Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column 01-31-06

Join my email book club. Over 300,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

I'm a just a little bit strange. If you've read my column for any length of time I'm sure you've picked up on that by now and for some reason, you've decided to keep reading anyway. The strange stuff about me, things I do that would make some people blush with embarrassment--like blowing bubbles on Main Street, pitching a tent in my yard and leaving it there for a week because for some reason it made me feel good, or making yarn pot holders from a children's kit--these strange behaviors are why my life is never boring.

I don't always understand why I need to do these crazy things, but I do know that they bring me a lot of joy and I was thrilled to hear that my quirky ways of looking at the world brought some joy to Sherri, a book club reader.

Sherri wrote: "I wanted to take a minute to thank you Suzanne, for your book club and also your daily thoughts. Recently I went to look for a new jewelry box. I looked at all of the big wooden ones and they were just boring. I ended up buying a very pink Barbie jewelry box, but I was afraid to bring it home and see my husband's reaction. I displayed it proudly on my vanity table and prayed that he would not fall down laughing. To my delight my husband said, 'Wow what a neat jewelry box and how fun.'

From your daily reads I feel you would have done the same thing, and for some reason I felt this gave me permission to buy this very pink Barbie children's jewelry box."--Kindest regards, Sherri

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

P.S. To get a copy of the recipe for my favorite cake, and to enter this week's drawing for a brand new free cake carrier, just like the one my Grandma Hale used to use, go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/cake4.html

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AUTHORBUZZ: Amazing contests this week! WIN a ticket to a mystery convention, dinner with an author and of course signed free books from these terrific authors. Susan Mallery, Delicious; John Lescroart, The Hunt Club; Alex Kava, A Necessary Evil; and Twist Phelan, Spurred Ambition. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

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Read the Classics: OF MICE AND MEN, by John Steinbeck, and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/users/master3/mweb/path13-1.html

Dear Reader Column 01-30-06

Join my email book club. Over 300,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

It's been my favorite cake since I was a kid, but I never knew the name of it. To me, it was always the "chocolate funeral cake". I know that sounds a little strange, but you see, I grew up in a small town and whenever someone passed away, neighbors would take food over to the bereaved family so they didn't have to worry about cooking. Even if they didn't have much of an appetite, most likely they'd have a steady stream of friends and relatives stopping by and they could offer them something to eat.

I'd always tag along with my parents and when they were talking to the other adults, I'd look for the "funeral cake". Oh boy, was it good. A devil's food cake with a buttercream frosting.

When my mother died last May and her friends and neighbors brought food over to the house, guess what showed up--the funeral cake. I wasn't hungry, couldn't eat a thing, but how could I resist? I think I ate half of the cake myself.

Months later I got a note from Betty, the funeral cake woman: "Suzanne, I was thinking of you and your mother and I remembered you'd asked me for the recipe."

I made my favorite cake the other day and it fit nicely in my Grandma Hale's cake carrier. To see the cake, get the recipe, and enter the drawing for a brand new cake carrier--just like my grandma's--go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/cake4.html

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com 
http://www.DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: Amazing contests this week! WIN a ticket to a mystery convention, dinner with an author and of course signed free books from these terrific authors. Susan Mallery, Delicious; John Lescroart, The Hunt Club; Alex Kava, A Necessary Evil; and Twist Phelan, Spurred Ambition.

Read the Classics: OF MICE AND MEN, by John Steinbeck, and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/users/master3/mweb/path13-1.html

Congratulations to the winners of the Business Card Holders: Chere Gruver, Mike James, Georgann Schultz, Hazel Russell, Mitzi Brinkman, Sandie Voytko, Marisol Purcell, Libby McVicker, Midge Dunaway, Tanya Baumagardner, Louise Muttrtperl, Bayneeta Freeland, Timi Hazle, Saskia James and Anya Sanko.

Dear Reader Column 01-27-06

Join my email book club. Over 300,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

I'm listening to his CD while I'm writing this column, but until a few weeks ago when I sat next to him on a flight from Boston to Tampa, I had no idea who he was.

Our conversation began with the usual, "Are you coming or going?" And then when he asked me what I did for a living and I told him I was a writer, he was curious: "What kinds of things do you write about? How do you come up with ideas for your column? Isn't it a little scary to be on deadline every day?"

Finally, 30 minutes later, when he got around to introducing himself, I discovered I was sitting next to Bronson Arroyo, a starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox.

"I know practically nothing about baseball," I confessed to him. "And the couple of games I've seen on television I thought were a little slow moving, and I'm sorry to say I don't recognize your name either."

But none of that seemed to bother Bronson at all. He explained the game, the signals that a pitcher gives the catcher and how he comes up with his, the American League verses the National League, and why he prefers one over the other. (In the National League, pitchers have to hit, which can throw you out of the game early.)

Bronson taught himself to play the guitar a few years ago and without a bit of embarrassment, he proudly told me that it took him one year to learn how to play one song. But he's obviously got the gift now, because he does concerts and he sings, too--and he's very good. When I mentioned to him that I listen to music when I write, he got excited, pulled out his IPod, and asked me to listen to the songs he recorded, "Do you think you can write to any of these, Suzanne?"

And the next thing I knew I had Bronson Arroyo's headset on and I was listening to "Slide," the first cut on his CD. "Thumbs up," I told him. "The song is definitely one that I could write to, and by the way, you have a great voice." His voice reminded me of the lead singer for Hootie and the Blowfish. I was impressed. I listened to the rest of the songs from his CD and Bronson was thrilled to hear that four of them were winners for writing inspiration.

People were keeping an eye on us. I think everyone on the plane knew who Bronson was except me. Kids would show up periodically with their hats in hand, wanting an autograph, and wishing they were sitting in my seat. Even a flight attendant came by and asked for an autograph for her shy co-worker.

It could have been one of "those" conversations, but instead Bronson and I just talked about plain and simple things. We covered marketing, what we want to be when we grow up, successes and failures from our pasts, hot flashes, pitching arms, and how we're going to change when we get old. (I reminded him of our age difference. He's 28; I'm 51.) We talked the entire three hour flight, right up until the wheels touched down.

When it was time to say farewell, I gave him my business card and the web address for the book clubs, and he gave me a copy of his CD. Bronson said that he loved it that I hadn't a clue who he was, because the conversation was totally different than it usually is when he talks to someone.

And I assured him that I'm now a Red Sox Fan!

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com 
http://www.DearReader.com

P.S. I'm giving away cats, dogs, alligators, ducks and pigs this week. If you need something clever to hold your business card, click on the link to enter this week's drawing. http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/cards.html

Read the Classics: OF MICE AND MEN, by John Steinbeck, and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/users/master3/mweb/path13-1.html

Dear Reader Column 01-26-06

Join my email book club. Over 300,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

My shelves are always overflowing with books. I frequently give away "just because" books to readers. Drop me a line anytime. I love to hear from readers, it's the best part of my job.

If you haven't read the Classics yet this month, be sure to click on the link after my column. And I'm giving away 50 copies of Candide. These are some of the lucky winners so far this month: Margo Fussell, Dahron Johnson, Steve Carlo, Angela Eanes, Charyl E. Gardner, Steve Chaput, Angela Kenneson-Comeau, Dori Molletti, Nancy Sosnowski, Lisa Moreland, Jennell K. Boyd and Romaine Galey Hon.

From my Email Bag:

"Good morning, Suzanne, I received my 'just because' book on Saturday. That's a lot of muffins and pancakes [in that cookbook]! In your honor, I baked a savory muffin to go with the leg of lamb I roasted for dinner that night: lemon, chive and black pepper muffins. There aren't any left! Thanks for the gift. The Lewicki family will enjoy it for years to come."--Maryellen Lewicki

"Dear Suzanne, I (very) recently joined your website, and I love it. I just completed 'Please Don't Come Back From The Moon', that you introduced me to. With two boys, ages 8 and 4, reading had to take the back shelf for quite some time. I have just recently been able to take more time in the evening to read books. It takes me longer than it used to complete a book, but your website has given me the opportunity to check them out at home before wasting any money on a book that I am not interested in beyond the first chapter. Saving me a lot of time and money. I recommended your website to everyone on my email list. Thank you for providing such a wonderful service."--Tracy Yantek

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ is full of bestsellers this week with free books and very exciting contests from John Lescroart, The Hunt Club; N.M. Kelby, Whale Season; and Nate Kenyon, Bloodstone. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Read the Classics: OF MICE AND MEN, by John Steinbeck, and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/users/master3/mweb/path13-1.html

I'm giving away cats, dogs, alligators, ducks and pigs this week. If you need something clever to hold your business card, click on the link to enter this week's drawing. http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/cards.html

Dear Reader Column 01-25-06

Join my email book club. Over 300,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

I have to go to the dentist in an hour and a half. I'm just going to get my teeth cleaned. I should be thrilled. If someone were coming to clean my house, or detail my car today, I'd welcome them with a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies. I'd be so excited to see them; everything would be so clean and tidy after they left.

Actually I'm taking my dentist chocolate chip cookies, too, but not because I'm thrilled about seeing him. It's a bribe. I bring cookies along almost every time I go to the dentist. I don't exactly know why I think I need a bribe. Do I think he won't be nice to me unless I bring cookies? He's never been mean and he's never made me get a filling without any novocaine.

I think it goes back to when I was a kid. I bit the dentist when he was trying to fill my tooth. He faked being happy to see me after that, and I didn't even bother faking it. I'd just cringe up my nose and snarl at him--I was only eight years old.

I'm too old to snarl at the dentist without looking like a jerk, or more politely put--a woman who seems to be in a bad mood--so I bring cookies, just in case I'm giving off, "I don't like you" vibes. I "cookie" my dentist and his staff in hopes that they'll all be so busy munching on my chocolate chips, that any bad vibes they pick up from me, they'll blame themselves. "We must be reading her wrong. How could such a nice woman, who baked cookies, be thinking horrible things about the dentist?"

But she is...I hate going to the dentist.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

P.S. I'm giving away cats, dogs, alligators, ducks and pigs this week. If you need something clever to hold your business card, click on the link to enter this week's drawing. http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/cards.html

Read the Classics: OF MICE AND MEN, by John Steinbeck, and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/users/master3/mweb/path13-1.html

Dear Reader Column 01-24-06

Join my email book club. Over 300,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Sometimes I don't want to pick the weeds because they look like they have potential. I know they're weeds, at least I think they're weeds. Truthfully, even avid gardeners like me don't always know for certain what's a weed and what's not, especially if it has a flower attached to it.

When I first moved to Florida (after living in Wisconsin for 30 some years) it was quite a shock when I looked at the plants growing in my yard. I only recognized ferns, rose bushes, and a loner, pink impatiens plant with spindling, spent stems. Our new home had been vacant and unattended for a few months and all the other plants looked like jungle vegetation, because they were extremely overgrown.

So, with a book about how to identify Florida plants propped up in front of me, I had to be the judge: what was a weed, what had to go and what could stay. It was a trying time for me. I can't even toss my Poinsettias out after Christmas. I make my husband "find good homes" for them when I'm not around. But I yanked, pruned, planted, fertilized, and now I love how my flower gardens look.

However, you'll still find a few weeds amongst the "real" stuff in my gardens, because I just never know, it might be a weed or it might be a flower simply growing in the wrong place.

* To see what I found in my garden, go to:
http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/plant.html

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com 
http://www.DearReader.com

P.S. I'm giving away cats, dogs, alligators, ducks and pigs this week. If you need something clever to hold your business card, click on the link to enter this week's drawing.
http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/cards.html

Read the Classics: OF MICE AND MEN, by John Steinbeck, and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/users/master3/mweb/path13-1.html

Dear Reader Column 01-23-06

Join my email book club. Over 300,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

I'm giving away cats, dogs, alligators, ducks, lady bugs, crows and pigs this week. If you're an animal lover, or you need something clever to hold your business card be sure to click on the link below to see what I'm giving away, and to enter this week's drawing.

http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/cards.html

I always love to hear from readers. I know you're busy. Thanks so much for taking the time to write. Reading your email is the best part of my day.

From my Email Bag:

"Suzanne, when I first started this book club, it was a requirement for my work. I had a hard time with it, as I am an avid reader. I didn't want to wait to see what happened next. I even emailed you to let you know at one point.

As I have delved into the reads in the months since then, though, I've found so many wonderful books to read, so many new authors I never would have known existed! I have, in essence, fallen in love with the book club. I look forward to reading the installments now. I admit, I still have a hard time hitting the delete key because I worry I will miss out on another gem, but I try not to feel guilty about when I need to use it.

Anyway, your book club has won me over, and I figured you'd love to know. Thank you for taking the time to touch our hearts with your love of the written word!"

Take care, Katherine Mitchell Associate Reference Librarian / Muncie Public Library

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Warmest regards,

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com 
http://www.DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ is full of bestsellers this week with free books and very exciting contests from John Lescroart, The Hunt Club; N.M. Kelby, Whale Season; and Nate Kenyon, Bloodstone. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

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*Read the Classics: OF MICE AND MEN, by John Steinbeck, and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/users/master3/mweb/path13-1.html

Dear Reader Column 01-20-06

Join my email book club. Over 300,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Writing for me, is kind of like exercise. Now and then I can't wait to sit down and get started--I'm psyched--the words are flowing and it feels so good. But most of the time when I sit down to write, it's a slow walk, a gentle saunter, put one foot in front of the other and see what kind of ideas show up on my notebook. Then I start picking up the pace, moving into an easy jog, and soon I'm sprinting and I didn't even realize when I changed the speed. It's a runner's/writer's high and when I'm in the midst of it, life is good. This is what I was meant to do.

It feels good to write, to see the words, create phrases, then sentences. I reread them and smile, string them together and the paragraphs appear. Juggle some lines, exchange some words. Fret a bit, because I almost always get stuck--can't find the right word, can't figure out how to end. I crank the music a little louder and before I know it there's a smile on my face and "I'm bringing it on home".

It's finished, turn it over to an editor and a proofreader. But first reread the little gem. Ah yes, it's good, it's fun. I hope someone else likes it, too. I'm so glad I write for a living.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com 
http://www.DearReader.com

Dear Reader Column 01-19-06

Join my email book club. Over 300,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Over 300,000 people read at the book clubs every day and thousands of you are "Book Club Evangelists". You're always looking for creative ways to let other people know about the book clubs and I appreciate it. If you've found a unique way to tell people about the book clubs, be sure to let me know.

"Hi Suzanne, just wanted to let you know I enclosed your email address and words about the book club in my Christmas letter. Over 100 letters were sent out to family and friends, and I hope that their interest is stirred enough to join. It is indeed GOOD to read with friends." --Janet Fricke

A REMINDER, a link to the Classics is in every email this year. You'll find it after my column. I'll feature a different Classic title each month and Penguin Classics is giving away free books and cool stuff, so be sure to click on the link and read the Classics with me.

"Suzanne, I haven't any idea who you are and yet I feel as thought I've known you for quite some time. Reading The Classics! I am in awe because one of my written goals for this new year was to read the 'assigned' Classics from high school. Thank you for really motivating me to stick with a goal. It is, good to read with friends." --Angela Wentworth

"I'm delighted to have this opportunity to get acquainted with the Classics that I turned my nose up at in High School. Like you, Suzanne, I only read enough to pass the test or book report. I really enjoyed the excerpt of 'Of Mice and Men' and will have to get my own copy." --Angela Eanes

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com 
http://www.DearReader.com

P.S. I have 15 signed copies of Bloodstone, by Nate Kenyon.
To enter the book giveaway, simply send an email to:
Mailto:enter-to-win@emailbookclub.com

AUTHORBUZZ: Don't miss this week's exciting giveaways and buzz from authors: Susan Carol McCarthy, Lay That Trumpet In Our Hands and True Fires; Timothy Schaffert, The Singing And Dancing Daughters Of God; and bestseller Linda Fairstein, Death Dance. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader Column 01-18-06

Join my email book club. Over 300,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

I was on the phone talking with an author about his book, and hurriedly jotted down every word he said. But when I tried to read his quotes back to him, I was stumbling over the words in front of me. I couldn't read my own handwriting, or as my friend Hilda would call it, "chicken scratches".

Hilda is 95+ years old. She's a friend of mine, and when I went to the market the other day, she came along. When she pulled out her shopping list, I noticed it looked like it had been drafted in the middle of an earthquake. We were both laughing about it and simply decided that things can get a little shaky with age.

I told Hilda not to worry or feel one bit embarrassed about her handwriting, because it happens to me, too. Sometimes when I have an idea for a column, especially if I'm on the run, I grab whatever I can and quickly jot my thoughts down. It's always a relief to know that my idea is safely written down, so I let it wander out of my mind. But unfortunately, the next day when I try to type up my notes, it's all a mystery to me. I can only read about every third word. And some sentences are totally lost in translation, because my writing is as cryptic as Hilda's shopping list.

Assuming each line on the shopping list was a separate item, Hilda and I decided there were 20 words we needed to decode, so we started at the top.

"Okay, Hilda, this looks kind of like a 'p', doesn't it? And it appears to be a long word, so let's see, what do you think?"

"Pepper? Potatoes?" (No, her neighbor brought 6 potatoes over yesterday morning.)

"Popcorn? Hilda, do you think it's popcorn?"

Yes! That was it! One down! (Hilda remembered she ran out of popcorn Thursday night when she was watching her favorite TV show.)

And with the skill of two veteran Wheel of Fortune players, down the list we went, letter by letter, item by item. By the third entry on our list, the shoppers around us must have thought we had both lost our minds. Practically yelling back and forth--Hilda's a little hard of hearing--we'd go exchanging guesses.

"This one looks like it's eggs Hilda, but it starts with a 'd'."

"Do you want to buy a vowel?"

"Gimme an 'e' for $250, Pat. Spin that wheel for us Vanna."

A 'd' and an 'e'. Eggo waffles? No I bet it's a dozen eggs.

"Do you need a dozen eggs Hilda?"

I do believe it was the most entertaining shopping trip either of us had been on in a long time.

Now, if I could just decipher the "chicken scratches" in front of me. What did that author say again? It looks like it starts with a 'g', but it could be a 'p'...maybe I need to buy a vowel, or call Hilda?

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

P.S. I have 15 signed copies of Bloodstone, by Nate Kenyon. To enter the book giveaway, simply send an email to:
Mailto:enter-to-win@emailbookclub.com

*Read the Classics: OF MICE AND MEN, by John Steinbeck, and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing:
http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/users/master3/mweb/path13-1.html