If you know dogs, you know Katz and you’ll want to be at The Community Library, Cobleskill Monday when the New York Times best-selling author stops by to discuss his latest book, “A Rose in the Storm.”
Jon Katz writes about dogs, donkeys, and rural life from his home near Saratoga, a place known to readers as Bedlam Farm.
He also co-hosts the popular “Dog Talk” on WAMC Albany.
“A Rose in the Storm” is Mr. Katz’s first novel in 10 years and tells the story of Rose, a border collie abandoned on a farm during a blizzard, and her struggles to keep doing her job.
Mr. Katz will discuss the book and his writing beginning at 6:30pm on the 24th.
The library will be selling limited copies of “A Rose in the Storm,” and Mr. Katz will autograph any of his books readers bring with him.
There’s no charge and refreshments will be served.
Rose, sadly, is not expected.
Community Library’s Lisa Breitbach said Mr. Katz’s visit will be a “conversation” about the relationship between people and their dogs.
Retired library director Christine Dickerson is the impetus behind his visit, which Ms. Breitbach said has been in the works for a while.
“We’ve been writing back and forth and I’ve been trying to get Jon here for a couple of years,” Ms. Dickerson said.
“He’s a very strong proponent of libraries and how important they’ve been to him and his writing. He really beats the drum for them.”
Because of that, Ms. Dickerson said, Mr. Katz’s “library tours” are separate from the ones set up by his publisher as book tours.
“I’ve heard Jon several times and he’s an excellent speaker,” she said. “It’s a real coupe for the library to get him here.”
Mr. Katz is the author of 19 books—seven novels and 12 works of fiction.
Ms. Dickerson’s favorite and the one she’ll be bringing for Mr. Katz to autograph?
“Running to the Mountain: A Midlife Adventue,” an autobiographical account of his move to a cabin in rural Washington County, with labs Julius and Stanley, when he turned 50 and published in 2000.
“We all need to get away,” Ms. Dickerson said. “It really spoke to me when I read it and I continue to think about it a lot.”
Though “A Rose in the Storm,” is written from a dog’s point of view, Ms. Dickerson points out it’s not a children’s book; Mr. Katz is known for his research on how dogs think and not how people think their dogs think.
Other books by Mr. Katz include: “A Dog Year,” “The Dogs of Bedlam Farm,” “A Good Dog,” and “Soul of a Dog.”
For more information on Mr. Katz’s visit, contact The Community Library at 234-7897.