Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column 10-16-09

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 on vacation and author Laura Griffin has graciously offered to fill in for me. Laura would love to hear from you. Send her an email, she'll reply and you might win one of two autographed copies of her most recent release, Whisper of Warning. Email Laura at: laura@lauragriffin.com --Suzanne Beecher

From author Laura Griffin...

"Wine a little. You'll feel better."

For my birthday this year, my husband gave me something sparkly--a T-shirt with this quote scripted across the front in glittery letters above a picture of a wine glass. In return, I gave him a quizzical look.

"You can wear it to Book Club," he explained.

It's a running joke in our household that my Book Club is actually more of a Wine Club, and I'd do almost anything to avoid missing a meeting. No matter how hectic, how crazy, how upside-down my life feels, I find a way--once every four weeks--to get the kids fed and my husband home early so that I can slip out of the house and meet up with a group of women who have somehow become best friends.

"You read the book this month?" my hubby asks as I race out the door, and I shoot him a look because--as I've explained before--that is so not the point.

At Book Club, we talk about books. Sometimes we even talk about the book we've been assigned to read. But we also talk about kids, and husbands, and jobs, and mothers-in-law. We exchange potty training tips and jokes about sex. We analyze the economy, and how it affects us personally. We ponder work-life balance, whatever that is. And yes, we drink wine.

Aside from Book Club, we have very little in common, at least on the surface. We are a nightclub singer, a paralegal, a corporate executive, an author, and the list goes on. We are moms and wives and sisters, though not all of us play all of those rolls. We are a diverse group, and our book selections tend to be as varied as we are: Under the Banner of Heaven, Choke, Anna Karenina (which, I must admit, I didn't finish), The Time Traveler's Wife, a biography of Eric Clapton.

In December, when life gets really hectic, we don't read a book at all, but meet at a movie theater to see a film based on a book. Pride and Prejudice was one of our better picks. Twilight, not so much. But that's part of the fun of Book Club--reading or viewing or talking about something new, something you might not have chosen on your own.

I learn a lot from our lively literary discussions. But I learn even more when our talks circle back to the here and now: How is your marriage? How is your boss? What do you do with the kid who pitches a howling fit in the supermarket aisle?

My Book Club--or my Wine Club, as my husband fondly calls it--is my touchstone. It's my link to other women who are different from me, and yet facing so many similar challenges. My Book Club is the place where I go for laughter and friendship, and even the occasional intellectual discussion.

Are you in a book club? I truly hope so. Because everyone needs a book club. Even when they don't read the books.

Laura is waiting to hear from you. Email Laura at: laura@lauragriffin.com

Award-winning author Laura Griffin started her career in journalism before venturing into the world of romantic suspense. Her thrilling new Tracers Series kicks off this November with Untraceable. Details and excerpts available at www.lauragriffin.com.

 

Dear Reader Column 09-21-09

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 back! My trip to New York was fun and the marketing meeting for my upcoming book was very productive--thanks to you! Eight publishing executives were at the meeting and they were all anxious to read your marketing ideas, and impressed that you took the time to send them. We were a hit! Thanks again for taking the time to share your ideas with me.

The weather in New York City was picture perfect. We had lunch with my husband's brother and then I talked the two of them into taking a Pedicab ride through Central Park. They were both a little shy about the idea at first, but after the 45 minute ride they thanked me for talking them into it.

If you'd like to see photos, go to: http://tinyurl.com/lrlupj

From my Email Bag:

"Suzanne, I just came back from Florida and I've got to hand it to you. Somehow you escape from having what I call 'Florida hair'. I've gone back to look at pictures of you and your hair always looks great! It's not the big, frizzy, puff ball that I experienced last week when I was visiting. I thought I was being smart this time, because I've been to Florida before. I brought along 'no frizz' styling products, my own hair dryer, AND as a weapon of last resort, my straightening iron. But I wouldn't call my assault on Florida hair a runaway success, although I will admit to some limited achievements, after hours of working on it.

So Suzanne--let me in on your secret - HOW DO YOU DO IT? You write interesting and funny daily columns, have written a book, support libraries, make lots of cookies, AND you don't suffer from Florida hair! Kudos, Suzanne, kudos.

I hope you and your lovely hair have a great day today,"--Paula

(Suzanne responds:)

Dear Paula,

Florida is a wonderful place to live, but the hair frizzies can get to you. And they almost did the first couple of years I lived here. But this is my secret. First I use a very, very, cold rinse after I apply my hair conditioner. And if the humidity is high and I'm going to be outdoors for a while, I wrap my hair around my head and stuff a baseball cap on top. The hair can't totally escape the humidity, but flattened underneath a baseball cap, at least it has a fighting chance!

The next time you come to Florida, stop by Sarasota and we'll have tea and I'll lend you a cap!

*Another thing I love about New York City is NO hair frizzies!

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

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

AUTHORBUZZ: With so many new books out every week, we promise these are five that deserve your attention: Alan Jacobson, Crush; Jennifer Erin Valent, Cottonwood Whispers; Joel Derfner, Swish: My Quest to Become the Gayest Person Ever and What Ended Up Happening Instead; Ivy Pochoda, The Art of Disappearing; Janice Thompson, Fools Rush In; Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

* This month's Penguin Classics book is The Flame Trees of Thika by Elspeth Huxley. To comment on the book and enter the Penguin Classics Drawing, go to: http://tinyurl.com/SeptClassics

 

Dear Reader Column 09-14-09

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,

Today I have a bonus read for you, The Power of Small by Robin Koval and Linda Kaplan Thaler. It's the little things in life that drive me crazy, but it's also the little things that bring me the most joy. The smell of a freshly cut lawn, watching a blue jay swoop down and steal a piece of cat food in the dish on the side porch, wearing an apron while I work (it always takes me back to spending time with my Grandma Hale), listening to my grandson count to 10 for the first time, and hearing him call out to me when he sees something exciting. "Grandma, come here, come here!" This is the power of small in my life.

Enjoy the read and be sure to enter this week's drawing. If your name is drawn, I'll send you something small that will surely make you smile. Start reading The Power of Small right now, and enter the giveaway. Go to:
http://www.supportlibrary.com/bc/v.cfm?L=%%list.name%%&V=N1A315524555&c=SUZ

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: Michelle Moran, Cleopatra's Daughter: A Novel; William Gladstone, The Twelve; Katherine Neville, The Fire; Mia Lundin, N.P., R.N., Female Brain Gone Insane: An Emergency Guide for Women Who Feel Like They are Falling Apart; Susan Squires, Time for Eternity. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

* This month's Penguin Classics book is The Flame Trees of Thika by Elspeth Huxley. To comment on the book and enter the Penguin Classics Drawing, go to: http://tinyurl.com/SeptClassics

 

Dear Reader Column 08-04-09

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,

Bailey, my 15 year old granddaughter, visited my husband and me last week. Most of the writing I did was about Bailey and remembering times when I visited my own grandmother. So this week in my column, each day I'm sharing, "Notes from this Grandma's Journal".

Continued from Monday's column...

When you only see your granddaughter once a year it's easy to forget some things, like how gullible Bailey is. So my husband and I decided on our drive to the airport to pick up Bailey, that we would play a little joke on her.

After hugs and hellos we started right in, "Bailey, we've made a few changes at our house since your last visit. We just finished screening in our front porch. It's become our favorite room. A ceiling fan keeps the air moving, so even when it's 98 degrees outside, sitting on the porch is a relaxing treat. Our new front porch has changed our life so much, that now we don't even turn on the air conditioner in our house anymore until it reaches 100 degrees."

Bailey looks at us, smiles and says, "Oh, that's okay. My dad doesn't like to turn on the air conditioner too much either." (Bailey's frame of reference on how hot a room can get is based on her living in Wisconsin, where days tend to be in the 70s and nights get even cooler.)

"It gets pretty warm, hope you don't mind," I quickly add, hoping to hear her say, "Oh Grandma, you're teasing me right?"

But there's no distress response from Bailey, so I add another component to the ruse. "And Grandpa and I got rid of our television." Still no reaction. So I heap it on real good, "And we cancelled the satellite radio subscription and we cancelled our internet service, too." Bailey still doesn't flinch.

Obviously it was too early in our granddaughter's visit for such a joke. Bailey was still in her gracious Miss Manners mode. What a charming young woman. Why the poor girl must have been dying inside wondering what the heck she'd gotten herself into for the next 10 days. The guilt quickly washed over me and I confessed, "Bailey we're just teasing you, let's stop at the shoe store on the way home."

When I used to go to my Grandma Hale's house for summer vacation, I knew I'd go home with at least two new pairs of shoes, and I've continued the Grandmother/Granddaughter tradition. Every year immediately after my husband and I pick up Bailey at the airport, we head for the Skecher's Outlet shoe store. Buy one pair, get the second half price, we left the store with three huge bags of shoes.

To see vacation photos, go to: http://tinyurl.com/BVacation0709a

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 the Bubble Giveaways: Kelli Maas, Geri Siragusa, Janice Jasieniecki, Rose Milligan and Karen Ratzman; for the Colored Bubbles: Shelly Eyberg, Dominique Houchens, Cyril Gojer, Anne Pardee, Cherrie Markwood and Tiffany Shaffer.

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 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.

Dear Reader Column 05-18-09

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 back, well at least for a brief appearance today. My plan was to return full time to writing this week. My mind loved the idea--jumped on board right away--but the rest of my body parts seem to have a mind of their own. I was recovering nicely from my hysterectomy surgery but then two days ago an infection showed up. So this girl will be out for one more week. The surgery and recovery bit hasn't been one of the most pleasant experiences I've ever had, but your cards, emails, flowers, calls and the big box of homemade chocolate-chocolate chip cookies that showed up in my mailbox a couple of days ago have surrounded me with warm, caring feelings that only friends can deliver. Thank you very much. Your thoughtfulness has been so kind.

As with any experience there are stories to tell and some of the notes I've been jotting down are pretty funny. I'll be back next Monday. In the meantime, sign up for my bubble machine giveaway today, check out AuthorBuzz (the link is right after today's column) and continue to enjoy the voice of my friends, authors Blaize Clement and M.J. Rose. Bye, bye--see you next Monday, have a wonderful week.--Suzanne Beecher

*To enter Suzanne's Bubble Machine Giveaway, go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/bubble051309.html

Suzanne will return next Monday, today's column is written by Blaize Clement.

You could plunk me down in the middle of a meeting of Queen Elizabeth, Oprah, and Michelle Obama, and I wouldn't be the least bit intimidated. I'd yak my head off and have a fine time. But put me in a hairdresser's chair, and I'm struck dumb with fear. I know from sad experience that a bad cut can turn my fine, wavy hair into a hopelessly frizzy mop. I'm not only scared of hairdressers, I don't speak their language. I've been trying all my adult life to learn it, but every time I've sort of caught on to hair patois, it changes. While I wasn't paying attention, "frosting" turned into "streaking" and then it became "highlights." And then there's "product," which seems to have become a code word for all the gels and sprays on the market.

I hear other women discussing their hair preference with their stylist, and they sound like they know what they're talking about. The only instruction I can manage is, "Don't cut it shorter than my earlobes." Even while I'm saying that, I know I haven't told them what I want, because the word "cut" has different meanings. If they reach for a razor, I know to stop them because a razor cut makes my hair look like I've stuck my finger in a light socket, but I'm hazy on the difference between a bob, a shag, a tapered cut, and a layered cut. And then there's a "stacked" cut, which as far as I can make out is very short and tapered in the back and long and not tapered in the front. But maybe not. It's all very mysterious and dangerous, because I may ask for a particular style and use a word that I think means one thing, but really means something different, and end up with Lyle Lovett's worst hair day.

Today I told my hairdresser that I wanted the back of my hair jagged at the neck instead of straight and even. I made diagrams in the air with my finger when I said "jagged" because it was the only word I could think of that meant something sort of saw-toothed and spiky. He nodded and said, "I'll chip the ends." When he saw that I didn't know what "chipping the ends" meant, he said, "You know, I'll point-cut it." I didn't know what point-cut meant either. Turns out it meant little bitty points cut out of the ends, not the big points I'd had in mind. But it will grow and I'll eventually learn the word that means great big wide points, and the minute I do, they'll invent a new word for that look. Somebody really should write a hair dictionary!

Blaize Clement

* Blaize is the author of the Dixie Hemingway mystery series. The latest book, Cat Sitter On A Hot Tin Roof, was a December mystery book club feature. You can email her at: Blaize@BlaizeClement.com

AUTHORBUZZ: With so many new books out every week, we promise these are five that deserve your attention: John Hart, The Last Child; Melanie M. Jeschke, Jillian Dare; Sherry Thomas, Not Quite a Husband; Charlotte Greig, A Girl's Guide to Modern European Philosophy; and Joe Lamacchia, Blue Collar & Proud of It.  Go to:  http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

* This month's Penguin Classics book is The House Behind The Cedars by Charles W. Chesnutt. To comment on the book and enter the Penguin Classics Drawing, go to: http://tinyurl.com/MayClassics

Dear Reader Column 04-30-09

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,

For the next couple of weeks I'll be featuring some Guest Writers. Friends of mine who have graciously offered to fill in for me while I'm gone. I'm having surgery tomorrow (Friday), but not to worry. It's minor and I've probably scheduled too long of a recovery time, but I always try to plan for the unexpected. I'll still be reading my email, just not writing for a few days.

It's weird how my mind works. For the past week I've been pruning and prepping as if company were coming. You know how that goes--when folks are coming to visit, you clean the house and attend to all of those little details you've been meaning to get around to. And that's what I've been doing, fixing up Suzanne, getting ready for company--the surgical team. After all, I certainly wouldn't want someone to shout out after they've put me under, "Look at the hair on that woman's legs and look at those nasty split ends!"

So every inch of me is groomed, my son and daughter-in-law bought me a beautiful new nightgown to lounge around in after the big day, and I even treated myself to some new 400 thread count sheets. I'm ready! Bring on the company!

I know you'll enjoy my guest writers; you've met them before, so in a way it will feel like company is coming to visit. Don't be shy about emailing, writers always love to hear from readers.

I'll be back soon. Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to know I'm reading with friends like you.

Warmest regards,
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; Sean Dixon, The Last Days of the Lacuna Cabal; Philip Baruth, The Brothers Boswell; John Pipkin, Woodsburner; and Judy Duarte, Entertaining Angels. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

 

Dear Reader Column 04-29-09

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 I'm supposed to attend a meeting at 3 p.m., I'm killing time in the lobby at 2:30, just in case. Just in case I get stuck in traffic, or I show up at the wrong building. It's happened.

A few years ago I had an appointment at the corporate offices at Saks in New York City. The woman I was meeting didn't give an address, so I assumed it was SAKS on 5th Avenue, the fancy building with the clothes in the window I can't afford unless they're on a sale rack. Our meeting was scheduled for 10 a.m., but when I showed up at 9:30 looking for an open door, the only way to get in the building was through the employee entrance. And that's when the security guard informed me that the corporate offices were around the block.

Around the block in New York City can be a 20 minute walk, 25 if you're wearing "presentation heels." The heels I bought at Saks the night before. But those stylish, stupid shoes hurt my feet so badly that I couldn't stand to have them on more than 30 minutes, and going for a walk was out of the question. But a cab had dropped me off and the only way to get to the corporate office was to put one foot in front of the other. Limp, limp, stop and adjust the heels, with the pointy toes that were digging into my feet, moan and groan a bit--only seven minutes before my appointment--so I took the pain in stride and sprinted the last few feet. I made it on time, but just barely. It was a great appointment, but I was sorely disappointed that no one commented on my shoes.

Can you tell that being on time is one of my pet peeves? And it's one of the traits that my husband and I have in common, except when it comes to meeting friends for an informal occasion.

If the party starts at 7 p.m., then my dear husband expects us to be walking through the door in harmony with the big hand on the 12 and the little hand on the 7. Now if this were a job interview or a first date, punctuality would make me stand out in a good way. But when you show up on the dot for a party, the first to arrive, it's an awkward feeling. So I try to find ways to stall. For instance, my husband thinks I'm typing column notes this very minute, (and I am) but really it's a ruse. We have a dinner date with our neighbors this evening and we offered to drive to the restaurant. My husband is hurrying-me-up because it's eight minutes to lift off. "It's time to go, Suzanne, we'll be late!"

But it's only a two minute walk to our neighbor's house and we're driving, so you do the math.

"I'm coming Dear, still typing column notes."

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

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