. But in my heart, I will always see myself as a book writer.

If you wish to pre-order “Talking To Animals,” I will sign and personalize every copy bought at Battenkill Books, my local and wonderful independent bookstore. The first 1,000 people who pre-order the book will also receive a classy and custom-designed dog-themed tote bag featuring a dog and the words “stay, sit,” and “read.” It is all cotton, sturdy and quite classy.

There are more than 500 pre-orders as of now, there are plenty of tote-bags left. I hope to pass 1,000 and order some more. I’m proud of the book, I think it is revealing, honest and timely, and best of all, it is already controversial. Bark Magazine refused to even read the galley.

This, I have learned, is where I belong. So here we go again. I am blessed many times over, I have wanted to be a book writer ever since I wanted to be anything, and am so privileged to be one. Come along for the ride of you wish, Connie Brooks at Battenkill takes Paypal and major credit cards.