Author Tom Ryan Visits Book Ends

Tom Ryan will speak and sign copies of Following Atticus at Book Ends on Friday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. He will be joined by Atticus.

Book Ends is a dog friendly venue, but asks that attendees leave their own canines at home to keep the four-legged star calm. 

Following Atticus is the inspiring story of an out-of-shape newspaper man, Tom Ryan, and Atticus M. Finch, a miniature schnauzer, an unlikely pair of mountaineers.

To pay tribute to a friend who died of cancer, they set out to climb all 48 of New Hampshire's 4,000 foot peaks, twice, in the 90 days of winter. The challenge of a lifetime awaits them in an enchanting but dangerous winter wonderland.

Their remarkable story of endurance follows the two friends for hundreds of miles, but their greatest challenge comes after they return home, when Atticus loses his sight and blood tests hint at something worse.

This heartfelt tale of a man, a dog, and a quest, is also a story of family, friendship, and love.

The paperback edition of Following Atticus, which came out this fall, features a P.S. section that offers new insights, interviews, and more. It includes the original, stunning photo insert of images taken by Tom and others that make the journey come to life. Following Atticus is a book that appeals to dreamers, animal lovers, and anyone drawn to a true story of friendship. 

Tom Ryan is the founder of the Newburyport, MA, newspaper The Undertoad, and served as its publisher and editor for over a decade. In 2007 he sold the newspaper and moved to the White Mountains to hike with Atticus. Together they have climbed more than 350 4,000-foot peaks and their story has appeared in The Boston Globe, Newburyport Daily News, Concord Monitor, and DogBoston.com.

After raising thousands of dollars for Angell Animal Medical Center in Jamaica Plain, the pair was inducted into the MSPCA Hall of Fame as co-recipients of "Human Hero of the Year Award." Tom writes the popular "Hiking with Tom & Atticus" column in the NorthCountry News and Mountainside Guide and the blog "The Adventures o Tom and Atticus".

Events at Book Ends are free and open to the public. For more information about this or other events, please call 781-721-5933 or visit www.bookendswinchester.com. 

-This was submitted by Book Ends.