Good news. Russ Iler, one of the owners of the Book Loft, in Columbus, Ohio, has generously agreed to allow a reading of “Rose In A Storm” at the bookstore at 2 p.m.,  Sunday, October 17, and Izzy is most welcome (he was barred by the Thurber House). Thanks to Russ and to Barbara Kurtz and the many other people in Ohio who bombarded me with locations and encouragement on Facebook and via e-mail. The reading will be from 2 to 4 p.m., in the courtyard of the Book Loft, one of the best independent bookstores in the country.

Russ has no problems with Izzy. We will be driving in from New York State (Maria too). I am pleased to be going to Columbus, on the way to Dayton, Cincinnati, and Lexington, Ky. I don’t mean to tweak the Thurber House too much, it’s a great place, but it sweet to be doing an alternative reading at a great bookstore. We’ll make it  celebration of Thurber and, of course Izzy. I am chuckling over the idea that Izzy can go see dying people in hospitals and hospice, but not to the Thurber House. How Thurber would have enjoyed that. And I am tickled to make a bit of mischief. So we are set. Next Sunday, 2 p.m. Hail to the Facebook people, a tough and wonderful crowds.