Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column 12-14-09

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 a ritual. First thing in the morning when I get up I head into the bathroom to splash some water on my face, and then I look into the mirror to reacquaint myself with who I am. Just about this time I feel Billee, our Calico cat, rubbing up against my leg. Billee expects a morning greeting. I rub her head, scratch a little around her ears, and then she contently heads towards the kitchen. It's time to eat.

But this morning Billee had a little trouble crossing the bathroom threshold, because Abbey, my youngest gray cat, was hiding--a kitty waiting to pounce--on Billee. It's the cutest thing. There's an old wedding gown displayed on a dress form that sits in the corner of my bathroom, right next to the door. (I live in an historical home, so the oddness of a wedding dress in my bathroom fits right in.) When Abbey was just a kitten she discovered if she sat underneath the top layer of tulle on the long flowing wedding dress, the material was the perfect cover, yet thin enough to allow her to move with ease and pounce on Billee as she passed by. Child's play, kitten play, I guess. It used to be a morning ritual for Abbey, but then Abbey grew a little bigger, and somehow the playfulness was replaced by grown up cat concerns, like napping.

But not this morning. Sitting up straight, every so quietly underneath the wedding dress stealthily waiting for Billee--Abbey was in position to pounce. It had been a long time since Abbey had played the wedding dress game, and I didn't realize until I noticed the action, how much I missed her morning game. Instantly I was wide awake and amused, watching to see if Billee would make it out the bathroom door safely.

It sounds a bit trivial, but watching Abbey waiting to pounce on Billee not only brought a smile to my face, but revisiting the tradition brought a sense of comfort and warmth to my heart, and reminded me that traditions don't have to be anything fancy or formal.

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 you can win: Marty Becker, D.V.M., Gina Spadafori, Mikkel Becker Shannon, The Ultimate Bird Lover; Misa Ramirez, Hasta la Vista, Lola; Steffan Postaer, The Happy Soul Industry; and Elizabeth Flock, Sleepwalking in Daylight. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

 

Dear Reader Column 12-11-09

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 going to have a tea party.

A Christmas box arrived from a friend yesterday and of course, you know me--I can't wait--so I opened it. And I'm so glad I did. Tore open the red wrapping and inside I found a fancy wooden box filled with an assortment of Bentley's Tea: Raspberry, Earl Grey, Peach, Green Tea, English Breakfast, and Orange Spice. Umm, wonderful aromas wafted from the box and instantly I pictured myself wearing my favorite dress and heels, a string of pearls clasped around my neck, my antique squirrel tea pot filled with hot water (a teapot my mother and father received for a wedding present 57 years ago), and my china tea cups--everything in place for a tea party.

The dainty china cups and saucers lined up on the shelf in my sunroom, none of them match. But that's what makes them so enchanting. Years ago, when my husband and I lived in Middleton, Wisconsin, frequently I'd host dinner parties--quite fancy affairs. It was a phase I went through, but don't take that wrong, I'm not knocking it. I adored every minute of it, especially when it was time for dessert and I let my guests choose one of my antique cups and saucers for their coffee or tea. Folks loved it! There's something refined and proper about drinking out of a delicate tea cup. I can't wait to host my tea party.

Truth is, it's probably a bit of fantasy to think I'll send out fancy invitations, and that everyone will get dressed up, and we'll sit down to tea cups filled with hot tea, and a tray of butter cookies. Truth is, I'll probably end up boiling water, grabbing a mug and brewing a Bentley tea bag all by myself. But it will still be a memorable tea party because I'll be thinking of my good friend Sully, who sent me the tea.

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

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

KIDSBUZZ: This week, books for kids of all ages about discovering beauty, romance and humor, and wizards from: Cindy Martinusen-Coloma, Beautiful; Lindsay Eland, Scones and Sensibility; and Alexandra Bracken, Brightly Woven. For a chance to win free books and more, see http://www.authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz

Dear Reader Column 12-10-09

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,

Doing a little holiday housekeeping today.

1. Remember to keep the book club fun, especially during this busy time of year. If a book isn't a good match for you, hit the delete key. You're not being a bad boy or girl and Santa will still leave a present for you.

2. If you'd like to make some holiday cookies, but cutouts are too big of an undertaking, try my Candy Cane Cookies. You'll find the recipe and a photo from a reader last year who made the cookies with her daughter. The photo shows a picture of the cookies, so you'll see what the final product should look like. No rolling pin needed, just two hands to roll two ropes of dough, then lay one on top of the other, turn the top corner down to form the head of the candy cane. You'll end up with not only impressive looking cookies, they taste fabulous, too! For the recipe and photo, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/candycanecookies

3. The week after Christmas I'll be featuring some of my staff's favorite Christmas memories. I'd love to hear yours, too. Please send an email and tell me about one of your holiday memories. I'll choose some book club reader memories to run in my column the week after Christmas. Your Christmas memory you send me could be as simple as the email I received from Jennie Webb this morning:

"Hey Suzanne! Your column today reminded me of baking with my nieces and nephews one time... I let each of them fill a tray with chocolate chip cookies to put in the oven. When it was time to put my youngest nephew's tray in, he got really upset and started crying. He did NOT want his cookies to go in the oven because it was so hot in there! Had to convince him that it wouldn't hurt the cookies, but they had to be baked to be eaten."

And as a thank you for taking the time to draft an email, I'll enter your name in a drawing for the boxed collection of American Christmas Classics by Ronald M. Clancy. A book and three CDs of holiday songs and carols. I want to get the prize in the mail so it can be enjoyed for Christmas, so I'll draw the winning name December 17th. If you want to be included in the drawing be sure to include your mailing address with your Christmas memory email.

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

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

AUTHORBUZZ: With so many new books out every week, we promise these are four that deserve your attention: Nina Bruhns, If Looks Could Chill; Dora Machado, Stonewiser: The Call of the Stone; Laura Childs, Eggs Benedict Arnold; and Lisa Tucker, The Promised World. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

 

Dear Reader Column 12-09-09

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'd like to see some really, really big smiles, click over and see the photos of my grandson, Paul, making cutout gingerbread men/women cookies. I'd been saving a small rolling pin and easy decorating kit for when he was old enough to help make cookies. Paul will be three years old in a couple of weeks, so I thought at least he would have fun helping, but he still wouldn't be old enough to roll the dough. I was wrong--big time! The boy took over in the kitchen. "Paul will roll Grandma!" and he waved me off to stand and watch.

Seeing a youngster's smile always brings joy to my heart and makes my day go better. I hope these photos do the same for you, and be sure to sign up for the children's cookie decorating kit I'm giving away. It's just like the one Paul and I used to decorate the gingerbread cookies.

Go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/gingerbread1209.html

*Be sure to check out our new KidsBuzz. The link runs after my column on Wednesday and Friday.

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

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

KIDSBUZZ: This week, books for kids of all ages about discovering beauty, romance and humor, and wizards from: Cindy Martinusen-Coloma, Beautiful; Lindsay Eland, Scones and Sensibility; and Alexandra Bracken, Brightly Woven. For a chance to win free books and more, see http://www.authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz

 

Dear Reader Column 12-08-09

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 just about talked myself out of the joy of sending someone a gift the other day. When I was walking by the health food store downtown, I thought about Dale, the man who used to run the satellite post office inside the store. He moved away last year. Dale was such a delightful guy that even if my husband and I didn't have anything to mail, we'd think of a reason to stop by just to say hello. Freshly baked chocolate chip cookies were one of our excuses, "Dale, I baked today and thought of you."

The smile on Dale's face would give anyone motivation to bake for him, and it was his smile that I couldn't get out of my mind the other day. So I decided to send Dale some homemade chocolate chip cookies. Baking chocolate chip cookies and sending them to Dale, boy, won't he be surprised! The excitement stayed with me for a few blocks as I was walking back home, but before I reached my house, I'd almost talked myself out of sending cookies. Unfortunately, I can be very persuasive.

"Suzanne, you shouldn't send a holiday gift to such a casual acquaintance, he might feel obligated to send something back. But there's no need for him to send me a gift. I'm just sending cookies because my heart feels like giving. Do I need an explanation of the 'why'? You're analyzing this to death and you're almost on the verge of killing the fun of spontaneous gift giving. Give it a rest!"

Yes, I nearly talked myself out of sending Dale cookies, but I didn't because I realized it's the unexpected that brings me the most joy in life. A package that was sent "just because," or a letter from a friend that I'd lost contact with years ago: "I saw your name Suzanne and started thinking about the time we did.... I just had to write. How have you been? Let me tell you what I've been up to...."

So I'm mixing up the cookie batter and listening to my heart this holiday season. No requirements, no explanations, my heart may not always lead me down a neat and tidy road. I might feel a little bit uncomfortable in the beginning, but if I follow my heart, I'm giving a gift to myself and I'm giving my best to others--because it's straight from my heart.

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

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

 

Dear Reader Column 12-07-09

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,

Once I buy a gift for someone I can't wait to give it to them. So if I shop early, then the folks on my Christmas list receive their presents in the mail two days after Thanksgiving (if the post office does its job). I'm worse than a little kid when it comes to giving gifts, because I can't wait to hear if someone loved what I picked out for them. But in my defense, I put a lot of thought into what might bring a little-kid-smile to each person on my list, and I have fun shopping with that picture in mind. So when I find the "perfect" gift, the anticipation has built over days of searching and the concept of storing the present until the big day--I can't bear the thought.

So this year, in an attempt to follow gift-giving protocol, I came up with an idea inspired by the "Twelve Days of Christmas." My version: Twelve Days of Christmas Gift Hints. (Same melody as the original tune, but with a new twist.) My plan was to email a gift hint to each of my friends on the twelve days before Christmas. Not only would it be fun, it would satisfy my need to give their gifts early.

But things don't always go like I plan. Did you know that in the "Twelve Days of Christmas," they don't start giving those maids a-milking and geese a-laying until December 25th? Which means those 12 drummers drumming don't show up until January 6th? Who knew? It was news to me and certainly put a real wrench in my idea.

So next year I'm doing what I should have done years ago--hand the problem off to someone else. If I find a great gift for Aunt Alice at the big 4th of July sale, I'm wrapping it up in last year's holiday paper, and sending it to her early--way early. But I'm also pasting a "Do Not Open Until December 25th" sticker in plain view--so now it's her problem, not mine!

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 four that deserve your attention: Nina Bruhns, If Looks Could Chill; Dora Machado, Stonewiser: The Call of the Stone; Laura Childs, Eggs Benedict Arnold; and Lisa Tucker, The Promised World. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader Column 12-04-09

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,

After reading my column this past Wednesday, Gayle, a book club reader, wrote:

"Suzanne, where do you get the courage to share such private information with your readers? Yes, you did it again; you just opened my heart up and gave me permission to join you in your mother-daughter story. So many of us are suffering with similar stories, but keeping them to ourselves."

Gayle, I don't know if I can take credit for any amount of courage on my part because speaking from my heart, wearing my emotions on my sleeve, or on the page, is almost a requirement for me to live a joyful life. I grew up in an alcoholic environment. My father was an alcoholic, an infliction that ran deep in his family. Growing up I knew my dad was an alcoholic, for certain my mother knew he was an alcoholic, our relatives had to know because they helped carry my father into bed on numerous occasions, neighbors must have known, everyone knew but no one would talk about it. So I questioned my feelings. How could something like this be going on yet everyone pretends not to notice? It was very unsettling for me as a child and even to this day, one of the things I cannot tolerate, is when it feels like something is being hidden under the table. People are keeping something from me, maybe not telling me about it to spare my feelings, but yet I know what's going on and it makes me feel anxious and afraid.

So the sad story might be that I grew up surrounded by alcohol, but the good side of the story (a gift I've been blessed with, to be able to seek and find some good in everything) is that now I can pretty much talk about anything. Talking about the things in life that scare me, when I say them out loud, or write them down, suddenly they're not so scary anymore.

You're so right Gayle, many people have similar stories, and they keep them to themselves. But when friends like you read my words and then reply, we realize we're no longer alone.

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

If you missed Wednesday's column, you'll find it at: http://tinyurl.com/yj7vmzq

Have a wonderful weekend,
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

KIDSBUZZ: This week, books for middle grade and young adult readers about rules, the world inside paintings, conscience and taking on the world from: Naomi Zucker, Callie's Rules; Mike Wilks, Mirrorscape; Amy Efaw, After; and Glenn Dakin, Candle Man. For a chance to win free books and more, see http://www.authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz

 

Dear Reader Column 12-03-09

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 love to exchange recipes. Tom, my manicurist, raved about my Skunk Beans recipe (he'd made it twice since he'd seen me last) and when I asked him if he had a recipe for sweet potatoes, he assured me this one was a winner. He was right. I served it on Thanksgiving and I'm making it again for Christmas dinner. It's going to become a regular holiday recipe in my house.

Tom's Sweet Potatoes

4 cups mashed sweet potatoes (fresh baked)
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 1/2 sticks butter
1 cup milk

Mix the above ingredients together and bake @ 400 for 20 minutes

Topping:
3/4 cup crushed cornflakes
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup melted butter
1/2 cup ground pecans

Mix topping ingredients together and crumble over top and bake for an additional 10 minutes.

Use 13 x 9 pan or dish. To double topping--double everything except the butter.

To peruse my recipes, go to: http://tinyurl.com/yuf6aq

* Congratulations to Marie Kudej the winner of the subscription to Woman's Day Magazine.

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 four that deserve your attention: Margaret Brownley, A Lady Like Sarah; Wendy Nelson Tokunaga, Love in Translation; John B. Olson, Powers; and Zoe Klein, Drawing in the Dust. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader Column 12-02-09

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 things I do and say to my daughter, I must remember the reason she sees them as uncaring and unloving, is because she's an alcoholic. My daughter may not have had a drink, or used any drugs for two months now, but the ways and thoughts of an addict are still with her.

When she is healthy and works her way out of the fog, when she can move about with ease without being under the thumb of alcohol and drugs, then she will understand my words and actions. And if that day never comes, I will know that I've given her the best love a mother can give, I've said no when she needed to hear it. I've held the line even though my heart is breaking.

I remember getting an email from a reader when I featured the book, The Soloist in my column. The reader commented on the book and about how much she enjoyed reading at the book club, and then with what seemed like the ease of telling me what she had for lunch yesterday, she told me about her son. He's a homeless man, who she sometimes sees sleeping on the street, when she goes to the market. The mother cannot "do" for her son, there's more behind the scenes than it appears.

And obviously today, as I "casually" write about my daughter, I realize there was nothing casual about the reader's words that day. How could she tell me the story about her son? It seemed unnatural, embarrassing, and I didn't know what to do with my own feelings when I read her email. How can a mother work such a story into an email? Because talking about it out loud, or writing about it helps a mother survive--and helps ease a mother's broken heart. Thanks for listening.

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

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

KIDSBUZZ: This week, books for middle grade and young adult readers about rules, the world inside paintings, conscience and taking on the world from: Naomi Zucker, Callie's Rules; Mike Wilks, Mirrorscape; Amy Efaw, After; and Glenn Dakin, Candle Man. For a chance to win free books and more, see http://www.authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz

Dear Reader Column 12-01-09

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'd forgotten all about the call I received a couple of months ago from a fact checker at Woman's Day magazine, until Kathy Salvo, a book club reader, sent me this email.

"Suzanne: I saw the DearReader.com book clubs mentioned in the December Woman's Day magazine which I just received in the mail yesterday. Good to see you mentioned prominently! Keep up the good work and keep sending those interesting books and morning chats!"--Kathy

Thank you Kathy, you are absolutely right--the book clubs are mentioned on page 28, in the article "Take a Holiday Time-Out."

Check us out in the December issue of Woman's Day and if you're so inclined, let the editors know you read at the book clubs. As a fun thank you to the folks at Woman's Day I'm giving away a one-year subscription to the magazine. To enter the drawing, go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/womansday.html

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

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