Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column 10-17-06

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

The big moments are but a flash, they're not what sustain me. They aren't the things I think about when I'm alone in a hotel room, reflecting on my life, or when I'm sitting on a red eye, flying back home after a big business deal.

I made the sale. That was the goal, but that's not what's on my mind tonight. I'm dreaming of the man that's waiting for me, his smile and the look he'll give me when I get off the plane. Ride the tram, walk down the hall, and there he will be waiting. Arms open wide.

My husband always misses me and I miss him, even when I'm only gone for a couple of days. We talk like teenagers on the phone, uncomfortable, nervous, because we're apart. Instead of planning a Friday night date for the football game, sometimes we hardly say a word. It's just enough to know he's on the other end of the line. "I'll be home soon."

He calls to say good morning, I call for my good night kiss. It's a feeling. I want to tell him about every appointment and describe the view outside my window on the 36th floor.

It's just not the same when I'm alone.

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected] 
http://www.DearReader.com

READ THE CLASSICS: Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, by Harriet Jacobs, and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=815&site=23

Dear Reader Column 10-16-06

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

AuthorBuzz made its debut in the online book clubs one year ago and we're celebrating all this week!

Happy Birthday to AuthorBuzz!

If you've never visited AuthorBuzz, the link appears right after my column every Monday and Thursday. Each week click on the link and you'll be introduced to new authors and they're always giving away fun and sometimes unusual things.

Book club readers have won over 1500 signed books, a trench coat, boxes of chocolates, Starbucks gift certificates, jewelry, and Sandy Hall and her grandson, Tyler Dalton won author Alex Kava's Crime Lab Tour Contest. Their prize included airfare from Spartanburg, South Carolina to Omaha, Nebraska where Alex's latest novel, A Necessary Evil takes place and they toured the crime lab.

Author, Ad Hudler, flew to Denver to meet book club reader and winner, Ken Weiner. Ad cooked dinner for Ken and his friends and then they discussed Ad's book, Househusband, in the charming Virginia Village library.

Jane Cleland, author of Consigned to Death, gave away copies of her book and free appraisals for antiques. "The coolest thing that's happened so far," Jane said, "is that we 'found' a $30,000 watercolor--a Thomas Moran--thrilling to the owner and worthy of some buzz in arty circles!"

Authors have received more than a quarter of a million emails from book club readers. If you haven't joined the fun, be sure to visit AuthorBuzz today. Take a look around, send this week's authors an email and then join the party.

As part of the birthday celebration I'm giving away 100 books to readers! Visit AuthorBuzz, then enter the drawings by going to:

http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/give2.html

Happy Birthday AuthorBuzz!

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected] 
http://www.DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: This week brings lots of signed free books and short stories from these terrific authors: Martha Powers, Death Angel; Lise Haines, Small Acts of Sex and Electricity; Connie Brockway, Hot Dish; Diane Setterfield, The Thirteenth Tale; and Mark Terry, The Devil's Pitchfork. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

READ THE CLASSICS: Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, by Harriet Jacobs, and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=815&site=23

Dear Reader Column 10-13-06

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Pucker Up! I hate it when people do it and I've never thought of anything clever to say. But sometimes things take care of themselves.

A man in a blue Chevy pulled into the parking space alongside of me on Main Street. He opened his door, but before he got out, he leaned over, puckered up and spit.

But the man in the blue Chevy, he miscalculated--didn't take into consideration that it was a windy day--and "plop," the glob that he'd just tried to spatter on the road got caught in the breeze, did a U-turn and landed on his pant leg.

I've always been at a loss for what to say, but today I didn't have to worry--things took care of themselves.

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected] 
http://www.DearReader.com

P.S. Visit Thomas Sullivan's website and sample the first chapter of The Water Wolf and enter the book giveaway. Sully has 20 copies to give away to book club readers. And be sure to send Sully an email when you visit his website, because he's going to dedicate his next book to one lucky book club reader. It could be you! Go to: http://www.thomassullivanauthor.com/

Dear Reader Column 10-12-06

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

I overdo it every year. When I see Concord grapes in the grocer's aisle, I buy at least four huge containers, then I hurry home and start eating. There's an art to eating concord grapes and when I was a kid, I perfected it in my Grandma Hale's backyard. Grandma's grapevines grew alongside of her garage and in the fall when the vines exploded with big, purple Concord grapes, I could spend an entire afternoon reading a book and popping grape after grape into my mouth.

Pinch, splash, and swallow--three easy steps are the secret to my technique. If you're a grape-eating beginner, let me explain. You never eat more than one grape at a time and you never actually bite into the grape.

Here's the step-by-step: Pick up one single grape, open your mouth--get ready now--pinch the grape, the juice splashes into your mouth, the grape follows right behind, and then you swallow--seeds and all. Toss the skin aside, quickly grab another grape, pick up the pace now--speed is part of the artistry--pinch, splash and swallow, you've got to keep the grape beat going. No fine wine for me, just pop those grapes into my mouth one after another and I'm intoxicated.

Yes, it was my one and only way to eat grapes--until yesterday, when a friend of mine asked if I'd ever made a Concord grape pie. Grapes in a pie? It didn't sound too appetizing to me, but it did sound bizarre and I was intrigued, so I gave it a try.

Let me tell you, there's also an art to baking a Concord grape pie. I perfected it in my kitchen last night and I've got the purple-stained fingers to prove it. Surprisingly, the pie was delicious. The recipe, photos, and baking mishaps--the seeds were a little tricky--are at:

http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/grape.html

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected] 
http://www.DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new authors, old favorites and win signed free books from Renee Dodd, A Cabinet of Wonders; Carla Neggers, The Widow; Niki Burnham, Do-Over; Kathleen Givens, On A Highland Shore; and Dee Henderson, Before I Wake. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader Column 10-11-06

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Remember if a book isn't a good match for you don't feel guilty about hitting the delete key. I feature a new book every Monday morning. If you're missing a daily read you can get another copy immediately. Go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/miss

Thanks for taking the time to write. I know you're busy and I appreciate hearing from you.

From my Email Bag:

"Dear Suzanne, I have been a member of the book club for about a month now and am amazed at everything that goes on at this site (ironing, chocolate chip cookies, naming babies, kitten adoption!) Wow!

I've really enjoyed the variety of books that you have featured during that time, particularly since I give leadership to a Book Club once a month. I have been trying to read a variety of appropriate books beforehand, but some of the best sellers out there leave something to be desired. The week-long excerpts give me a really good idea of what the book is about without having to read the entire book."--Bev Blacquiere

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected] 
http://www.DearReader.com

P.S. Visit Thomas Sullivan's website and sample the first chapter of The Water Wolf and enter the book giveaway. Sully has 20 copies to give away to book club readers. And be sure to send Sully an email when you visit his website, because he's going to dedicate his next book to one lucky book club reader. It could be you! Go to: http://www.thomassullivanauthor.com/

Dear Reader Column 10-10-06

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

I had to do an errand first thing this morning--couldn't avoid it and it was going to take me 30 minutes to drive there and then another 30 minutes to drive back home. What a waste of time. I had big plans today and already things were working against me.

But I must've needed a break this morning because on my way, I had to stop for two drawbridges. Two drawbridges!

"Stop Here on the Flashing Red Light"--that's what the sign said. And there really wasn't any other option, because half of the bridge was rising up into the air in front of me. So I put the car in park--it'll be a little while--sat back and took a look around.

People pay money to fly to Florida for heaven sakes and I live here. If this draw bridge opened in front of tourists, they'd be out of their cars taking pictures and feeling they'd hit the jackpot, because the drawbridge only opens when a huge sailboat, with a tall mast, needs to pass through.

Yes indeed, it was a picture perfect day when I took the time to look around and I'm glad I did. A pelican, my favorite bird, had just spotted a fish and "plop," he did a shallow dive into the water. No scaling, or filleting, the big brown bird just threw his head back, gave the main course a little wiggle, down the hatch--"yum, yum," and off he went searching for dessert.

A trail of blue, next to a splash of green, and a few small white caps--the waves are gently splashing up against the shore. Why was I in a hurry?

But now the bells are sounding and the bridge is lowering back into place, the signal arm lifts, but nobody seems in a hurry to hit the road. No one's inching up in their car, even though we know the green light is coming. Nope, we just all sit a little bit longer.

The goofy pelican has spotted another fish. He's circling and picking up speed, getting ready for the dive...and he's done it again! If only I could catch 'em like he does.

Time to get moving...

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
http://www.DearReader.com

P.S. Visit Thomas Sullivan's website at http://www.thomassullivanauthor.com. Sample the first chapter of The Water Wolf and enter the book giveaway. Sully has 20 copies to give away to book club readers. And be sure to send Sully an email when you visit his website, because he's going to dedicate his next book to one lucky book club reader. It could be you!

Dear Reader Column 10-09-06

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Whenever I'm writing about someone who I admire like author Thomas Sullivan, it's always one of the toughest columns for me to write. Finding the right words to say becomes almost impossible because the pressure's on. I start writing, I stop, then I hit the delete key and start over again, but nothing seems to live up to the talents or the generosity of the man.

So let's pretend we're just having a conversation, you and I, and I'll simply tell you a little bit about him. First of all, the name on his books is Thomas Sullivan, but Sully is his every day name.

Sully's a talented writer and just when I think I have him figured out, he surprises me. His latest book, The Water Wolf, was just released and it's one you won't want to miss. Every day, Sully reads along with us at the book clubs. I know, because frequently he sends me a note about my column. In fact, Sully was one of my guest columnists when I went on vacation this year.

The Olympic Team hasn't called the All-American athlete yet, but Sully could sub on a moment's notice. He blades 16 miles a day in the summer and in the cold Minnesota winter, he covers 31 miles every day on skis. Thank heavens he enjoys burning up calories because Sully's crazy about my chocolate chip cookies. He's dunked so many of my homemade chocolate chip cookies that I fear carpal cookie syndrome may set in soon.

Visit Thomas Sullivan's website: http://www.thomassullivanauthor.com Sample the first chapter of The Water Wolf and enter the book giveaway. Sully has 20 copies to give away to book club readers. And be sure to send Sully an email when you visit his website, because he's going to dedicate his next book to one lucky book club reader. It could be you!

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
http://www.DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new authors, old favorites and win signed free books from Renee Dodd, A Cabinet of Wonders; Carla Neggers, The Widow; Niki Burnham, Do-Over; Kathleen Givens, On A Highland Shore; and Dee Henderson, Before I Wake. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader Column 10-06-06

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

I usually try to stay out of the rain because I'm afraid I'll get soaked, my hair will frizz, and I might ruin a favorite pair of shoes. But last night when my husband and I were out for a late night stroll and it started to rain, we just kept walking--in the rain.

My husband offered to run and get the car while I stood underneath an awning, but strolling hand-in-hand, the rain lightly falling on us, it was romantic--a perfect moment that I'll remember for a long time.

In fact, I was so smitten by last night's walk that when it started raining this afternoon, I invited my husband to take another walk. And out the door we went. We took the long way around the neighborhood and by the time we got back to our house we were completely soaked. It took me 30 minutes to get presentable again, which is probably why the sidewalks aren't crowded when it's raining.

But maybe if the 'cleanup' after walking in the rain wasn't such a big deal, people would indulge more often--which got my marketing brain thinking: Instead of cleaning up after the walk, maybe someone should think of ideas for cleaning up 'while' they're walking in the rain.

Here's my idea:

If you don't mind airing your dirty laundry, why not wear it while you walk in the rain?

Become a portable washing machine. Dig deep down into your clothes hamper, pull out that gravy-stained shirt, zip on the pants with the hot dog relish stain, tie the laces on your mud-covered gardening shoes and get moving. A daily dose of exercise and clean clothes all in a 35 minute walk/wash cycle.

But don't forget to pre-treat with your favorite stain stick--rainwater can only do so much.

Mixing whites and colors--it's no longer a laundry dilemma. Want your clothes cuddly-soft? Carry a fabric softener ball along with you, douse yourself in the second wash cycle, (that would be about 13 minutes into your walk) and you'll come home all shiny-clean with that April Fresh Scent.

But how do I wash my unmentionables, you dare ask? No problem. Put your intimate apparel in a bucket, set it in your kid's red wagon and pull it along behind you. The sidewalk bumps make the perfect delicate cycle.

Your neighbors won't have a clue that you're doing your laundry while you're walking in the rain--but from experience I warn you, they may look at you a bit strange when after the rain's subsided they see you spinning down the sidewalk in your spin dry cycle.

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

Warmest Regards,

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected] 
http://www.DearReader.com

P.S. Win one of 10 signed copies of this week's Fiction Club book Closing Costs. To enter the book giveaway and the chance to win a talk with author Seth Margolis over the phone, send me an email, tell me what you think about Closing Costs, and you'll be entered in the drawing. To enter the drawing, send your email to: [email protected]

If you don't read at the Fiction Book Club and you'd like to sample Closing Costs this week, you'll find each day's read at the Missing Read Link: http://www.emailbookclub.com/miss

READ THE CLASSICS: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain, and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to:
http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=815&site=22

Dear Reader Column 10-05-06

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

I love to read your mail and I can't thank you enough for taking the time to write. Nobody has enough time these days and I'm grateful that you choose to spend some of your time with me. Today's email is in response to my column about my dear husband's backseat driving. If you missed it, you can find it at:
http://dearreader.typepad.com/dear/2006/09/dear_reader_col_19.html

Thanks for sharing a bit of your lives with me. It always makes my day.

From my Email Bag:

"Hi Suzanne, Hi, I am Subha from India and I love reading your columns. Today's column prompted me to write to you. The backseat-driving gene doesn't just run in your family--it runs universally in all male human species. I have carried out a small research and I find that men can tolerate women doing ANYTHING better than them that includes driving a plane or a space ship rocket--but car? No way! A woman driving a car stirs the ancient homo erectus in man and there is no way one can stop him from directing, instructing, even warning other drivers off the road when his beloved wife drives!!!! Cheers."--Subha

"Suzanne, your email today must have struck a cord in the heart of all married women whose husbands qualify as back seat drivers. My husband and I got along very well with most things but when it came to driving and which was the shortest, or best direction to take, we were at odds. He was a auto mechanic and would know the result of any 'mistake' I would make and didn't hesitate to let me know. For instance he would say for the hundredth time 'Sally don't turn the steering wheel when you are not in motion,' or 'When you back out of the exit always end up in the lane you'll be driving in.' The funny thing is I seemed to do things correctly when I was on my own. Well Suzanne I am doing all the right things now, or at least there is nobody to tell me I'm not. After 54 very happy years my dear husband passed away and what I wouldn't give to hear him say once more 'Sally don't........' Warmest regards,"--Sally T.

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

Warmest Regards,
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected] 
http://www.DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: Dozens and dozens of signed free books from these terrific authors: Nate Blakeslee, Tulia Linda Mercadante, Bloomfield Avenue: A Jewish-Catholic Jersey Girl's Spiritual Journey; Michael Largo, Final Exits: The Illustrated Encyclopedia of How We Die; Taylor Holden, The Sense of Paper; and Stephen R. Lawhead, Hood. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

P.S. Win one of 10 signed copies of this week's Fiction Club book Closing Costs. To enter the book giveaway and the chance to win a talk with author Seth Margolis over the phone, send me an email, tell me what you think about Closing Costs, and you'll be entered in the drawing. To enter the drawing, send your email to: [email protected]

If you don't read at the Fiction Book Club and you'd like to sample Closing Costs this week, you'll find each day's read at the Missing Read Link: http://www.emailbookclub.com/miss

READ THE CLASSICS: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain, and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to:
http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=815&site=22

Dear Reader Column 10-04-06

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Everybody's got a food that does them in, mine happens to be doughnuts. I rarely eat them and when I do, three bites can satisfy me. But if I don't pull the doughnut apart and throw half of it away before I take that first bite, I'm doomed. There's no way when that first bite of a sugary, light French cruller--my doughnut of choice--hits my taste buds that I'm going to throw the other half in the trash. Oh, I think about it before each additional bite of the savory fluted ring. I run the idea through my mind, 'Okay now Suzanne, this is the last bite and then you're going to throw the rest of this doughnut away.' But somehow when I'm in the middle of chewing and the sugar crystals are surging through my veins, lighting up my brain cells, my brain rejoices and says, "Hallelujah! Bring on another bite Suzanne, this thing tastes great!" And that's when I'm a goner, and before I know it, there's nothing left but the little tissue wrapper and an empty bag.

French crullers--they're not usually a problem for me because I just stay away from places that sell them. But the hotel I was staying at the other day offered a complete breakfast: scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, fresh fruit, yogurt, oatmeal, waffles, coffee, and tea, toast, bagels and yes--the twisted French cruller doughnuts.

I tried to shield my eyes, I even threw a napkin over the see-through doughnut container while I passed by, but then when the man standing next to me reached in for a double-double chocolate, the temptation was too great. I slid my hand underneath the Plexiglas safety net, and grabbed a glazed French delight before he sealed up the doughnut showcase. And of course, that sealed my fate, too.

Here I sit in my hotel room in a sugary bliss--yes, I ate the whole thing--and now the only thing I'm able to write about is a French cruller doughnut. Thank heavens I'm checking out today.

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected] 
http://www.DearReader.com

P.S. Win one of 10 signed copies of this week's Fiction Club book Closing Costs. To enter the book giveaway and the chance to win a talk with author Seth Margolis over the phone, send me an email, tell me what you think about Closing Costs, and you'll be entered in the drawing. To enter the drawing, send your email to: [email protected]

If you don't read at the Fiction Book Club and you'd like to sample Closing Costs this week, you'll find each day's read at the Missing Read Link: http://www.emailbookclub.com/miss

READ THE CLASSICS: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain, and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to:
http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/path_go.cfm?x=815&site=22