Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column 06-04-12

Subscribe to one of Suzanne's online bookclubs and receive her daily
column at: DearReader.com


Sample Suzanne's book at:
Muffins and Mayhem, Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win: Goto: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader,

The decorative deco dish on my kitchen counter is filled with nickels, dimes, quarters and pennies. Seems like only yesterday there wasn't more than fifty cents in it. Now it's overflowing, so it's time to go to the store and use the coin machine. The excitement of dumping my loose change in the coin machine must be a little bit like playing the lottery. I haven't ever bought a ticket, but I've seen people purchase tickets at the customer service counter in the market. Scratch, scratch, scratch, and two Hail Marys later, if they're lucky, they might be collecting a few dollars.
It's a game of chance, a game of long shot possibilities.

But my "lottery" is a sure thing. No tickets to buy. Just dump out that art deco dish, turn on the machine and soon it spits out my winning ticket. No paying out money up front, just pay a small percentage at the end.

What fun. Even the customer service woman is celebrating with me when I hand her my ticket. "Wow, $184.23, you've been saving girl! You hit the jackpot."

Yes, I'd have to agree. I did hit the jackpot. Not only is there new-found money in my pocket, I also "won" three paper clips, one safety pin and the back of an earring I'd been looking for the past three weeks. Yes, I definitely went home a winner.

And I'm not the only winner. Congratulations to the latest Rattlesnake Egg winners: Stephanie Morgan, Staci Fritz, Margaret Ashworth, Debi Croy and Leonora Stein. Have fun!

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
www.muffinsandmayhem.com

AUTHORBUZZ: A LADY CYCLIST'S GUIDE TO KASHGAR (Fiction) by Suzanne Joinson

English missionaries Eva, Elizabeth and Millicent travel to the ancient Silk Road city of Kashgar in 1923 to establish a mission in the heart of the desert. Evangeline's reasons for leaving the restrictions of English society behind are not at all straightforward. Meanwhile, in present day, who has drawn Arabic script and illustrations of beautiful birds on the wall outside Frieda's house and why is there a stone, all the way from the Gobi desert, found in a bedroom in London?

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on A LADY CYCLIST'S GUIDE TO KASHGAR to read more and to email author Suzanne Joinson, you'll get a reply.

Dear Reader Column 06-01-12

Subscribe to one of Suzanne's online bookclubs and receive her daily
column at: DearReader.com


Sample Suzanne's book at:
Muffins and Mayhem, Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win: Goto: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader,

Writing inspiration comes from anywhere, can be any little thing--even an avocado. Enjoy reading today's note from book club reader, Debbie, enter the writing journal giveaway, and then try my new recipe.

From my Email Bag:

"Dear Suzanne, just a little note to say how much I'm enjoying your daily columns. I love reading with you, as well as about you. I also wanted to letcha know your advice on writing has helped me to just sit down and write randomly, each day. For instance, I had a dream about an avocado, I've never tasted one, didn't even know whether its a fruit or vegetable till I looked it up on the Internet. Since my dream I've done some research, and in my dream I was cutting one up and adding sugar. (Ha-ha) I plan to follow through with my dream and document what I discover about this fruity vegetable."--Debbie

Debbie, lately I've been thinking about avocados, too, because there are hundreds of teeny-tiny avocados on the tree in my yard. And as soon as they get bigger and ripen, I'll be making my favorite avocado dip. Can't wait.

Enter today's writing journal giveaway, (I have 5 journals for readers) and to see my avocado dip recipe. Go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/journals060112.html

Congratulations to recent book winners:

Winners of A SIMPLE MURDER, by author and Guest Columnist, Eleanor Kuhns: Ardice Kuehner, Rita Pierini, Vicki Huber, Norma J. Sundberg, Carol Royce, Kathleen Fannon, Marti Hill, Beth Ford, Nancy Reynolds, Vicky Kellen, Dee Stillings, Lynda Harrison, Joyce Bartley, Pat Harmer and Marge OLeary.

And the winners of NO BIKING IN THE HOUSE WITHOUT A HELMET, by last week's Guest Columnist Melissa Fay Greene: Mary Rodriguez, Mildred West, Laura E A Brack, Carol Szymanski and Flo Kropilak.

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
www.muffinsandmayhem.com

KIDSBUZZ: Meet new authors--send an email, ask a question and they will reply. Plus enter to win a free (signed!) copy of the latest teen fiction featured books from Jennifer Estep, DARK FROST; Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas, FROM WHAT I REMEMBER; and Ursula Poznanski, EREBOS. For a chance to win free copies, say hello to the authors, and more, see www.authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz

AUTHORBUZZ: SKELETON WOMAN (Fiction) by Mingmei Yip

Left in an orphanage after her parents are killed, Camilla is happy to be adopted. Then she discovers she will be trained as a singer to cover her deadly mission as a spy--eliminating Shanghai's most powerful gangster. Her life is made even more difficult by two other femmes fatales--"Skeleton Women"--a mysterious magician and a cross-dressing gossip columnist.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on SKELETON WOMAN to read more and to email author Mingmei Yip, you'll get a reply.

 

Dear Reader Column 05-31-12

Subscribe to one of Suzanne's online bookclubs and receive her daily
column at: DearReader.com


Sample Suzanne's book at:
Muffins and Mayhem, Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win: Goto: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader,

Rattlesnake eggs are on the way to book club winners: Gail Aquila, Cindy Martinez, Elizabeth McGowan, Lisa Bockelie, and Patricia Revzin, and are they ever going to have a lot of fun with them.

When our kids were little they used to sell rattlesnake eggs at the local Farmer's Market in Oregon, Wisconsin, and I sold my homemade blueberry muffins. At six a.m. on a Saturday morning the kids and I would set up a table with blueberry muffins, a picture of a snake, an old aquarium, and a sign that read Homemade Muffins and Rattlesnake Eggs FOR SALE. I know, I know, homemade muffins and rattlesnake eggs--strange bedfellows for sure, but we'd sell out of both every single week.

A sign was posted on our aquarium: "Keep hands out, beware of snake!" and people believed us. Especially since we'd filled the aquarium with pine shavings, cut a little hole in the back of it, with just enough room to insert a bended wire coat hanger. So when we'd move the coat hanger back and forth, it looked like a snake was slithering underneath the shavings. Plant a "snake seed" and when an unsuspecting customer opened up the rattlesnake envelope, and it shook and RATTLED like crazy, first we'd hear yelling and screaming, then laughing, and then they'd buy the package of rattlesnake eggs.

Planting a "snake seed" is the most important ingredient when you're showing someone the rattlesnake eggs, which is why James, my 3-year-old grandson, showed his preschool teacher a picture of a snake before he invited her to open the package of eggs. "RATTLE, RATTLE," not only did his teacher scream and jump up and down, she admitted later (to James' parents) that she almost yelled words inappropriate for children's ears, especially since classes are held in a church.

Gail, Cindy, Elizabeth, Lisa and Patricia, your "eggs" are in the mail and it's easy to set the trap. There's a metal washer and rubber band inside the envelope with the rattlesnake drawing on the front. Rotate the washer and rubber band 8 or 9 times (until it's very tight), then carefully slip it inside the envelope. Then plant the "snake seed," you might simply mention the humungous snake you saw slithering across your backyard last weekend, hand the Rattlesnake egg package to your victim, and be prepared for a lot of fun.

If you entered the drawing for Rattlesnake Eggs and didn't win, or if you were too scared to enter, now's your chance. Enter to win at: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/snake052212.html

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
www.muffinsandmayhem.com

AUTHORBUZZ: THE ART OF FORGETTING (Fiction) by Camille Noe Pagan

Forgive and forget--but not necessarily in that order. Marissa Rogers is content to follow the lead of her charismatic, alpha best friend Julia. But when Julia suffers a brain injury that steals her memory and alters her personality, their roles reverse. Worse, Julia begins dredging up memories Marissa would rather forget--including the fact that Julia once asked her to abandon the love of her life.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on THE ART OF FORGETTING to read more and to email author Camille Noe Pagan, you'll get a reply.

*Fun, free books and meet authors. Ask questions, they'll reply and read samples from their books. Visit AuthorBuzz at: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

(Fiction)
BIG SKY COUNTRY by Linda Lael Miller

(Fiction)
SHOUT HER LOVELY NAME by Natalie Serber

(Fiction)
LOVE IS MURDER edited by Sandra Brown

(Fiction)
THE ART OF FORGETTING by Camille Noe Pagan

(Fiction)
SKELETON WOMAN by Mingmei Yip

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

* This month's Penguin Classics book is FOOLS CROW by James Welch. Start reading now and enter to win a Penguin totebag. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/May12Classics

 

 

Dear Reader Column 05-30-12

Subscribe to one of Suzanne's online bookclubs and receive her daily
column at: DearReader.com


Sample Suzanne's book at:
Muffins and Mayhem, Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win: Goto: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader,

I'm not a doctor, but I play one when I Goggle symptoms on the Internet. Self-diagnosis, it's as insane as reading through an 8-page list of possible prescription side affects--discovered in clinical trials--that could possibly attack my mind and body after ingesting the medicine. (If I wasn't feeling sick enough before taking the prescription, now for sure there's "No hope, no hope!")

When I'm not feeling well, instead of letting real medical tests and real doctors diagnosis the problem, first I go online. After checking boxes on the Symptom Checker: fatigue, headache, constantly thinking about eating Dove chocolate (the new raspberry swirl flavor), excessive sweating, lower back pain and occasional disorientation, I was presented with three choices: insomnia, obesity, or an aortic dissection.

Worry-wart me, "I'll take aortic dissection for $500, Alex."

How silly is that? But I'm not the only one. In the midst of telling a friend about my self-diagnosing, "Me too, me too," she confessed, "I did the same thing, just last week." (My friend's a nurse.) And if I stay plugged into the Internet long enough agonizing over ghastly possibilities, eventually, to quote Mark Twain, "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated."

Yes, the possible outcomes I can dream up are frightening. My legs and feet might become numb, I could be constipated for the rest of my life, my index finger could suddenly turn purple and fall off, or face it, Suzanne, it's time to prepare a list for my dear husband. How to do laundry, the passwords to all of my online accounts, be sure to rub Papa (the stray cat who comes in for dinner every evening) until he burps, and don't make a fuss, simply cremate me, throw my ashes on the garden and turn on the bubble machine.

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

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

KIDSBUZZ: Meet new authors--send an email, ask a question and they will reply. Plus enter to win a free (signed!) copy of the latest teen fiction featured books from Jennifer Estep, DARK FROST; Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas, FROM WHAT I REMEMBER; and Ursula Poznanski, EREBOS. For a chance to win free copies, say hello to the authors, and more, see www.authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz

* This month's Penguin Classics book is FOOLS CROW by James Welch. Start reading now and enter to win a Penguin totebag. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/May12Classics

AUTHORBUZZ: LOVE IS MURDER (Fiction) edited by Sandra Brown

An anthology of short stories penned by some of our most popular romantic suspense authors, LOVE IS MURDER also features stories by writers better known for their thrillers, but who often incorporate into their books the relationship layering that is the trademark of traditional romantic suspense.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on LOVE IS MURDER to read more and to email author Sandra Brown, you'll get a reply.

 

Dear Reader Column 05-25-12

Subscribe to one of Suzanne's online bookclubs and receive her daily
column at: DearReader.com


Sample Suzanne's book at:
Muffins and Mayhem, Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win: Goto: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader,

It's bug, slug, snake and other creepy crawler week. Be sure to enter this week's Rattlesnake Egg giveaway: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/snake052212.html

I couldn't see clearly because I didn't have my glasses on and it was in the middle of the night. But I was pretty sure that big, blotchy, mass running up the wall next to my bed wasn't there when I went to sleep.

Lights on! Yell at husband. (He's in charge of things that scurry in the night.) Pull covers over my head in case that thing goes airborne.

Yes, we have an exterminator. But every now and then a critter gets through the outside bug barrier. This roach--a really big roach--obviously maneuvered his way around it. He was bold all right. He knew we'd seen him; he could have retreated, but he chose to stay put and defend his wall. OK, this was war!

My husband's weapon of choice was a rolled up newspaper, but I quickly reminded him that squishing the enemy on the wall would make for a messy cleanup job, possibly even touch-up painting. I suggested the vacuum cleaner instead. And after a fleeting chase, the vacuum did indeed suck that roach right up through the hose.

Now safe and secure, I thought I'd drift right off to sleep, but I didn't. Did you ever watch the Mighty Mouse cartoon show when you were a kid? I did, and for some reason the image of Mighty Mouse with his chest puffed out, flexing the muscles in his arms was suddenly crystal clear in my mind. Now all I could think about was, 'What if that roach spends all night in that vacuum cleaner bag, munching on yesterday's toast crumbs, and in the morning he crawls down the vacuum hose and emerges as Mighty Roach?'

Lights on--again. Yell at husband--again. You hold the vacuum cleaner hose upright, Dear. I'll get the duct tape.

To enter the Rattlesnake Egg giveaway, go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/snake052212.html

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
www.muffinsandmayhem.com

* This month's Penguin Classics book is FOOLS CROW by James Welch. Start reading now and enter to win a Penguin totebag. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/May12Classics

AUTHORBUZZ: THE PROTECTORS (YA Fiction) by Steven Shreridan

A space saga which takes us on a journey through the eyes of John Gordon, a 17 year old who, on the way back home from school, is abducted by an alien race. Totally disoriented, John finds out that he has been drafted as a soldier into an interstellar war that has been raging for centuries to which he holds the power to end.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on THE PROTECTORS to read more and to email author Steven Shreridan, you'll get a reply.

Dear Reader Column 05-24-12

Subscribe to one of Suzanne's online bookclubs and receive her daily
column at: DearReader.com


Sample Suzanne's book at:
Muffins and Mayhem, Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win: Goto: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader,

It's bug, slug, snake and other creepy crawler week at the book clubs. Be sure to enter this week's Rattlesnake Eggs Giveaway. No, I'm not sending you real rattlesnake eggs, but if you're one of the winners, you will have the time of your life when you share them with your friends and family. My grandson, Paul is proof of that. Paul took a printed picture of the snakes, from the sign-up page of the giveaway, and a package of rattlesnake eggs to school to show his teacher. First he showed her the picture of the big, long, snake hanging down from the tree in their backyard, then he handed her the package of rattlesnake eggs, and told her to look inside. When his teacher opened the package, instantly she heard a loud and quick rattling sound, which caused her to start screaming--rattling and screaming and spoofing your teacher, it was a child's delight.

So, don't be afraid to enter, you'll have a lot of fun with your rattlesnake eggs. (A key to catching someone off guard and hearing a squeal, is to show them a picture of a snake first, then have them open the package of rattlesnake eggs.) Have fun!

To enter this week's Rattlesnake Egg giveaway, go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/snake052212.html

Love is in the air--literally.

Nineteen years ago, when my husband and I moved from Madison, Wisconsin to Sarasota, Florida, bugs were one of my biggest concerns. I envisioned creepy crawlers that had grown to B-movie proportions, "The Killer-Bugs that ate Sarasota."

But other than an alligator taking a dip in my neighbor's swimming pool, lizards scurrying back and forth across the sidewalk, and occasional black snakes (which are harmless), the two most annoying natives are invisible biting flies--appropriately called no-see-ums--and love bugs.

Twice a year it's mating season for love bugs. Thousands of females emerge from their larvae looking for an acceptable male suitor and when they find one, they latch on to each other in mid-air, but instead of rolling over and going to sleep afterwards, the two lovers fall to the ground in the heat of passion. Frequently they fall into the path of a moving vehicle. Splat, splat. (What a price to pay for love.)

My windshield, everybody else's windshield and sometimes the entire front-end of every single car in Sarasota is covered with a sticky adhesive-like love bug mess. Superglue should be so strong. And the worst part is, if the aftermath doesn't get cleaned off immediately, the love bug leftovers will eat right through the paint on your car.

Yes, at this very moment love is in the air, hanging in the trees, attached to storefront windows, on my car, and inside of my car (because even love bugs appreciate a little backseat romance).

To enter the Rattlesnake Egg giveaway, go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/snake052212.html

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

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

AUTHORBUZZ: WHAT HAPPENED IN GRANITE CREEK (Fiction) by Robyn Bradley

When a married woman with three children falls in love with a quadruple amputee injured in Iraq, nothing is ever the same for her or her family again. A journey of unexpected twists that reminds us, nothing is ever what it seems.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on WHAT HAPPENED IN GRANITE CREEK to find out more about the book and the author, Robyn Bradley. Send her an email, she'd love to hear from you.

*Fun, free books and meet authors. Ask questions, they'll reply and read samples from their books. Visit AuthorBuzz at: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

(Fiction)
INTO THIS WORLD by Sybil Baker

(Fiction)
LOVE IS MURDER edited by Sandra Brown

BUZZ BOOKS by Michael Cader

(Fiction)
WHAT HAPPENED IN GRANITE CREEK by Robyn Bradley

(YA Fiction)
THE PROTECTORS by Steven Shreridan

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

* This month's Penguin Classics book is FOOLS CROW by James Welch. Start reading now and enter to win a Penguin totebag. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/May12Classics

 

 

 

Dear Reader Column 05-23-12

Subscribe to one of Suzanne's online bookclubs and receive her daily
column at: DearReader.com


Sample Suzanne's book at:
Muffins and Mayhem, Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win: Goto: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader,

Suzanne's on holiday today. It's bug, slug, snake and other creepy crawler week. Be sure to enter this week's Rattlesnake Egg giveaway: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/snake052212.html

Geckos run rampant in Florida (where I live), but that's okay because they're kind of cute. Well, maybe they have a face only a mother could love, but they eat bugs. So I'd be happy to make up the guest room for them, if it weren't for my cat Abby. She's a hunter, who loves to chase geckos and do things to them. By the time I spot a gecko in the house, it's still alive, but minus a tail. (Not to worry, their tails grow back.) I can understand Abby's attraction for geckos, because they're constantly on the move.

When my husband and I first moved to Florida, from (gecko-less) Wisconsin, it was a bit scary seeing lizards scurrying back and forth on the sidewalk, especially when I was out for an early morning walk. But then one morning when I reached for a shirt in my closet, and a gecko (who I've since named Fred) was sitting on top of the hanger, smiling back at me--it was love at first sight. So that's why now I do whatever I can to look after geckos, but sometimes I get a little carried away.

My husband and I had only driven a few feet to the first stop light in our neighborhood, and while we were waiting for the light to turn green, I noticed a gecko on the windshield--hanging on for dear life! The poor guy must have been sun bathing, fell asleep and didn't hear us start the engine. But now, wide awake and petrified, two people were staring at him through the windshield, noisy traffic surrounded him on all sides, and I imagined him screaming, "Yikes! How did I get here and how can I get off of this car?"

My husband's first thought was to turn on the wipers, so they'd push the gecko off. I pointed out that our new friend might get squished, or whisked off into on-coming traffic, so no solution there. But we needed to come up with an idea quickly, because any minute the light would turn green and I doubted if our gecko could hang on even if we drove slowly. I've never been fond of this particular traffic light, because it has to be the longest light in the entire city of Sarasota. But today, I was thankful. Because it gave us time to open the sunroof, then I stood up, leaned over and yelled, "Jump off the windshield and over to the grassy part of the curb--and hurry!" He was one smart gecko, because he did exactly what I told him to do.

Whew! What an adventure, our gecko friend was safe and secure, the light turned green and my husband and I continued on down the road. But then I got to thinking, (which isn't always a good thing for me to do). Even though the gecko was safely on the ground, maybe he was too far from home. Could he find his way back? Would his family come looking for him?

"Maybe we should turn around, dear?"

To enter the Rattlesnake Egg giveaway, go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/snake052212.html

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

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

* This month's Penguin Classics book is FOOLS CROW by James Welch. Start reading now and enter to win a Penguin totebag. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/May12Classics

AUTHORBUZZ: BUZZ BOOKS by Michael Cader

Start reading some of the fall's biggest books--from top authors and bestsellers including Junot Díaz, Mark Helprin, Rhoda Janzen, Barbara Kingsolver, Dennis Lehane and J.R. Moehringer--and discover the first novels from Shani Boianjiu, Peter Heller, M.L. Stedman, Amanda Coplin, Kevin Powers, Scott Hutchins, John Kenney and others before they hit the market. Plus you'll enjoy samples from major young adult authors, including Jessica Khoury, Libby Bray, David Levithan, and Ned Vizzini. Download this FREE collection of exciting excerpts now.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on BUZZ BOOKS to read more.

 

Dear Reader Column 05-22-12

Subscribe to one of Suzanne's online bookclubs and receive her daily
column at: DearReader.com


Sample Suzanne's book at:
Muffins and Mayhem, Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win: Goto: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader,

This week's columns are all about bugs, slugs, snakes and other creepy crawlers. And be sure to enter today's Rattlesnake Egg giveaway.

I don't mind sharing my space with creatures, because I realize they're probably thinking they're the ones that are tolerating me. But the big black snake--the "bigger around than a garden hose" snake, the one that's been hanging around my house lately--we have to come to some sort of an agreement, because he's scaring the bejeebers out of me.

As far as I know, black snakes are harmless. (Usually I want to hear from you if you know something I don't, but not this time. Please don't write and tell me I'm wrong--I think I'd rather be in the dark about what this snake likes to eat.)

Black snakes, at least the one that likes to sun himself on my porch, are docile. He doesn't rattle and he doesn't rise up and hiss at me. We haven't discussed it, but I get the impression that I make him just as nervous as he makes me. There's plenty of sun to go around, so I don't understand why all of sudden this snake wants to sunbathe on my back porch.

Once you nearly step on a snake, then everything that moves, means snake. But after a couple of days with no snake on the steps, I forgot about him--until today, when I went out the back door, stepped down, and put my foot right beside his head. Snake and Suzanne, side-by-side on the same step, he side-winded off, insulted that I'd almost tromped on him--and I was screaming.

There's always a reason for everything and since I've seen some little baby black snakes around lately, maybe this is really a mother snake in desperate need of a few minutes away from her demanding children. Maybe she's searching for a day at the spa--a little sun, and a little snake cocktail, topped off with one of those fancy umbrellas.

I raised four children, and heaven knows, I can relate.

To enter the Rattlesnake Egg giveaway, go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/snake052212.html

* Congratulations to the winners of my most recent apron giveaway: Ivy Shows, Kara Hash and Cornelia Donovan.

* And congratulations to the May Chocolate Chip Cookie Winners: Marcia Barker, Gail Currier, Vickie Rosier and Rita Rae Rogers.

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
www.muffinsandmayhem.com

* This month's Penguin Classics book is FOOLS CROW by James Welch. Start reading now and enter to win a Penguin totebag. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/May12Classics

AUTHORBUZZ: LOVE IS MURDER (Fiction) edited by Sandra Brown

An anthology of short stories penned by some of our most popular romantic suspense authors, LOVE IS MURDER also features stories by writers better known for their thrillers, but who often incorporate into their books the relationship layering that is the trademark of traditional romantic suspense.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on LOVE IS MURDER to find out more about the book and the editor, Sandra Brown. Send her an email, she'd love to hear from you.

Dear Reader Column 05-10-12

Subscribe to one of Suzanne's online bookclubs and receive her daily
column at: DearReader.com


Sample Suzanne's book at:
Muffins and Mayhem, Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win: Goto: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader,

Thanks for taking the time to write. If you have a question about writing or about the book clubs, I'm happy to reply.

Annette reads at the book clubs and she was wondering . . .

"Hi Suzanne,

May I ask you a couple of questions?
How many people work for you?
How many books do you try to read in a week/month?
Do you still bake/cook with your grandson, Paul?
How do you do everything?!!!

(Suzanne replies:)

Yes, Annette, I still bake with my grandson, Paul, every Friday afternoon. We've been baking together since he was three years old. Paul's brother, James (who is 3-years-old now), isn't ready for baking yet. James has a completely different kind of personality, maybe when he gets a little older he'll be interested in baking. Not only is Paul learning how to bake, he's also learning how much fun it is to give homemade baked goods away. Every Friday, after we finish baking, he takes some of his goodies to our neighbors next door.

Thirteen people, including myself, work at DearReader. My husband and I own the company, and in addition to working with libraries to produce online book clubs for them, we develop other software programs, too. Our newest program is Library WishList. I'm extremely excited about it, probably because for 11 years I ran my own nonprofit, Meals For Madison. Every Friday, we served a meal to 125 people. The WishList allows a library, or Friends of the Library group, to do fundraising and recruit volunteers in a fun and simple way. Here's a link to our website, http://www.dearreader.com/Services/ and if you click at the top of the page, on the ABOUT US link, you'll find out more about Dear Reader, and you'll see the photos of everyone on staff. Most of the people are part-time, and most of the part-time people enjoy the opportunity to be available for their children.

I don't set a goal for the number of books I want to read every month. Way back in June of 1999, when I started DearReader, there was only one book club, so I used to read all of the books myself. Of course that would be impossible now, so people on staff help preview books. You need to sample a lot of books to find ones that you think might be a good match for the book clubs. I seem to go on reading sprees. I'll read non-stop for weeks, and then I might not dig into a book for two weeks. Reading, writing, gardening, baking, blowing bubbles, spending time with my wonderful husband, life gets busy, doesn't it?

How do I do it all? Well, the truth is that often I "over-do." Being lazy has never been a problem for me. So actually, one of my challenges in life is to try to be lazy--more often. Slow down, do nothing, and be at peace with myself and my surroundings.

Thank you for taking the time to write, I'm so glad you asked.

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

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

AUTHORBUZZ: THE POWER OF GRACE BETWEEN NASTY AND NICE (Nonfiction) by John and Linda Friel

America suffers from an epidemic of incivility, pseudo-self-esteem, narcissism, entitlement, and victim-perpetrator cycles of behavior that run from the halls of Congress to our own back yards. We are some of the unhappiest, meanest, and unhealthiest people on earth.
But we don't have to be.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on THE POWER OF GRACE BETWEEN NASTY AND NICE to find out more about the book and the authors, John and Linda Friel. Send them an email, they'd love to hear from you.

*Fun, free books and meet authors. Ask questions, they'll reply and read samples from their books. Visit AuthorBuzz at: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

(Nonfiction)
MOONLIGHT ON LINOLEUM by Terry Helwig

(Mystery)
SUBMERGED by Dani Pettrey

(Fiction)
AFTER THE FOG by Kathleen Shoop

(Nonfiction)
THE POWER OF GRACE BETWEEN NASTY AND NICE by John and Linda Friel

(Fiction)
SALVAGE THE BONES by Jesmyn Ward

* This month's Penguin Classics book is FOOLS CROW by James Welch. Start reading now and enter to win a Penguin totebag. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/May12Classics

 

 

 

Dear Reader Column 05-08-12

Subscribe to one of Suzanne's online bookclubs and receive her daily
column at: DearReader.com


Sample Suzanne's book at:
Muffins and Mayhem, Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win: Goto: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader,

Heidi entered the Penguin Classics bookbag giveaway and won--and then her son confiscated the book bag!

"Dear Suzanne, Good morning. I just had to write and share a picture of my 10-year-old son. I was a winner of a Penguin Classics bookbag last month, and was so thrilled because I never win anything. Unfortunately (maybe that's not the right word to use here, because reading is such a good thing), my son is a bookworm like his mom and a penguin lover so he 'stole' my prize. The picture was taken as we were getting ready to head to the library (St. Lucie County Library - Port St. Lucie branch) to get more books."-- Heidi

See who's using the bookbag now, sample this month's Penguin Classic, FOOLS CROW by James Welch, and enter this month's Penguin Classics book bag giveaway, go to: http://tinyurl.com/May12Classics

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
www.muffinsandmayhem.com

P.S. You can get a discount on the Classics all year long at the Penguin site. Use the code "Dreader25" when you purchase Classics. Be sure to enter the free giveaway while you're there, too. Goto: http://tinyurl.com/PenguinDiscount

AUTHORBUZZ: SUBMERGED (Fiction) by Dani Pettrey

A sabotaged flight. Two murdered divers. A single clue--a grainy image of sunken treasure. Dive Rescue Captain Cole Mckenna's never worked a case like this, but who he's working with may prove more dangerous than the assignment. It's been a lifetime since Bailey Craig mangled his heart. Now she's back and he needs her expertise in Russian studies to track down the illusive treasure. The clock is running, the body count is rising, and the killer is closing in.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on SUBMERGED to find out more about the book and the author, Dani Pettrey. Send her an email, she'd love to hear from you.