Connie Brooks is not generally a demonstrative person, but she was dancing around the bookstore today with the Post Office receipts for the first shipment of “Going Home” to about one-third of the people who pre-ordered it. She wrapped the receipts around her and she and her mother Marilyn were beaming. I signed books until dusk today and it is happy wrist-soaking time. More books are arriving Saturday. As before, a bunch of people came by to say hello and get their books signed.

Our experiment is shaking the trees. I had two interviews today from publishing publications wanting to know how Connie has done this. It was her idea and it was a good one. We are going to run with it, and with some more. This bookstore will hang in there.

We are having a blast.  Maria joined me today and it was wonderful spending the afternoon with her, signing books and recognizing some of the names from e-mail and Facebook. So far, more than 400 orders for signed and personalized copies of my new book. People are voting for independent bookstores to survive and Connie has all sorts of plans to make that happen. We are all a bit taken aback by the volume of orders, coming in by e-mail – [email protected] – and phone – 518 677-2515. This seems to have taken on a life of its own. Connie will continue taking orders for “Going Home” and for my other books and for the “Going Home” video as well. I’ll be back there Saturday and possibly Sunday morning. Got to get them all signed before I head out on the traveling part of the book tour. Thursday, noon talk and signing at the Open Door, Schnectaday, N.Y., At 7 p.m., talk and signing at the Half-Moon Library in Clifton Park.