Day: October 4, 2010

October 4, 2010 – Rose and I went up to the top of the pasture today and she looked around everywhere for the sheep. It will take her a few days, I suspect, to get that they are gone.

There’s a reason they call them family farms. Father and daughter – Ed Rouse and his daughter Judy Baldwin –  work together much of the day, speaking softly and communicating intuitively. There is no end to work, work, work in head, rain, cold, with flies, manure and big animals, many things to lift, move, bend over and adjust.

My first novel in a decade, “Rose In A Storm” is now onsale, online and in book stores, as an e-book and a print book. I’m going to spend the month of October fighting for it, because it is the expression of my life as a writer and in some ways, as a human being, and the culmination of my time on this remarkable farm with my remarkable dogs, especially Rose. It was also much influenced by the arrival of Maria into my life, and her dog Frieda, the model for the “Wild Dog” in the novel.

The latest review, from Amazon’s Early Reviewer program, calls the novel a “first-rate read. Katz develops the character of Rose in an unforgettable manner and his ability to fashion a believable narrative from the dogs point of view is remarkable…The book will appeal to all animal lovers as well as readers’ searchng for a  really inspiring read. It has it all, from joy to sadness to inspiration, in a manner that will touch the heart and, if you’re not careful, perhaps leave you a bit misty-eyed.”

Thanks Charles Nobles of Tulsa, Oklahoma, for that wonderful review.

Last burst of foliage, I think, and I am pursuing my “portrait” idea of things. Every flower, ever leaf, is a potrait. Get a good lens, get close, go for the color and emotion. Got two infra-red heaters, an experiment to help with heating costs this winter. So far I like them. Good supplement and I’m already using the furnace a lot less.

Sunrise hit the bookshelf this morning. Made me think about books.

My nineteenth book is coming out tomorrow, and it is the riskiest for me. I stepped out of the Bedlam Farm/memoir franchise, successful for me, and returned to fiction, writing an awakening/women’s story focused on a loyal and fiercely competent working dog, and told from the dog’s point of view. Threw in a touch of spirituality and mysticism too.

Publishing is changing more rapidly than even I can quite keep up with. Reviews have moved from big media to online readers, a good thing, I think, but like everything online, chaotic and unevent. The review for “Rose” have been quite wonderful, and I am aglow. Some people are put off my my returning to fiction – why not stay with the memoirs? Some obviously have a different view of the way dogs think than I do. Some love it. A few called it “controversial.” That’s the wondrous thing about writing a book. You never know until it comes out what it’s about.

Book tours are changing as well as reviews. Publishers are moving away from the structured event tour and more towards the Internet, which is cheaper and reaches more people.  I am hitting the road with Maria and Izzy (with the blessing and support of Random House) to see my readers and talk to them. I am getting the usual unnerving messages about people wanting to bring dogs to my readings or drop off their troubled dogs. I am always amazed at the idea that people need to bring troubled dogs to a literary reading. And then there are the many nice messages of good luck and from people who want to meet us. Very gratifying. Internet technology is important. So are face to face meetings and readings. Because this is a novel, I will be reading from the book. I will also be bringing the Family Farm Notecards to sell for $16 a pack. Proceeds will help family farms. First thing I’ve ever sold at my readings. Maria will help.

My technology is ready. I have a new camera, a working Ipad, and a laptop for back-up, so I will be using the blog, Facebook and the camera to bring the book tour into modern times.

There is also the e-book factor. E-books are not counted on bestseller lists, so it will be hard to gauge the sales of “Rose” for awhile. Publishing is different in so many ways. One of them is that they don’t keep writers around because they like them any more. The books have to make money. This seems fair to me. What business doesn’t work that way? But definitely focuses the writer more on how a book is doing, since it could always be his or her last.

The cycle turns for me. As “Rose” comes out, I have completed work on “Dancing Dogs’ my short story collection. And on my book on Animal Grieving, which goes into the publisher today. Have some decisions to make beyond that, as I also have my first children’s book “Meet The Dogs Of Bedlam Farm” coming out next Spring. I am hoping to continue writing short stories and to stay with fiction for a book.

One early reviewer asked plaintively, “why a novel? Why not just write about the farm?” Well, that one was simple. Because I made it up. ): For those of you who have supported my writing, thanks. For those of you who have bought or play to buy “Rose,” thanks again. I appreciate it. And it matters.

This week, I will be on WAMC (Northeast Public Radio with Joe Donahue at 2:30 p.m.) and then,  at Barnes & Noble in Saratoga Springs at 5 p.m. for an unofficial book signing. I am planning to bring Rose, for her one and only appearance on the book tour. She doesn’t like bookstores or crowds of people, but she ought to be on hand for the first appearance of the book in bookstores. She deserves it.

Friday at 7, the book tour officially kicks off at Northshire Books in Manchester Center. Izzy will be there. I will be reading from “Rose” for the first time and talking about the book. Christine Nemec of Redux will be present also to help sell the Family Farm notecard series ($16. Cash and checks only) to help family farms.

On October 15, also at 7 p.m.,I will be reading and signing at the Crandall Public Library in Glens Falls, courtesy of the Red Fox Bookstore.