Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column 05-30-08

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,

Every time I take my one-and-a-half year old grandson Paul for a walk I notice that people treat me differently. Chivalry is alive and well. Instantly when they see Paul and me together, a smile comes over their face and we get special treatment. Drivers stay farther away, giving us a little more time to cross the street and people walking on the sidewalk step off to the side and wait on the grass--kind of like throwing their jacket down over the puddle so we can safely cross.

I admit even I feel differently when I'm walking with Paul. Maybe part of it is experiencing how we were meant to be. When we were starting out--just small babes--we were cute, trusting, smiling, had good intentions and a love for life. Simply get up every day and be. And then somewhere along the journey we all change. Some of us stay on the good intentions path and others go down a path that's totally unexplainable, sometimes unforgiving.

But today when I was walking with Paul none of that mattered. It was just a delightful, no pressure afternoon and I had permission to let go of everything else on my mind, because I was taking my grandson for a walk.

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

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

P.S. ENTER this year's Write a Dear Reader contest! Fill in for Suzanne while she's on vacation. Your column will be published, you'll win 50 books (most signed), and a book bag from Vanguard Press. It's a lot of fun! Prizes, guidelines and deadline, go to: http://tinyurl.com/55n995

READ THE CLASSICS: Dangerous Liaisons by Choderlos De Laclos and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/575jjp

Dear Reader Column 05-29-08

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 like things to happen now. Don't like to wait. But I've finally decided to accept that whenever anything monumental takes place in my life--no doubt about it waiting will be a big part of it. Waiting to hear...either I'm waiting in the beginning, the middle, or at the end of something and sometimes--Lord help me--I have to wait at all three stops along the way. I hate to wait, probably because I'm not good at it.

Instead of just waiting, I dream up stuff while I'm waiting. Stuff about whomever or whatever I'm waiting for, convoluted reasons about why I have to wait. This lady in waiting starts with the usual, rational waiting thoughts; people are busy or things take time, maybe someone is on vacation or out sick. But only a few hours into waiting and I'm crafting troubling stories in my mind; they're not sure, they don't want me, and it was all a big mistake. Next I try to weasel out of waiting--perhaps I misunderstood--was I supposed to call them? Maybe I'll call (blocking their caller ID of course, I don't want to look like the crazy person I am at the moment) and if someone picks up I'll play stupid--was I suppose to call you?

And if the waiting continues I run out of excuses and patience and my thoughts turn ugly. Okay, I don't care if they ever call and when they do call I'll act like it's no big deal. (This is where I temporarily get angry because they're making me wait.) But I do care and I do wish they'd call and I don't want to be angry--and the bottom line is I need to learn how to wait. So that's what I've decided to do.

Yesterday I started working on an emergency how-to-wait plan. You can't develop a hurricane plan when the weather person says, "Run for cover" and I can't implement a waiting plan in the middle of a long drawn-out wait. But already I'm beginning to get a little frustrated because I haven't come up with any good ideas yet--unfortunately I'm still waiting--and you know how I hate to wait.

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: Natalie Wexler, A More Obedient Wife; Rob Palmer, Eyes of the World; Cyndia Depre, Oblivious; Janelle Brown, All We Ever Wanted Was Everything and Michelle Moran, Nefertiti. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

READ THE CLASSICS: Dangerous Liaisons by Choderlos De Laclos and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/575jjp

Dear Reader Column 05-28-08

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,

When something outlandish or irritating happens to me, it doesn't bother me nearly as much as it used to, because I step back and remind myself that whatever crazy situation I'm in the middle of will probably be a great "Dear Reader" column.

I wish everyone was as fortunate as I feel. Perhaps the world would be a much more peaceful place if every person had a productive outlet for the frustrating people and situations that come their way every day.

People would go about their normal business, but they'd always be searching for stories. Things that used to drive them nuts would now be possible column material. Have to wait in a long line? No problem, the longer the line the better. If the store's computer system went down--it wouldn't matter. In fact politeness would run rampant. People would give up their place in line, telling others to go ahead of them, because they wouldn't want to miss the opportunity to eavesdrop on an interesting conversation. Surely they'd hear a little gem that would give them an idea for a column.

Men, women and children would volunteer for all types of good causes. Everyone would be looking for ways to get in touch with their feelings and the things that were important to them in their life, so they could write them all down for others to read. And that's exactly what I'd like you to do.

Can you help me out? In July I'll be taking my annual two-week vacation and I'm inviting you to enter this year's "Write a Dear Reader" contest. Possible stories for your column are everywhere. Look around, listen-in, or remember when you and your grandfather used to go out in the woods every fall looking for walnuts and tell me all about it. (That's what my Grandpa Hale and I used to do.) It's really that easy. Simply tell me what's on your mind.

If your column is chosen as one of the winners you could win 50 books (almost all are signed), a book bag and your column will be published at the book clubs when I'm on vacation. I'd love to hear your story. Go ahead and give it a try. For more guideline information, prize info and to read last year's winning entries, go to: http://tinyurl.com/55n995

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

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

P.S. Enter this year's "Write a Dear Reader" contest! Fill in for Suzanne while she's on vacation. Your column will be published, you'll win 50 books (most signed), and a book bag from Vanguard Press. It's a lot of fun! Prizes, guidelines and deadline, go to: http://tinyurl.com/55n995

READ THE CLASSICS: Dangerous Liaisons by Choderlos De Laclos and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/575jjp

Dear Reader Column 05-27-08

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,

Kaye and Mindy are passionate about reading. Don't ya' love it? I sure do!

From my Email Bag:

"Dear Suzanne, I don't know how you select the books and I certainly can't improve on what you do, but I have come across a new author that I just love and thought I'd share her name with you since you have shared so many good authors and books with me! Her name is Susan Gregg Gilmore and she wrote Looking for Salvation at the Dairy Queen. Her book was published in February and after I read it I wrote her to say how much I loved it. She wrote back. I wrote back. Bottom line is last week I traveled three hours to her book signing (at That Bookstore in Blytheville). It's in Arkansas and when you go on your book tour you should really consider going there! I joined Susan for dinner before the event. She is delightful! Warm, witty, and genuine! You would really love her and the book! I would love it if you would consider looking at this book, but I hope I'm not offending you by suggesting it. I am such a fan of yours!"--Your friend in books, Kaye Richardson

"Suzanne, I recently joined a book club at work with a friend of mine...to my surprise, because I always considered myself a non-reader. I never read anything unless I had to. When my friend joined the club and tried talking me into joining, I declined. I told her that I didn't like to read. Well, after hearing her and another 'cluber' discuss the current book they were reading I became interested. I am on my fourth book with the club and have read three books on my own since February. I must admit--I am hooked!! I actually look forward to coming home from work and sitting down to read instead of watching TV. I also joined my local library where I signed up for your weekly book club emails. I have been receiving them for about three weeks. I really enjoy reading your column and also the excerpts from the books and I've started a list of books that I would like to read. I ask everyone if they read. If they say 'yes,' then I tell them about your book club. I just wanted to say thanks for your emails."--Mindy

If you have a book you'd like to recommend, please let me know.

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

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

P.S. ENTER this year's Write a Dear Reader contest! Fill in for Suzanne while she's on vacation. Your column will be published, you'll win 50 books (most signed), and a book bag from Vanguard Press. It's a lot of fun! Prizes, guidelines and deadline, go to: http://tinyurl.com/55n995

READ THE CLASSICS: Dangerous Liaisons by Choderlos De Laclos and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/575jjp

Dear Reader Column 05-26-08

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,

If you enjoy writing or tinkering with writing, now's the time to get busy and enter the annual Write a Dear Reader Contest!

For the past three years I've invited readers to "fill-in" for me while I'm on vacation. This year my husband and I will be staying close to home, Bailey, our 13 year-old granddaughter is coming to visit. Imagine that, a teenager who wants to spend time with "older" people. We're very excited about her visit!

This year I'll choose two First Prize winners, each person will receive 50 books (most signed), a book bag from Vanguard Press and their column will be published at the book clubs when I'm on vacation. And I'm also choosing two runner-up winners, each person will receive 20 books and their column will be featured as an alternate column at the book clubs.

If you love to write, or if you've never written anything but thought about it--give it a try! Hundreds of readers enter the contest every year and it's interesting, because at the end of almost every entry I receive there's a note:

"Even if I don't win, Suzanne, I had fun and it felt good to write this column. Thanks for the opportunity."

Can you help me out this year? I'd love to hear from you. Write a "Dear Reader" column and send it my way. To see the prizes and read the guidelines go to: http://tinyurl.com/55n995

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

Have fun writing,
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: Natalie Wexler, A More Obedient Wife; Rob Palmer, Eyes of the World; Cyndia Depre, Oblivious; Janelle Brown, All We Ever Wanted Was Everything and Michelle Moran, Nefertiti. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

READ THE CLASSICS: Dangerous Liaisons by Choderlos De Laclos and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/575jjp

Dear Reader Column 05-23-08

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 enjoy writing or tinkering with writing, now's the time to get busy and enter the annual Write a Dear Reader contest!

For the past three years I've invited readers to "fill-in" for me while I'm on vacation. This year my husband and I will be staying close to home, Bailey, our 13 year-old granddaughter is coming to visit. Imagine that, a teenager who wants to spend time with "older" people. We're very excited about her visit!

This year I'll choose two First Prize winners, each person will receive 50 books (most signed), a book bag from Vanguard Press and their column will be published at the book clubs when I'm on vacation. And I'm also choosing two runner-up winners, each person will receive 20 books and their column will be featured as an alternate column at the book clubs.

If you love to write, or if you've never written anything but thought about it--give it a try! Hundreds of readers enter the contest every year and it's interesting, because at the end of almost every entry I receive there's a note:

"Even if I don't win, Suzanne, I had fun and it felt good to write this column. Thanks for the opportunity."

Can you help me out this year? I'd love to hear from you. Write a "Dear Reader" column and send it my way. To see the prizes and read the guidelines go to: http://tinyurl.com/55n995

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

Have fun writing,
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

SEARCHING FOR YOUR NEXT BIG THRILL? Read an exclusive interview with Eric Van Lustbader. Win copies and read about this month's new thrillers from: Wendy Corsi Staub, Robert Liparulo, E.J. Rand, Karen Rose, Kasey Michaels, Ted Bell, Thomas Perry, Rebecca York, Adam Gittlin, and Tom Piccirilli. Visit the May issue of the Big Thrill now! http://www.thrillerwriters.org

READ THE CLASSICS: Dangerous Liaisons by Choderlos De Laclos and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/575jjp

Dear Reader Column 05-22-08

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,

In addition to our Neighborhood Watch Program I'm thinking of trying to generate interest in a Neighborhood Weed Program. My flower gardens desperately need a good weeding, but I seem to be more taken with my neighbor's weeds than my own. Isn't that the way it is with things? The traits that irritate me the most in other people are things I should be attending to myself.

When I was out for my morning stroll yesterday, I caught myself bent over ready to dislodge a misplaced weed standing tall in the middle of my neighbor's yellow Lantana. But before I did the deed, some of their white Penta caught my eye. The green leaves were brown and straggly--you have to cut Penta way back periodically even though it's still flowering or they look ragged--what a mess.

Well slap my hand! Just who did I think I was, intending to pull a weed that didn't belong to me and on top of that, I was critiquing my neighbor's flower gardens when there were numerous weeds--entire weed families (including extended weed family members) thriving in my own yard? What a hypocrite. It wasn't with any intentional malice or ill-will that I so desperately wanted to pull my neighbor's weeds instead of my own; my neighbor's weeds just seemed to motivate me more. Maybe it's something left over from childhood? I would have rather cleaned up anybody's room but my own.

The concept behind my Neighborhood Weed Program idea is really very simple--exchange one-weed-for-another. My neighbor would be responsible for pulling the weeds in my yard and I in turn would take care of theirs. Guilt and embarrassment would provide sufficient motivation. And if that wasn't inspiration enough, we could post signs, "This yard is taken care of by my neighbors Millie and John (two doors down)." I'll be sure to bring this up at the next neighborhood meeting. Who wouldn't love the idea?

And since I'll be presenting that idea, I might as well bring up something else I've noticed in our neighborhood lately...fences that are falling apart...'Oh dear, well at least I'm consistent.' (The traits that irritate me the most in other people are things I should be attending to myself.)

Signing off to go pull some weeds and repair a fence--in my own yard!

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; Emma Holly, Demon's Fire; Lesley Dormen, The Best Place to Be; William Haywood Henderson, Augusta Locke; Leanna Ellis, Elvis Takes a Back Seat; and Mariah Stewart, Mercy St. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

READ THE CLASSICS: Dangerous Liaisons by Choderlos De Laclos and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/575jjp

Dear Reader Column 05-21-08

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,

It was merely a trinket, nothing I'd ever buy for myself. But I didn't buy it, my daughter bought it for me when she was a little girl. A fuzzy little plastic bear (two inches tall) on a pink pedestal, I LOVE MOM written on the bottom. A whole lot of love from a little girl.

Moving from house to house, from Wisconsin to Florida, the bear always sat on the edge of my bathroom sink, right next to the hot water handle. Originally I put it there so I would see it every day when I brushed my teeth, but admittedly after a few years, I looked right by it many mornings. The other day when I looked down at the bear I realized I hadn't really taken a good look, for a long, long time.

The bear had seen better days, the humidity and age--it was getting the best of the bear and I think there even may have been a hint of mold. I realized it was time to part with the little fellow, but before I did I sat and remembered the day my daughter gave it to me. She bought it with her own money and I could see her smile as she ran into my bathroom when I was brushing my teeth and handed it to me, "This is for you Mama, Happy Mother's Day."

The I LOVE MOM bear is at least 31 years old now. The simple words I LOVE MOM stamped on the plastic pink bottom, I've stood on those words through the years. Even on the days when I was sure my daughter was so angry at me, that I LOVE MOM was the farthest thing from her mind, the memory of that Mother's Day is still with me.

I knew it was time to let the bear go and as things happen some times, the day I had to say good-bye my daughter called later in the afternoon and before she hung up the phone she said, "I don't know if I tell you often enough, but Mom I LOVE YOU."

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'd love to bake some of my homemade chocolate chip cookies for you, so please enter this month's Chocolate Chip Cookie Giveaway. To enter and to see some past winners "doing their dunking thing" go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/cookies0508.html

READ THE CLASSICS: Dangerous Liaisons by Choderlos De Laclos and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/575jjp

Dear Reader Column 05-20-08

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,

It's time for this month's Chocolate Chip Cookie Giveaway!

Last month I asked readers to tell me about their dunking technique and was I ever surprised to discover that Margaret is a cereal-bowl dunker, just like me. I've had to make a serious pact with myself about how many chocolate chip cookies I eat because they're always handy in my freezer. But when I do decide to indulge--plop--I submerge a chocolate chip cookie in the middle of my high fiber cereal. (Dive-dive-dive, I'm a big submarine movie fan, can you tell?)

Hiding a cookie amongst high fiber takes care of two problems: it makes eating "sticks" (which are good for me) inviting, and it takes away any guilt I would have felt if I'd eaten the cookie in plain sight. Never has the old adage, "Out-of-sight-out-of-mind" been more appropriate.

I'd love to bake some of my homemade chocolate chip cookies for you, so please enter this month's Chocolate Chip Cookie Giveaway. To enter and to see some past winners "doing their dunking thing" go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/cookies0508.html

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

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

SEARCHING FOR YOUR NEXT BIG THRILL? Read an exclusive interview with Eric Van Lustbader. Win copies and read about this month's new thrillers from: Wendy Corsi Staub, Robert Liparulo, E.J. Rand, Karen Rose, Kasey Michaels, Ted Bell, Thomas Perry, Rebecca York, Adam Gittlin, and Tom Piccirilli. Visit the May issue of the Big Thrill now! http://www.thrillerwriters.org

READ THE CLASSICS: Dangerous Liaisons by Choderlos De Laclos and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/575jjp

Dear Reader Column 05-19-08

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,

The other day I discovered some notes I'd written for a column over three years ago. After I finished reading them I was grinning from ear-to-ear, they were cute. So why hadn't I ever followed through and written a column? And now, how was I going to remember what I was thinking way back then? Two pages of notes from so long ago--yes I remembered where I was when I wrote them. My husband and I were on a long weekend, staying at a very nice hotel and I was hanging out down by the pool, people watching and writing. But the details of the day certainly weren't fresh in my mind. So I was very pleased with myself, because at least I'd jotted down a few one-liners, little gems, whatever you want to call them, things I'd heard people say, but I'd never be able to remember them now--at least not verbatim.

When I see or hear something that I think will make a great column I need to write down the specifics word-for-word, immediately, because I won't be able to duplicate them. Sure, I can paraphrase what was said, but the words I end up with will never turn someone's head, like they did mine, when I first heard them.

I imagine writing a column from decrepit notes must be like putting a jigsaw puzzle together. I'm only guessing, mind you, because I've never actually put a jigsaw puzzle together (other than a 6-piece puppy puzzle when I was a kid). But I imagine if I were going to try to master a jigsaw puzzle, one of the first things I'd do is put the outer surface together. Then I'd look for big masses of color, or objects in the picture that were easy to identify, and hopefully after I found all of those pieces it would start to become clear what to do with the leftovers.

And that's pretty much how putting together old column notes goes for me. The outer edge is what the column is about, the masses of color are the voice in the column and the objects in the notes are the one-liners. Arrange them in some sort of order and then take inventory on what I have left. Oh yeah, and there are always throwaways--thoughts that were so relevant at the time but I didn't leave myself enough clues to be able to figure them out three years later. (I guess throwaways would be a no-no when you're doing a jigsaw puzzle.) It's the kind of column that takes a lot of patience, the same kind of patience I imagine it takes to finish a 1000 piece puzzle.

Typing up my old notes hasn't inspired me to actually tackle a jigsaw puzzle, but I was inspired to buy some puzzles and some journals--and I'm giving them away today to readers. Write or put together a puzzle--your choice. I'm giving away two Travel-sized Puzzles, (small and compact with a case) and I have four journals, two light blue ones for women and two plain black ones for men.

To enter the drawing for a Travel Puzzle or journal and to see some photos of readers who've won "stuff" in the past, go to: http://tinyurl.com/4krhfl

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; Emma Holly, Demon's Fire; Lesley Dormen, The Best Place to Be; William Haywood Henderson, Augusta Locke; Leanna Ellis, Elvis Takes a Back Seat; and Mariah Stewart, Mercy St. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

READ THE CLASSICS: Dangerous Liaisons by Choderlos De Laclos and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/575jjp