Following Atticus: Forty-Eight High Peaks, One Little Dog, and an Extraordinary Friendship by Tom Ryan is published by William Morrow. It tells the story of my adventures with Atticus M. Finch, a little dog of some distinction. You can also find our column in the NorthCountry News.

Monday, March 07, 2011

"Following Atticus" Chosen as the Book for this Year's Mount Washington Valley's 'One Book, One Valley'

Each autumn the various communities of the Mountain Washington Valley, led by each town's library and the local book store, choose one book for everyone to read. This will be the sixth year of the event and today I received a call out of the blue that they chose Following Atticus as this year's title! It really is an honor for us. And it's the first time they've chosen a hardcover book. Typically they go with a book that's already gone paperback. Past authors have included Chris Bohjalian and Howard Frank Mosher, among others.

The event will kick off at our book signing at North Conway's White Birch Books in September. Throughout the next two months each library hosts discussion groups to talk about the book and it culminates in November when Atticus and I will appear on stage to discuss it with everyone in attendance.

We'll use this year's event as a fundraiser for two local animal shelters: Harvest Hills Animal Shelter and the Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire - North. I'll be donating the stipend they offer to each year's author, and we'll be asking people who show up at discussion groups to bring food for cats and dogs at the shelters, plus other supplies such as cat litter.

The link to One Book, One Valley is here. There are 11 communities involved in the event.

I'm honored they chose us and happy to be able to give something back to two great organizations.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

What an excellent choice! I am very much looking forward to reading it.

John & Zippy

Tom (& Atticus) said...

Zippy, you are too kind! (And so is that dentist you hike with as well.)