Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column 05-31-06

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

I never know when some small thing, a few words, or turning left instead of right, is part of the big plan. Maybe I was supposed to get lost this morning; maybe I was supposed to change my schedule and take a detour.

It reminds me of the reader who emailed: "Your column today, it gave me the courage--I'm calling my dad." I didn't know exactly what it was that I'd said, but I must have been willing to write those words when I felt that little nudge.

It's a strange thing when it happens and it's not an every day event. But sometimes I get this feeling, this restless, gentle tugging inside of me. It's not a resounding call. In fact, if I ignored it long enough, it would move on and see if it could find someone else who was willing to help.

I don't always know the person, nor do I have any idea what I'll be doing or saying when we meet, but it's clear--from that little nudge, that there's an opportunity waiting for me. The question: am I willing to listen and deviate from my usual routine?

When I do, it's one of those perfect moments. It was meant to be.

I stopped in his office for business advice and in the middle of giving me some great ideas, he stopped and said, "I'm bipolar, did you know that?"

He continued on with three or four more sentences about his bipolar disorder, how it affects him, and then he went back to our original business conversation.

I hadn't known about his disorder and I didn't mind hearing about it, but it seemed like a strange detour--but you know what was even stranger? Later in our conversation, before I left, I detoured back.

"I have a friend," I told him, "she's bipolar too and she's been struggling a lot lately. Maybe it would help her if she talked to you?"

"Give me her number and I'd be glad to call her."

Ah, that was why we took the detour. It's so obvious now, but this morning, I hadn't a clue.

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 going on vacation in July. Can you help me out? Enter the "Write a Dear Reader Contest". You don't have to be a writer, just tell me a story and you might win 24 signed books from authors, a Penguin Classic and a book bag. For more information go to: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/users/master2/mweb/path7-5.html

READ THE CLASSICS: The Adventures of Augie March, by Saul Bellow, and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=815&site=18

Dear Reader Column 05-30-06

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Check out the AuthorBuzz link today. It usually runs on Monday and Thursday, but since Monday was a holiday, we're featuring the new authors today. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Gwenette, a book club reader challenged me to finish my quilt by May 31st. Tune in tomorrow to see if I met the deadline. In the meantime...

From my Email Bag:

"Dear Suzanne,

In your email to us today you wrote 'I'm always here to help, just email me.' Well I did a week or so ago, and very quickly you replied with your offer to help, and it turned out to be just great.

My problem was that I ran over my lawn mower cord which promptly got chewed up. End of mowing the lawn for that day. I wrote and asked if you ever printed books for women who live alone as I do, and have to depend on their own expertise to do repairs around the house.

You were as good as your word Suzanne. You said, 'Help is on the way,' and in short order the book you sent me arrived. It's not only very easy to read and understand the instructions, but entertaining as well. I have shown my friends Chix Can Fix, by Norma Vally and they all agree it would be a great addition for anyone, man or woman, to have on their bookshelf.

So with many thanks both for the book and your daily email, it certainly is great to read with friends like you. Take care Suzanne. Warmest regards,"--Sally Tabuns

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

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

P.S. I'm going on vacation in July. Can you help me out? Enter the "Write a Dear Reader Contest". You don't have to be a writer, just tell me story and you might win 24 signed books from authors, a Penguin Classic and a book bag. For more information go to: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/users/master2/mweb/path7-5.html

READ THE CLASSICS: The Adventures of Augie March, by Saul Bellow, and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=815&site=18

Dear Reader Column 05-29-06

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

In July, my husband and I are going on vacation for ten days. Last year I gave two readers the chance to "fill-in" for me, and write a Dear Reader Column while I was gone. The contest was a big hit, so I'm doing it again this year! Can you help me out?

I'll choose two winning columns and they'll be published at the book clubs, in July, when I'm on vacation. The two winners will also receive a Penguin Book Bag, filled with 24 signed copies from authors and a Penguin Classic! To view the prize books go to:

http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/users/master2/mweb/path7-5.html

Come on, give it a try. Dust off your notebook and enter the "Write a Dear Reader Contest!" If you need some writing ideas--thoughts to get you going--visit my blog at http://dearreader.typepad.com/ and read some of my past columns. Have fun! Simply tell me a story; tell me what's on your mind.

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

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

AUTHORBUZZ: Don't miss signed free books and great contests from these terrific authors: Carly Phillips, Hot Item; Linda Lael Miller, The Man From Stone Creek; Pauls Toutonghi, Red Weather; and Alexander Masters, Stuart: A Life Backwards. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

READ THE CLASSICS: The Adventures of Augie March, by Saul Bellow, and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=815&site=18

Dear Reader Column 05-26-06

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Today is my birthday. I had big party plans, but I couldn't get anyone else to RSVP that they would attend. Family members were willing to bake a cake, buy a card, pick out a nice present, and take me out to dinner. But what I really wanted was a birthday celebration in my flower gardens.

My birthday party activities involved driving to the nursery, buying mulch, fertilizer, 10 flats of yellow daisies and 8 flats of red geraniums. Then, we'd dig in--to the yard. I was even willing to supply party favors for my guests--everyone gets a new pair of gardening gloves, a sun hat and a bottle of water, so they don't get dehydrated. (It's kind of warm here this time of year.) But so far, it's a party for one--just the birthday girl.

There are seven flower gardens in my yard and I do all of the work myself: pruning, planting, pulling weeds, fertilizing, and keeping the bugs and scales under control. It's a year-round project because I live in Florida. I love the work, don't misunderstand, but sometimes, especially in the summer when things grow like crazy, it can be a bit overwhelming. Where does a gardening girl begin?

Well this gardening girl always begins with a few nice compliments from strangers passing by. I live in an older neighborhood and there's always a steady stream of walkers and joggers on the sidewalk in front of my house.

"I love your flower gardens," they call out to me. "It's always a treat to walk down your street. Your flowers are beautiful, just beautiful."

And that's all it takes to motivate me. Yank those weeds, plant some new daisies--I can't let my flower admirers down.

My family isn't helping me in my flower gardens today, but they did provide me with some motivation...and some unexpected party guests. To see what I got for my birthday, go to:

http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/party.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 going on vacation in July. Can you help me out? Enter the Write a Dear Reader Contest. You don't have to be a writer, just tell me story and you might win 24 signed books from authors, a Penguin Classic and a book bag. For more information go to: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/users/master2/mweb/path7-5.html

READ THE CLASSICS: The Adventures of Augie March, by Saul Bellow, and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=815&site=18

Dear Reader Column 05-25-06

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Emails are tricky things--kind of like that "lost sock in the washer". You know you put two socks in, but only one came out! Or sometimes your computer just "eats" all of your book club reads.

From my Email Bag:

"Suzanne, well, I have a new definition for 'having a bad day.' I had saved my book club readings on my computer, so I could read them when my mind was able to concentrate. Lo and behold, my entire file was wiped out! Can you help?"--Cyndar

I'm happy to send you any of the past book club reads. Or if you're trying to get a missing read from the past two weeks, you can also use our Missed Read Link: http://www.emailbookclub.com/miss

But remember, I'm always here to help. Just send me an email.

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 your book club free coffee, bagels & books, $50 Godiva chocolate gift certificates and of course signed free books from these terrific authors: Debra Borden, Lucky Me; JoAnn Ross, Impulse; Catherine Goldhammer, Still Life with Chickens; and Paul Malmont, The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

READ THE CLASSICS: The Adventures of Augie March, by Saul Bellow, and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=815&site=18

Dear Reader Column 05-24-06

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

In July, my husband and I are going on vacation for ten days. Last year I gave two readers the chance to "fill-in" for me, and write a Dear Reader Column while I was gone. The contest was a big hit, so I'm doing it again this year! Can you help me out?

I'll choose two winning columns and they'll be published at the book clubs, in July, when I'm on vacation. The two winners will also receive a Penguin Book Bag, filled with 24 signed copies from authors and a Penguin Classic!

To view the prize books go to: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/users/master2/mweb/path7-5.html

Come on, give it a try. Dust off your notebook and enter the "Write a Dear Reader Contest!" If you need some writing ideas--thoughts to get you going--visit my blog at http://dearreader.typepad.com/ and read some of my past columns. Have fun! Simply tell me a story; tell me what's on your mind.

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

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

P.S. Sample Lisa Tucker's newest book, Once Upon a Day, enter to win a free copy and see the book club members who met her in person. Go to: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=805&site=6

READ THE CLASSICS: The Adventures of Augie March, by Saul Bellow, and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=815&site=18

Dear Reader Column 05-23-06

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 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 not an expert quilt person; instead I look for material that "feels" good, buy at least a yard of six different kinds; go home, cut some pieces and start sewing. Who knows what I'll end up with? There's never a "business plan" when I begin a new quilting venture. But I'm beginning to think this time I should have had one.

It's 2 o'clock on a Sunday afternoon, a time when I should feel refreshed from the weekend, but instead I'm sick and tired of this stupid quilt. For the moment it's got me beaten.

Gwennette, a book club reader, challenged me to finish this quilt by May 31st and I was expecting to be done today--two weeks early; but when I started pinning the back on, I realized my masterpiece was lopsided.

I've made several quilts and this is the first time something like this has happened and I can't figure out how to fix it.

I'm frustrated and I wish I could take my quilt to the woman at the fabric store. She sells sewing machines and in between customers she's always working on quilts. So I know she's experienced, but I also know from meeting her, that she's not "3 a.m. friendly".

What I mean by "3 a.m. friendly" is there are some people who make you feel so comfortable when you're around them, that you know if you had to call them up at 3 a.m. and ask for their help, they wouldn't give you the third degree; they'd just hop out of bed and say, "Where should I meet you? Tell me what I can do to help."

When I was shopping for a new sewing machine a couple of weeks ago, I told the clerk I didn't need anything fancy, because I only make a quilt every now and then. And then when I shared my loose quilt-making methods with her, her nose went into one of those scrunched-up looking positions and she brusquely assured me that 'she' only quilted the traditional, proper, way. Nuf said. I went somewhere else and bought my machine.

Now if this woman were 3 a.m. friendly, I could take my amateur quilt into the store, hold it up in front of her, she'd see the problem, smile and say, "Here's a quick fix, Suzanne."

But instead, here I sit with my lopsided catastrophe and I'm angry at that woman, the woman who sells sewing machines, but she hasn't even done anything to me. I guess I feel angry because I know she's got the answer I need, but she's not willing to look beyond quilting perfection. Nope, she won't go quilt-slumming with me.

Oh boy, I could use a 3 a.m. friendly face today.

When things get tough, sometimes I switch gears. So I decided to put the quilt aside and drive to the Bose outlet store, because I needed a carrying case for my Nano docking station.

My iTunes library has been causing me problems lately too, so when the clerk was ringing up my purchase I thought I'd take a chance and ask. "You don't happen to use iTunes, do you? I'm trying to move my music library from my old computer to my new one, but I can't figure out how to do it."

The guy seemed a bit nervous about answering my question, but then I heard the magic words, "I'm not an expert or anything," he said. "I don't know if this is the right way of doing it, and there's probably a more efficient way, but here's what you could do."

"Don't worry about not doing it the 'right' way," I assured him, "because that's how I sew my quilts, too."

He was my kind of my guy; my 3 a.m. savior. I wonder if he knows how to sew?

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

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

P.S. Sample Lisa Tucker's newest book, Once Upon a Day, enter to win a free copy and see the book club members who met her in person. Go to: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=805&site=6

READ THE CLASSICS: The Adventures of Augie March, by Saul Bellow, and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=815&site=18

Dear Reader Column 05-22-06

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

I had a wonderful time at BEA (Book Expo America) in Washington, D.C., last week, and I also saw Lisa Tucker, the author of Once Upon a Day, this week's special bonus book.

I've known Lisa for a number of years, and two weeks ago, on her book tour, some of our book club members got to meet her, too.

See their photo, sample Lisa's book, Once Upon a Day, and enter the free book giveaway. I have 25 copies waiting for lucky book club readers.

Here's the link. Go to: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=805&site=6

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 your book club free coffee, bagels & books, $50 Godiva chocolate gift certificates and of course signed free books from these terrific authors: Debra Borden, Lucky Me; JoAnn Ross, Impulse; Catherine Goldhammer, Still Life with Chickens; and Paul Malmont, The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

READ THE CLASSICS: The Adventures of Augie March, by Saul Bellow, and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=815&site=18

Dear Reader Column 05-19-06

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

She didn't mind counting the ten pennies. I felt a little uncomfortable giving them to her amongst the other dimes and nickels that added up to my 75 cent library fine. So I made small talk.

"Pennies do add up," I told her. "A friend of mine doesn't like to bother with them and if it's down to pennies, she tells the clerk to keep the change. But I figure they add up."

"Oh my, yes," she assured me with a look of surprise that suggested why would anyone think anything else?

It was comforting. She was in agreement with me. The woman who was cheerfully counting my pennies, from an older generation, she thinks like I do about a lot of things. I could just tell.

I find myself looking to someone older and wiser for confirmation that I'm doing okay; a smile that I've done a good job, evidence that I've turned into someone to be proud of. It was tough to get that kind of confirmation from my parents, the few times I did, it meant everything.

The older, wiser person, it's a role that's coming up. Soon it will be my turn. Will someone be looking to me for penny confirmation?

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

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

READ THE CLASSICS: The Adventures of Augie March, by Saul Bellow, and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=815&site=18

Dear Reader Column 05-18-06

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Remember to keep the book club fun! Hit that delete key if the book isn't a good match for you or if you're too busy sitting in the sun, barbequing, riding bikes--all of those summer activities. Read what you like, guilt-free!

Thanks for taking the time to write I love to hear from readers. It's the best part of my job.

From my Email Bag:

"Suzanne, keep up the great work with the book clubs! Through the book clubs, I have re-discovered the love of reading I had before I had children and started reading only books with very short words ;-) I am back to reading books for me in addition to reading to my youngest child (my oldest is too old to be read to anymore). Without the book clubs I don't know if I would have "learned" to read again. Thank you!"--Jeannie Keith

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

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

AUTHORBUZZ: Get a free antique appraisal, WIN the author coming to your book club, and of course signed free books from these terrific authors: Jane K. Cleland, Consigned to Death; Joseph Finder, Killer Instinct; Jacquelyn Mitchard, Cage of Stars; and Erica Spindler, Killer Takes All. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

READ THE CLASSICS: The Adventures of Augie March, by Saul Bellow, and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=815&site=18