Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column 07-17-09

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 write a story and readers write one back to me...

"Dear Suzanne,

While reading your column today, I was reminded of my favorite reality-check phrase. This bit of wisdom was given to me by a nun who was teaching a psychology class I took shortly after separating from my first (alcoholic) husband. I was feeling guilty about abandoning him and I was really beating myself up about it. This wonderful woman taught the class about guilt that day. She taught us about how heavy an emotion it is and how useless it is, in its heaviness. She then taught everyone about the things we say to ourselves that cause us to feel guilty about a feeling or an action.
A primary trigger phrase: 'I should have ___________' (you fill in the blank).

Next came her gift to the class. She taught us this phrase:

'Thou Shalt Not Should on Thyself.'

I have carried that gift with me ever since, and shared it untold times along the way. It became a favorite of my (second) husband's and it was one of the last things I said to him before he died in March. He was feeling guilty for leaving me too soon, for smoking the cigarettes that gave him the lung cancer that took him from me. I will say that there was not a day that went by, that I did not wish he was not smoking. In the end however, he had no cause for guilt for his choices or his actions. I chose to be with him, and not for a minute did I ever regret that choice.

'Sweetie, thou shalt not should on thyself.'

Best to you and thank you for sharing your gem today. Hope you find this one a good addition to your repertoire."--Chriss

"Suzanne,

Thank you for your message today. It was very timely for me and my friends here at work. Lay-offs are going to be announced tomorrow. We've known about it for a week and it has not been a pleasant atmosphere around here. Rumors are rampant and we hash them over constantly. It is stressful.

When I opened my e-mail from you this morning, it was like a giant light bulb clicking on. I know your note was addressing negative comments, but it has a great application to our situation, too. We have spent all this time and energy worrying over something out of our control. Frankly, 'I just don't have that kind of time' to worry over it anymore. I shared your e-mail with my pals and they really appreciated the message, too. Thank you very much for bringing a reality check into our week that we very much needed."--Dot

If you missed the column Dot and Chriss are referring to, you'll find it at: http://tinyurl.com/mjbtea

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

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

SEARCHING FOR YOUR NEXT BIG THRILL? Read the "Between the Lines" feature interview with Jonathan Kellerman then read about great thrillers from: Chris Kuzneski, Blake Crouch, James Scott Bell, Howard Shrier, Vicki Hinze, John Gilstrap, Carolyn Haines, Dakota Banks, Eric Wilson, Julie Kramer, Robert Gregory Browne, Leslie Parrish, Eric Stone, John M. Wills, Mike Lawson, Robert Liparulo and Laura Caldwell. Go to: http://www.thrillerwriters.org

* This month's Penguin Classics book is The Stone Diaries by Carol Shields. To comment on the book and enter the Penguin Classics Drawing, go to: http://tinyurl.com/JulyClassics

Dear Reader Column 07-13-09

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,

We'd never met, but it felt like I was visiting an old friend when I stopped by Ruth Farello's house to drop off her book club prize. Ruth was one of our first Weekend Crossword Puzzle winners and since she lives in Sarasota (where I live) I decided to personally deliver her prize.

"I know so much about you from reading your column, I feel like you're family," Ruth said when she hugged me at the door, and it felt that way to me, too.

I'd even brought some of my family with me. My husband Bob came along as the camera man, and I brought grandson Paul along because he's just so darn cute. Ruth had invited two of her close friends, Gloria and Margaret, and we all sat down for coffee, cookies and cupcakes decorated red, white and blue for the 4th of July. And to our surprise in the middle of our coffee and cupcakes two-and-a-half year old Paul sat himself down at Ruth's piano and gave a recital.

To see a photo of my visit with Ruth and Paul's recital, go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com:80/photo/ruth-prize.html

Read about Dana, another Money Maze winner, who loves the Stillwater Public Library. Go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/Money-Puzzle070709.html

The Weekend Crossword Puzzle winners will be announced in Tuesday's column.

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 that there are five that deserve your attention: Kwei Quartey, Wife of the Gods; Mary Guterson, Gone to the Dogs; Phyllis Norton Hoffman, Honey, It's All in the Shoes; Susan Mallery, Straight From the Hip; Clyde Ford, Whiskey Gulf. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

 

Dear Reader Column 07-08-09

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,

The Popsicle box of 24 gives it top billing, first in the line up..."Orange, Cherry, Grape," but that's not the order at my house. Who eats orange Popsicles? I sure don't! I can't even persuade my grandson to eat the orange dregs piled up in my freezer. At the tender young age of 2 1/2, even he knows what tastes good, so why doesn't the Popsicle company? Buying the 24 economy size box may be the best bargain, (actually it's the only size the grocery stores around me sell) but it's a financial disaster, because 6 are cherry, 6 are grape and 12 are orange.

I got hooked on Popsicles during my six week recovery from a recent surgery; two Popsicles in the morning and two in the afternoon, a total of four every day--not one of them orange. That's forty-two days of eating Popsicles and since there were only 12 edible ones in a box; 6 cherry and 6 grape, there are now 168 orange Popsicles stacked up in my freezer. I considered "going green" and recycling, passing them on to an orange loving friend, but after a quick phone survey, not one of my friends like orange Popsicles either. (Well actually most of my friends hadn't eaten a Popsicle since they were ten--but everyone said "Yuck!" immediately when I mentioned orange.)

I'm usually the odd person out when it comes to being in the "popular consumer group." The nail polish I like gets canceled, the television shows I find entertaining get cut after the pilot, so until I checked on the Internet to see what other folks had to say about orange Popsicles, I figured I was odd girl out on my Popsicle tastes, too. But I'm not alone, "Just Say NO to orange Popsicles" seems to be the consensus.

"Satisfaction Guaranteed!" Is what the message on the Popsicle box says: "If you're not satisfied with the quality of this product or have any questions or comments...send the reason for your dissatisfaction along with the entire side panel of the box and a prompt adjustment of equal value will be made." So, I'm taking Popsicle at their word. I've packaged up the entire side panel from my box along with my "dissatisfaction"--168 orange Popsicles (in plastic zip bags).

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

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

P.S. Five lucky people will have a chance to become a "first reader" of Nate Kenyon's new work. Email Nate at nate@natekenyon.com with the subject line "First Reader Contest." The winners will receive a signed copy of Nate's new novel, The Bone Factory--and a signed manuscript copy of the first draft of his work in progress, Sparrow Rock. Read his new book even before his editor does. There's a catch, though--he's looking for feedback. Tell Nate what you think of his story and your comments will help him fine-tune the book as it goes through the editing process. Sound like fun? Email Nate, he's waiting to hear from you.

Dear Reader Column 07-03-09

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,

Happy 4th! (tomorrow) to readers in the U.S.

Mary reads at the book clubs and her response to this past Wednesday's column about how my husband and I have been fixing up our house, even though we're not planning on selling, reminded me of a life lesson. Many times what I'd been searching for was right there, in front of me, all along.

"Oh Suzanne, you and I (and maybe HGTV) are on the same path. I usually spruce up my house just before I sell it, but this time I am doing that and more just for me. When I used to look at homes for sale I'd always think how cute they would be with just some minor alterations. When I bought, I usually figured that eventually it would be my 'dream home'...you know....that personal retreat with all the touches of home that spell 'serenity' when you walk in the door? But somehow I have never made it to that goal. I'd end up moving instead.

Last year I wanted to move again but with the economy the way it is, my house did not sell. That made me stop and think about all the reasons I fell in love with this house to begin with and all the plans I once had for it. Well now I am working on those plans: landscaping, skylights, room remodel etc. The feeling of contentment and satisfaction is priceless and I get to keep all the great neighbors. Good luck with all your plans."-- Mary

If you missed the column, find it at: http://tinyurl.com/kvw6f6

Today's note made me smile and have an aha moment. My wife is an HGTV junkie; I'm trying to find a support group for her. Anyway, she has been on the same kick of fixing everything up, and she did mention we should fix up our house like we were going to sell it. So in a month she has painted our kitchen, dinning room, master bedroom. Which means I've had to redo trim and put up new light fixtures? Now we've moved to the outside. So as you can see that's why I need to find her a support group. Actually it's been fun and our house and yard are starting to have that 'Designed to Sell' look."--Mike

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 07-02-09

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,

Skunk Beans, Siesta Key Hats, Money Mazes, if you've never entered one of my weekly giveaways, you should. Someone always wins and it might as well be you. Ruth was one of the winners in last week's Money Maze giveaway and since she lives in Sarasota, just like me, I'm delivering her prize in person.

My Skunk Bean recipe is on the back of our new Book Club Calling Card. Help spread the word about your book club. Enter today's drawing for a leather calling card holder filled with cards that promote the book clubs. Hand them out to your family and friends. Thanks for spreading the word. I sure do appreciate it. To enter today's drawing (I have 5 calling card holders for readers) and to see the lucky Siesta Key Hat winner from Tuesday's column, go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/hats063009.html

From my Email Bag:

"Dear Suzanne, I made your Skunk Bean recipe yesterday for a church dinner and they went over big. I only had a little to bring back home with me, but what I brought home was enough for my son and me, and we both loved them. So different from your ordinary baked beans. Love it! By the way I made a double batch."--Always a Reader, Loretta Blimline

*You'll find the Skunk Bean recipe at:
http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/users/susandemo/mweb/path1-23.html

"Dear Suzanne, I have printed the Weekend Crossword Puzzle and plan to enter. I very seldom win anything but I really, really like that Money Maze. It would be perfect to send my grandson for his 20th birthday on July 8. Of course with a little gift inside! I also live in Sarasota, so I would truly appreciate knowing where you purchased it. My walking is limited and this would eliminate going to umpteen toy stores before I would find it. I have been a fan of your column for several years and can honestly say you give me more chuckles and smiles than a lot of people. Thank you."--Ruth Farello

(Response from Suzanne:)

Ruth, I'll personally be knocking on your door soon, with your winning Money Maze!

"Thanks for the fabulous Siesta Key hat as well for the books you introduce us to, and the inspiring and funny daily column--it's my favorite part of the morning!! Hugs from your devoted reader."--Sabine

*Be sure to enter today's drawing, go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/hats063009.html

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: Nate Kenyon, The Bone Factory; Emilie Richards, Happiness Key; Carla Neggers, The Mist; Hank Phillippi Ryan, Prime Time; and Gaelen Foley, My Wicked Marquess. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

 

Dear Reader Column 07-01-09

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,

The past few weeks my husband and I have been fixing up our house like we're getting ready to sell it. But we're not. Why do people (including me), usually wait until they decide to sell their house to get their house in order? Why don't I fix things up while I'm living here, so I get to enjoy them instead of strangers?

I'm thanking the Home and Garden Channel for my newfound desire to fix things up around my house, and to even notice they needed fixing in the first place. For six weeks, mostly lying around in bed recuperating from surgery, HGTV was my favorite channel. I vowed when my energy returned, a transformation would happen in my house and it's going on right now.

The wrought iron railing on my side porch has been painted, the ceiling in my dressing room and bedroom are being touched up. The roof sprung a leak two years ago, the roof got fixed, but the watermark stains were left behind. The sexy little lights underneath my kitchen cupboards fizzled out over a year ago, the grout on my kitchen floor needed mending here and there, and some of the wooden blinds in my house were damaged when Mama Cat, (the feral cat I take care of) had surgery three years ago. Mama had to recuperate indoors and when the anesthesia wore off, she scoured my wooden window blinds looking for an escape. Mama's surgery scars healed, but the claw marks on my wooden blinds didn't. I've even hired a carpenter to screen in my front porch and the minute the old fashioned porch railings were in place, it was instant curb appeal. (And no mosquitoes.)

Just like you and me, even the folks on HGTV do the math when they're evaluating what to spend money on. If you update a kitchen it means extra dollars when you sell, repaint and it's money in the bank, screen in your front porch--I have no idea what that means in dollars--but in the meantime the enjoyment of sitting on the front porch is priceless to me.

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

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

P.S. Congratulations to the winners of last week's Hat Giveaway (don't forget to send me a photo when you get the chance): Cara Coe, Mary Diane Hawkins, Sabine Veasey and Martie Philpot.

 

Dear Reader Column 06-30-09

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,

Congratulations to the winners of the Puzzle Box Giveaway: Gary DeRemer, Dana Bilyeu, Linda Brown, Markenna Pharr and Ruth Farello. Hundreds of readers had fun doing the Dear Reader Column Crossword Puzzle over the weekend.

Even though I gave readers a Hint Link, so they could find the answers to the crossword puzzle, most people didn't use the link because they didn't want to cheat. Or as Bethany put it, "I had to think hard on a couple of them, but I didn't want to fudge and get help on the answers."

I found readers' cheating comments amusing. How can you cheat on a puzzle that is just for fun and you don't even have to finish it, in order to enter the free drawing? But deciding what's cheating, I admit it's a very personal and confusing issue. My husband finds it amusing when he asks if I've written today's column and my reply is, "Yes, but I cheated." When it comes to my writing, I consider it cheating when I search through old column notes I've started, but never finished. (I have two huge boxes filled with notebooks.) And I've definitely crossed over the cheating line when I discover some old column notes that for some reason didn't seem finished at the time. But then when I read what I'd written, a column was there all along I just didn't see it. Stealing old column notes and on top of that, not adding anything new--now that's definitely cheating! But as my husband reminds me, "Suzanne, how can it be cheating? Didn't you write those notes in the first place?"

You see how confusing deciding what cheating can be?

Is it cheating when I buy potato salad at the store and doctor it up with diced hard boiled eggs, parsley and paprika? Is it cheating when I wear tummy tucker panty hose, so I can slide into my favorite little black dress? (Well, the answer to that last one is no, because if I didn't eat anything when I had that dress on, I wouldn't need that tummy tucker panty hose in the first place. So when I first put the dress on, I didn't really need the extra tuck in the tummy, so it wasn't really cheating. Was it?)

If you missed the Weekend Crossword, it's still online. Give it a try, I think you'll enjoy it--and you have my permission to cheat or fudge or flimflam, or bamboozle or whatever you want to call it. Because you can't possibly cheat, it's just for fun. Here's the link: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/crossword062409.html

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 06-26-09

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 Something New!

A fun Dear Reader Column Crossword Puzzle and you could also win a giveaway prize, too. (Money Mazes.) You don't even have to find all the right answers. Simply tell me if you had fun doing the puzzle, or offer your suggestions. If you remember from past columns, the answers to questions such as; the second grader who sent us her heart, what readers have the chance to win every month, or what I discovered in the bottom of my book bag one afternoon, then solving this weekend's crossword will be a breeze. But even if you don't remember, I'm also supplying you with clues that will show you exactly where to find the right answers. So I guess you might say our Weekend Dear Reader Column Crossword is also a bit of a scavenger hunt.

This is a first attempt at a crossword puzzle. My staff and I put it together overnight, so go easy on us with your comments. But we'd love to hear suggestions for future crosswords. I might even offer readers the chance to put together their own puzzle about the book club, too.

One idea leads to another and when I purchased some Money Maze Puzzles to give away in my column, I decided we needed a book club puzzle to go with it. If you've never seen a Money Maze it's a plastic puzzle box. You can put money or a gift card in the center, then lock it up tight and the person you give the gift to needs to solve the puzzle in order to get to the good stuff--their gift. It's been a hit with my older grandchildren and it drives adult friends insane.

So let's get to it. You'll find the Weekend Dear Reader Column Crossword Puzzle, the chance-to-win, and the clues to the answers at: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/crossword062409.html

Have fun and have a wonderful weekend!

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 06-25-09

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,

My husband loves it when I spill food on my shirt, because for years he was the slob. It was one of his amusing trademarks. He never seemed to notice, but I could spot lunch leftovers on his shirt, from way across the room. But now the table has turned. If I want to know what we ate for lunch, I look down at my own shirt. Today's menu: Cream of tomato soup, (yep and there's the orange smudge to prove it) and that Dove Bar I tried to secretly eat for dessert, a sliver of chocolate makes a huge statement on a light blue, dry clean only blouse.

Even when I caution myself, "Be careful, you're an adult, eat slowly and you won't spill anything," that reminder apparently isn't anymore meaningful than when I'm wearing good shoes, decide to pull a few weeds and twenty minutes later my flower garden looks pristine, but my shoes are ruined. I really should change my shoes and I really should eat slower--but I never listen. After all, I'm only going to pull a 'few' weeds--but we all know that never happens. And there-in lies the answer to why even though I ate today's lunch with the best of intentions, it ended up on my shirt anyway.

The worst part about being a lunch slob is I'm never the first person to notice. It doesn't really bother me when my husband gets that silly grin on his face and points to the chicken salad on my shirt. But then it makes me wonder, "Just how long has it been there?" Was it hanging around when the mailman asked me to sign for the package? Was it there when my neighbor stopped by to say hello? I bet during our entire conversation she was debating whether or not to tell me.

Maybe the solution is to only buy clothes that have a patterned design. Who knows, maybe the women in the Scottish town who invented paisley used to be lunch slobs, just like me.

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: George Rabasa, The Wonder Singer; Joanna Hershon, The German Bride; Pamela Samuels Young, Murder on the Down Low; Steffan Postaer, The Happy Soul Industry; and Sabrina Jeffries, Wed Him Before You Bed Him, Book 6. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

 

Dear Reader Column 06-24-09

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 been my favorite hat for the past 22 years. Whenever I wear it I still get compliments. The hat has ambiance. Years ago, when my husband and I lived in Wisconsin, almost every summer we'd go to Door County for an extended weekend. My favorite hat was one of the "finds" I discovered there.

My favorite is showing its age, so for the past five years I've been on the lookout for a similar hat. I tell myself it's aging with style, hopefully just like me. Shabby chic, I think they call it? A classic, clean, vintage look. A few wrinkles, (that's me) some little holes in the brim, (that's my hat) but in my mind, we both look as good as the day I bought it.

If you'd like to see "my favorite" and enter a hat giveaway, go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/hats-0609.html

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

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

P.S. Congratulations to the winners of Monday's "Just Because Giveaway": Elizabeth Brewster, Linda Houdeshell, BJ Cordray, Lee Ann Degele, Elva Elisa Escobar, Teresa Lawrence, Alina Migeed, Lillian Glickman, Joy Prevost and Marina Carlin.