My friend, Connie Brooks, featured above and proprietrix at Battenkill Books in Cambridge, NY, is very generous to local authors, such as Jon Katz and Jenna Wonginrich.  She's built a physical literary community in what is fast becoming a virtual literary world.  Battenkill Books is a partner in The Curiosity Forum, a group that brings intelligent conversation on books, shipwrecks, ceramics, theater, bread-baking, and you-name-it to the community.  A cross-section of a reading there reveals artists, farmers, professors, avid readers and active citizens.

My other local bookstore, Northshire, draws astounding readers to town - Rachel Maddow, for one.  Mary Allen, a friend and the director of events and publicity there, is so smart and well-read it's ridiculous.  She's an excellent thought partner when I'm reviewing a book or building a reading list for a class.

I always think of the value these stores bring to us; we can't afford to lose independent stores that bring us varied book selections and independent thinking.  (So you should probably come to my readings at these stores, and buy a book, even if it's not mine. Wink.  Nudge.)

Connie has kindly made a page where you can pre-order my book.  Once the books come in, I'll go and sign them before they come to you - and I'm happy to customize my note (just tell Connie when you order the book).  

Warning:  my signature is an all-caps, screaming-crazy, spider-like mess, but I hope it will delight you all the same.  I promise it's more unstable than I am.  My signature is a tequila-swigging, high-volume freak; I'm in bed by 9:30 at night and enjoy a half-glass of red wine with dinner.
 
I'm still flattered and surprised when people ask me to sign something - so I think of it as a greeting card to you, a sort-of thank-you-for-reading-my-book.  I'm so happy to do it.  xo

Pictures of Battenkill Books and Northshire from their respective websites.