Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column 03-31-08

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

On my 30th birthday my husband planned a surprise birthday party for me. Not only was I totally surprised, he even managed to have me unknowingly do all the cooking--except for baking the birthday cake. Every other week a girlfriend and I were in a routine of cooking together for fun. My husband overheard us making plans to cook several Chinese dishes the next time we got together and our next cooking date just happened to be May 25th, the day before my birthday.

"Surprise Birthday Party" May 25th at 6:30 p.m. and on the menu were the Chinese dishes my girlfriend and I had made earlier in the day, including Potstickers, Braised Shrimp with Vegetables, Egg Foo Yung, Beef with Broccoli and Hot n' Sour Soup.

At 6 o'clock my husband was scurrying around the house tidying up, which I didn't find all that unusual because he usually helps out around the house. But when I noticed that he'd put fresh hand towels by the bathroom sink I thought he'd lost his mind, until the doorbell rang--"Surprise!" and there stood over a dozen friends with a cake, flowers and balloons.

Just writing about my favorite Chinese dishes is making me hungry so I think this week I'll make some Beef with Broccoli. If you'd like to try the recipe visit my Recipe Blog at http://tinyurl.com/yv2jjn Be sure to double the recipe so there are plenty of leftovers.

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

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

AUTHORBUZZ: With so many new books out every week, we promise these are five that deserve your attention: Joanne Proulx, Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet; Christine Fletcher, Ten Cents a Dance; Michael Stanley, A Carrion Death; Jennifer Cody Epstein, The Painter from Shanghai; and Nicole Jordan, To Seduce a Bride. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader Column 03-28-08

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Writing keeps me honest. Every day I hold up a mirror and force myself to look in it--sometimes I try to resist what I see.

It's not that I don't like myself, I do, very much. But some days I think the joke's on me. Maybe I'm the last one to get to know Suzanne. After writing a daily column for eight years you'd think I'd know the real me by now, but when I looked in the mirror today I realized I've become everything I set out not to be.

This small town girl wanted to be a big city girl, but in truth I'm a little bit sappy, (rolling my eyes this very minute), a girl who likes to bake cookies and give them away, someone who likes to surround herself with memories of the past--even though she has to rewrite some of them. The girl who everyone thought was a loser, but look at her now; she's found a way to pay the bills.

This small town girl likes to wear an apron around the house and I wear one sometimes when I'm writing, too. My grandma used to wear two aprons, one was for cooking and one was for company. When a neighbor knocked on the door, Grandma would take off her cooking apron and the one underneath was neat and clean. One of my aprons is for writing and the one underneath is when I take a break to cook--when I'm looking for inspiration.

"Thank you very kindly," this small town girl uses that expression because I think it emphasizes what seems to be lacking in the world these days. I don't use it hoping other people will notice, it's there for me, so I don't get lost, so I don't forget who I want to be.

There's still a little girl inside of me who likes to carry a bubble machine down Main Street, like I did the other day, and I hope she never leaves. I move easily between two worlds. I know what's expected of me in the grown up, get ahead world and I do what I need to do, so I don't look out of place. And then there's Suzanne's small town world and I like to share it with people whenever I get the chance.

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

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

P.S. Author Barbara Bretton reads along with us every day at the book club. Sample her book Just Desserts and enter the free book giveaway. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/24xt48 And she's at our Book Forum this week http://www.emailbookclub.com/talk.html

READ THE CLASSICS: The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/3a2qs2

Dear Reader Column 03-27-06

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 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 getting more difficult every month to pick chocolate chip cookie winners. Hundreds of people enter the cookie giveaway and everyone writes such a heartwarming, funny, or just down right clever email that it makes me want to bake for each and every person. But there's only one of me and I only have one oven, so this month here are the cookie winners and a couple of their notes.

But before we get to that, let me tell you about Monica who has tried and tried to bake cookies without any success...

"I want to win your cookies and I must admit it is for purely selfish reasons! Apparently I have no talent for baking cookies. It doesn't matter the recipe, I've even tried yours. I don't think it's my oven...this is my second one. I have tried and tried...so I'm hoping you might take pity on me and my family and send a batch of your chocolate chip cookies, then my family would be able to see what a cookie is supposed to taste like!"

Monica if you're reading my column today, I'd be happy to call and we could have a step-by-step baking session over the phone. Send me an email and we'll make a date. Sounds like fun to me!

Congratulations to cookie winners Kathleen Calhoun Nettleton, Tracy Howe, Nancy Barker, Joyce Chronister (from the Martin Library), Lynn Larson, Rachel MeKwunye and the La Belle Family.

"Dear Suzanne, so what if I'm supposed to have outgrown Cookie Monster and all the hilarity he brings? Me want cookie! Cookies, actually. Lots and lots. I promise not to eat them all. I promise to share them with my coworkers and family members and upstairs-dwelling landlords. So long as I get three. I want three cookies just for me. I'll even send pictures. Deal?

Oh, right. I've been a regular reader for over a year, but for two years before that, my mom's forwarded me columns that especially touched her or brought a smile to her face. She gets the first cookie." -- Rachel Mekwunye

"Suzanne, I have been reading with you for about two years and have loved every minute of it! In January I had both of my knees replaced. Needless to say, it's been a heck of a recovery. Even though I have had arthritis for some twenty-five years, I really was not prepared for this kind of pain. But like all things, with time it has gotten a lot better. I have fallen in love with my two wonderful Physical Therapists and I would love to share your cookies with these wonderful people!!

When I was in the hospital and then in Rehab, for about three weeks, my husband brought You and your book excerpts to me every day!! Guess he should have a cookie or two, also, what do you think?"--Lynn Larson

Remember, the Chocolate Chip Cookie Giveaway happens every single month.

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

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

P.S. Author Barbara Bretton reads along with us every day at the book club. Sample her book Just Desserts and enter the free book giveaway. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/24xt48 And she's at our Book Forum this week http://www.emailbookclub.com/talk.html

AUTHORBUZZ: New authors, old favorites--all wonderful books worth your time. Win free copies of books you'll be so glad you discovered: Susan Shapiro Barash, Little White Lies, Deep Dark Secrets: The Truth About Why Women Lie; Joanna Hershon, The German Bride; Debbie Macomber, Back on Blossom Street; Lisa Tucker, Cure for Modern Life; and Michael W. Sherer, Island Life. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

READ THE CLASSICS: The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/3a2qs2

Dear Reader Column 03-26-08

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Book club reader, Jo Denson, sent me an email about yesterday's column.

"Suzanne, thank you so much for sharing your story about Amy, what a wonderful and inspiring story it was! I've wanted an Amy in my life for a long time, and I believe that I need to take a more active part in 'finding' her. Thank you again, you really touched my heart!"--Jo

I loved reading Jo's words because they made me remember times in my life when I wanted to do something, but all I had going for me was desire. The desire seemed way out of reach; when would I find the time, I'm not talented enough, where and how would I even begin? Immediately I'd pounce on my desire with a whirlwind of reasons why I couldn't "possibly."

Thankfully desire hasn't always needed my help. There have been times in my life when my desire has been so strong that it became a part of who I am and it seemed like simply tucking those thoughts away in my heart was enough to change my course in life. I hoped for a better relationship with my children than I had with my parents and I dreamed of becoming a better storyteller--didn't map out a plan--all I had going for me in the beginning was desire. Thanks Jo, for helping me remember that sometimes--all I need is desire.

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

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

P.S. Author Barbara Bretton reads along with us every day at the book club. Sample her book Just Desserts and enter the free book giveaway. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/24xt48 And she's at our Book Forum this week http://www.emailbookclub.com/talk.html

READ THE CLASSICS: The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/3a2qs2

Dear Reader Column 03-25-08

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

There was a notice in the church bulletin: "Take communion to shut-ins. Classes starting soon."

In the beginning my only mission was to take communion to Amy every Tuesday and I'd bring along a copy of the Sunday church bulletin. Amy had been a member of the church for years so she liked listening to me read the bulletin, because she'd recognize a lot of peoples' names mentioned.

Amy and I made quite a pair--both of us were creative souls, whose body parts weren't cooperating with them at any given moment. Amy had terrible eyesight because of her age, she was 96, and I'd recently been diagnosed with an eye disorder that left me walking with a red and white cane. It was a weird eye disorder, ironically one that usually only affects people Amy's age. But I was only 27 and wasn't able to keep my eyelids open, which might not sound like a big deal, but when your eyelids won't stay open, you bump into walls and walk off of porches.

There was a religious script to follow for communion; same order and words every time, but it wasn't too many Tuesdays before Amy and I were ad-libbing a bit and I don't think the "Big Guy" minded at all. After we finished the communion prayer making sure the "Be Thous" were in their proper places, Amy and I would add our own personal requests: Amy had a doctor's appointment Friday and was worried about getting down the long flight of steps in the back of her apartment. I was a frustrated because I couldn't make a decent pie crust. I realized there were a lot more serious things to be worried about, but baking seemed to be good therapy for me while I was waiting to find out if my red and white cane was going to be a permanent way of life.

"You want to learn how to roll a pie crust?" Amy asked after the "Amen."

So the following Tuesday Amy taught me how to roll a pie crust. It was simple following her step-by-step instructions, or maybe it was because the dough knew better than to argue with a 96-year-old pie crust veteran. After sampling the pies we decided we liked the eating part of our get-togethers, so every Tuesday after communion we started having lunch together. And after I discovered that Amy used to play piano in a swing band, we started making music--she played piano and I sang along. Amy's eyesight was so bad she could barely see the piano keys, but it didn't matter because she'd always played by ear anyway.

A relationship is give-and-take, if it's a good one. Looking in from the outside someone might have thought my relationship with Amy was one-sided, taking communion to a shut-in. It was not. I met a woman who'd led a life that I could only hope for and she was coming down the homestretch with finesse and grace. I'd been visiting Amy for over a year and I could tell that it was getting harder for her to do things. So it wasn't a complete surprise when I got a call from her son, "You should come for your last visit with my mother."

I don't know what other people were thinking as they were sitting in the pew at Amy's funeral, but I could see her playing the piano in the swing band, baking and serving meals to be remembered by her family and I could see Amy down on her knees in the pew, hands folded, thanking the Lord for one heck of a special life. And I was fortunate to be part of it.

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

Warm regards,
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com 
http://www.DearReader.com

P.S. Author Barbara Bretton reads along with us every day at the book club. Sample her book Just Desserts and enter the free book giveaway. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/24xt48

READ THE CLASSICS: The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/3a2qs2

Dear Reader Column 03-24-08

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Today you can sample Barbara Bretton's book Just Desserts and I have 15 copies to give away. Barbara and I have never met in person, yet it feels like we're old friends. She reads along with us every day and is one of the book club's biggest cheerleaders. I teasingly suggested that since I'm featuring her book, she could write a column and give me the day off. After all what are friends for? And by golly that's just what she did.

A few words from Barbara Bretton:

As I type this I'm a few days away from finishing my latest novel. I don't know what day of the week it is. I'm pretty sure it's still March but I wouldn't bet money on it. My hair is pulled back in a scraggly ponytail. I'm wearing pajama bottoms, one of my husband's old t-shirts, a fifteen year old red sweater, and bunny slippers. (Yes, bunny slippers.) My eyes haven't seen mascara in months. In fact I haven't seen daylight in months. In an attempt to keep temptation at bay I've flipped day for night and am currently living the life of a middle-aged vampire whose highlights seriously need refreshing.

Last year I wrote a book about a baker and turned to knitting for relaxation. This year I'm writing about a knitter and I've turned to baking! If I'm not knitting my way through a knotty book problem, I'm baking my way toward a solution.

This past Saturday I wrote myself into a corner. Sometimes the strangest things will stop a writer cold. Once I actually had a character trapped on the third step from the top for two weeks because I couldn't come up with the simple words, "She climbed the stairs."

Anyway I was stumbling my way around the house Saturday afternoon muttering plot points under my breath when my husband turned the oven on to preheat and said, "Go bake something."

So I did. For some reason I have always wanted to make my own bagels. Which is probably crazy since we have three perfectly fine bagel shops within a two-mile radius of our house. I dug out my recipe from the wonderful blog Baking and Books, assembled my ingredients, started a pot of water boiling, plugged in my beloved nineteen year old Kitchen Aid stand mixer, and got to work. By the time I set the dough to rise I could feel the book knots starting to untie themselves.

I worked a little on the book while the dough did its thing. I let my mind wander while I punched it down and formed it into circles. One bagel, two bagels, eight bagels, twelve bagels all ready to be dropped into a pot of boiling water, drained, then covered with poppy seeds or sesame seeds or kosher salt or whatever struck my fancy. Pop into a 500 degree oven for sixteen minutes or so (remember to turn them; I forgot one and it got a little scorched) and start gathering compliments.

And guess what? By the time my husband and I gobbled up some fresh-from-the-oven bagels with cream cheese, I had figured my way out of the book problem and was back at work again.

Some writers go shoe shopping when they hit the wall. Some writers go for a run. Some writers even throw in the towel. Me? I bake. Not great for the waistline but it's wonderful for the imagination!

So here I am, maybe seventy-two hours away from typing THE END. In my fictional world I have a knitter in danger, a cop trapped in a cemetery, and magic breaking out all over the place. In my real world, I have an oven preheating and the ingredients for a sour cream coffee cake on the counter.

Life is good!

Thanks Barbara. To sample Just Desserts and to enter the book giveaway, go to: http://tinyurl.com/24xt48 and if you'd like Barbara's Sour Cream Coffee Cake recipe (and the stories that go with it) drop her a note at bretton5@yahoo.com with RECIPE in the subject header and she'll zip it out to you.

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

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

AUTHORBUZZ: New authors, old favorites--all wonderful books worth your time. Win free copies of books you'll be so glad you discovered: Susan Shapiro Barash, Little White Lies, Deep Dark Secrets: The Truth About Why Women Lie; Joanna Hershon, The German Bride; Debbie Macomber, Back on Blossom Street; Lisa Tucker, Cure for Modern Life; and Michael W. Sherer, Island Life. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

READ THE CLASSICS: The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/3a2qs2

Dear Reader Column 03-21-08

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Remember, if a book isn't a good match for you, simply hit the delete key. We start a new book every Monday. Keep the book club fun and guilt-free reading.

Looking for some good new recipes? Be sure to visit my Recipe Box at http://tinyurl.com/yuf6aq and see some of my favorites--and you can view the recipes from readers who have sent in their favorite recipes, too. If you'd like to contribute a recipe to my Recipe Box, send it to: Suzanne@Emailbookclub.com

Today is the last day to enter the March Chocolate Chip Cookie Giveaway. I'd love to bake for you. See photos of some of last month's winners and enter: http://tinyurl.com/2vhl53

Have a wonderful weekend.

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

Warmest regards,
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com 
http://www.DearReader.com

READ THE CLASSICS: The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/3a2qs2

Dear Reader Column 03-20-08

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 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 on holiday the next two days. If you're looking for a great recipe for a cake for Easter Dinner, try this one. Even though I had a few problems the last time I made it, it's still one of my favorites. Hopefully you won't make the same mistake that I did. But not to worry, if you do the remedy is in the recipe too.

Dear Reader,

Two little eggs. Who would've dreamed what a difference they could make. I was mixing up Grandma Hale's Red Velvet Cake recipe for Easter dinner, but when I poured the batter into the pans, it was stiff. Granted, I hadn't made this recipe for a few years, but something didn't seem quite right.

Hmm, shortening, sugar, vanilla, eggs--whoops--I forgot to add the eggs. I knew it was too late. The old adage "better late than never" does not apply to baking. I was amazed at what two little eggs could do (or not do) to a recipe.

A pastry chef on television the other night was going on and on about how you should only use large-sized eggs in a recipe, "Remember that you're adding liquid when you add eggs. A large egg is about 1/4 cup. Don't use jumbo, or extra-large..."

And she continued her egg sermon with what I thought was hoity-toity, trying-to-impress-me advice. Well, okay, so now I'm impressed. She's right. But I thought I might as well bake the cake and see what I ended up with.

Two, dry, 9-inch round cakes--one with a bunny-hill ski slope on the left side--that's what I ended up with. But I decided to push forward anyway and frost the darn thing. I used Grandma Hale's frosting recipe and followed it to a tee. But after I filled in the ski slope, I ran out of frosting.

Okay, let's take inventory. Company's coming in one hour. There isn't any time to mix up another cake. The stores are closed, so I can't buy a replacement dessert. Presentation counts a lot in how food tastes, another quote from the friendly pastry chef. Well, she was right about the eggs, I hope she comes through with this advice, too.

So I set the layer cake on top of a white paper doily, added some colored sprinkles and jelly beans, stuck three pinwheels on the top and then turned the cake around so the bare backside--where I ran out of frosting--didn't show.

Presentation does not make up for lack of taste. We all took a couple of bites, agreed that it wasn't my best work, and decided the rest should go in the garbage. But when I was just about to toss the cake in the trash, my 85 year-old father-in-law, bless his heart, insisted that he wanted to take the masterpiece home.

If you'd like to see a photo of my "masterpiece," and get a copy of the recipe--really, it is a wonderful cake but don't forget the eggs--go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/cake3.html

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

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

AUTHORBUZZ: Win free copies of books you'll read and never forget from these terrific authors; Linda Fairstein, Killer Heat; Maureen Canning, Lust, Anger, Love; Kirk Curnutt, Breathing Out the Ghost; Diana M. Raab, Regina's Closet: Finding My Grandmother's Secret Journal; Toby Barlow, Sharp Teeth. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

READ THE CLASSICS: The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/3a2qs2

Dear Reader Column 03-19-08

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

If you've never won some of my homemade chocolate chip cookies, please enter the drawing today. I'd love to bake for you! To enter and see photos of some of last month's winners, go to:

http://tinyurl.com/2vhl53

The "how-to-enter" information is on the third page of photos. It's easy to enter. Simply tell me how long you've been reading at the book clubs, (I'm just curious) and why you'd like cookies. Then submit your email to the "enter" address and your name is in the drawing. I'll be choosing at least four winners this month.

Ready to bake, be sure to enter!

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

Warmest regards,
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com 
http://www.DearReader.com

READ THE CLASSICS: The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/3a2qs2

Dear Reader Column 03-18-08

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

There's always one house in the neighborhood that seems to attract kids. When I was young Mrs. Creswick's house was the place for me. I loved going to her house because she always made me feel special. Mrs. Creswick knew that cherry tomatoes and cottage cheese were my favorite and whenever I was there, she'd set a plate in front of me.

My house doesn't attract the neighborhood kids, but it does seem to be the house that grown-ups love to visit. My bug man, the lawn guy, the plumber, even the postman hangs around a bit longer than he has to after he rings my bell and hands me my mail. I know he's hoping I baked yesterday. "Would you like some cookies?" He never turns me down.

Larry the man who treats my lawn, always makes sure he calls a couple days ahead of time to let me know when he'll be stopping by--just in case I'd like to whip up a batch of cookies. My chocolate chip cookies must be a topic of conversation at his office because when Larry was on vacation and someone else showed up to do my lawn, after he handed me the bill he smiled and said, "You're that woman who always has cookies, aren't you?"

Even my UPS guy thinks of my house as the chocolate chip cookie place. He knows that I bake for book club readers every month and when he picks up the cookie packages that I'm shipping to the winners, he's hoping there are some leftovers in a Ziploc bag for him, too.

Speaking of baking for readers, tomorrow I'll announce the Chocolate Chip Cookie Giveaway for March. I'd love to bake for you, so be sure to enter.

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

Warm regards,
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com 
http://www.DearReader.com

P.S. Congratulations to the Fun Box Winners: Cindy Tuttle-Helton, Shay Tressa DeSimone, Rebekah Van Sweden, Becky Spilver and Teme Ring.

READ THE CLASSICS: The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/3a2qs2