Red has become an accomplished and savvy bookstore dog, when I come in to sign books at Battenkill, he hangs out in the dog section, when customers like this young man come into look through the books, he sits alongside of them, putting his head under their hands. He sells a lot of books.
Connie Brooks and I get to spend a lot of time together around the holidays, she and I launched a program a few years ago. I sign and personalize all books bought through her store, she does the bone-grinding work of taking calls, sorting through e-mails, dealing with publishers, shipping and package and handling money.
I think she gets the worse end of the deal, it is a joy for me to go every day to my signing table (she has a box of pens for me) and bring Red and sign the books ordered overnight. My wrist sometimes gets tired signing so many books, but it is wonderful to get the chance to be tired that way.
Today, the table was filled with Thursday’s orders, it is a wonderful thing for a writer to see. Battenkill has become an essential element in my writing life.
Over these few years, our arrangement has grown and learned. Connie e-mails me when I need to come, and I try and come in faithfully and regularly, as it is backbreaking work to take all those calls and organize and ship all of those books.
Connie has already sold 1,000 copies of “Saving Simon,” an astonishing feat in today’s publishing world. My book is in it’s third printing already, an equally surprising thing. A few years ago, we were reading that bookstores are vanishing, a thing of the past. Last year, Connie had her best year ever.
We are learning together. We see that blogs are a powerful way to support and sell books. We see that people very much wish for bookstores to remain in our world, and not only order them online or on e-book devices. We see that discounts and overnight shipping are not the only thing people care about when they shop for books. We see that books are alive and well, despite all the pronouncements about their doom. It is, I believe, a golden age of story-telling.
I have also seen first-hand what it takes to save bookstores and make them work, Connie might write the book on that. Connie runs Battenkill Books in a tiny upstate New York town, Cambridge, N.Y., there are but 2,000 or so souls here. She works very hard. She has assembled a terrific and courteous and efficient staff. She manages her book inventory wisely and continuously. She combines a hard business focus with a love of books. When customers call for my book, they are often drawn into the warm world of Battenkill, they call for other books, for guidance, for presents, they call all year.
Connie has woven her store deeply into this small community, she knows most customers by name, she and the staff answer every phone call, greet every customer, are patient and courteous and knowledgeable and helpful. She hosts dozens of bookstore events, is on the board of several cultural organizations, and manages as well to be a devoted mother and wife and friend.
Connie is doing well, her sales are up, her store filled with walk-in customers, from the town and many miles around. Red is the unofficial bookstore dog, he is always hanging around the store, he sells a lot of books.
Connie is shy, she is not eager to be in front of a camera, but she does so graciously, and on behalf of her store, which a clean, attractive and well-organized place. People do not feel foolish coming into the store, they feel welcome and at ease. They often come in to sit and browse and have a sip of the tea the store offers them. Her shelves are clean and interesting, the books well displayed and current. Connie has battled some anxiety in her life, and conquered and managed it. She works closely with her mother Marilyn, who is a gracious and essential presence in the store, and with Kate her warm and efficient helper.
I appreciate our work together, it has been good for both of us, and affirming and nourishing. You can order my book at Battenkill online, or by calling 518 677- 2515. If you call in the next few days, you will get a signed photo notecard of Simon or one of the other animals at Bedlam Farm. You will be eligible for other things as well, including coupons for dog or cat food, photos, one of Maria’s potholders, or a signed photo postcard of Simon.
And of course, you will get a signed book, we both laugh at the incentives of modern times. You will also find yourself a wonderful bookstore.
It is wonderful to sell so many of books at Connie’s store, sweet also to support a great independent bookstore. We need them in our lives, just as we need animals in our lives.
We have given a lot of stuff away together, we have more to give away. Just a couple of weeks until Christmas, Connie takes Paypal and will ship anywhere in the world.
There are many things I love about donkeys, one of them is their soft noses. Noses are important to donkeys, they smell food, nose through grass, bray and show affection with them. Their noses are quite wonderful to touch and they love to have their noses rubbed. When they want to say hello or demand a treat, they put their noses through the fence and bray and raise hell until they get some attention.
Connie Brooks just called me to say that she has run out of the red totebags given away with copies of “Saving Simon” purchased at Battenkill Books, so we are heading over to the bookstore with a box of signed notecards that show Simon, Jake and Debbie, two lambs born earlier this year, and some other scenes and animals at Bedlam Farm. My signing table is full.
More than 75 are photos of Simon, the others are of the dogs, donkeys and lambs. This offer will last only as long as supplies last, and if you are interested, I wouldn’t wait too long to call Battenkill at 518 677-2515 or order “Saving Simon: How A Rescue Donkey Taught Me The Meaning Of Compassion” and/or the new My Reader edition of “Lenore Finds A Friend” (aged 6-8) online. We are offering more than 200 notecards today, if the orders pour in, we will add some more.
Everyone who orders a book from Battenkill will also get it signed and personalized and will receive a signed photo notecard of Simon in his red hat. The early reviews have been wonderful.
I think I’m probably giving away more money than I am earning, but it’s exciting for sure, the book seems to be really catching on for Christmas, and I am enjoying running my own book tour, another finger in the eye of the Corporate Nation. Thanks for your support, I believe “Saving Simon” is the perfect Christmas or holiday book. Maybe a good book to read even if it isn’t a Christmas gift. I’m getting excited, the book, like Simon, really wants to live.
