Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column 09-14-07

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'm on vacation and author M.J. Rose is filling in for me today. I usually don't have a problem writing from the heart and expressing my feelings, but writing an introduction for M.J. Rose is a tough assignment. M.J. has become a close friend, someone I feel very at ease with--no need to pretend around her. Good friends are hard to find and I feel very lucky to have found her.

Her latest book, The Reincarnationist was just released last week. In fact I flew to New York for her book signing and party. Library Journal gave her book a starred review and so did Publishers Weekly: "Tale of intrigue that's more believably plotted and better meets its ambitions than Dan Brown's ubiquitous book." You can sample The Reincarnationist right now, go to: http://tinyurl.com/39x6az And you can see a couple of photos from M.J.'s book signing and party. It was fabulous!

M.J. Rose loves to hear from readers and she has two signed copies of her book, along with Starbucks cards to give away. (The Starbucks cards were my idea--you know how I love my coffee!) Be sure to write. She answers all of her mail. You can reach her at: mjroseAuthor@aol.com

Thanks M.J. for helping me out while I'm on vacation.--Suzanne Beecher

Dear Readers,

One day, about seven years ago, I waited in a restaurant for my lunch date to show up. I wasn't expecting much--just another business lunch. I'd never met the woman who was meeting me before and didn't know much about her other than the basics I'd gleaned from interviewing her for my column at Wired.com.

A few minutes later, I noticed a lovely woman standing in the entranceway to the restaurant. Blonde and petite, she was wearing a black jacket and black pants. In New York City most of us dress like we're on our way to a funeral all the time, so her outfit fit right in. But something about her was out of time. And that was the part that was familiar to me. Now, thinking back, I don't remember what it was. But I do remember the sensation of confusion.

I'd never met this woman before but I'd once known her. I was sure of it.

How was that possible?

When the maitre d' showed her to my table I was even more surprised to discover that the woman I thought I'd once known was the woman I was having lunch with.

How was that possible?

The dictionary defines deja vu as the illusion of having previously experienced something actually being encountered for the first time.

And while I believe that phenomena exists, I don't think it's the only explanation for that feeling of going to a new place and being sure that you've been there before, or meeting someone for the first time and being certain you already know them.

That instant simpatico, that can happen when you meet someone new can either be luck, or a fluke, or it might be something else.

Over 26 million people in America admit to believing in reincarnation which explains those moments of instant recognition with strangers as something quite different than illusions.

I've been researching the subject for most of my life. Going in depth for the last few years. I've read over 60 books about reincarnation. Keep a blog about it. (Reincarnationist.org).

My mom, who was a very sane woman believed in past lives, as did her grandfather who was a Jewish immigrant from Russia. In fact the two of them were sure that I was in fact reincarnated and had known my own great grandfather in a previous life. Pretty woo-woo stuff for a girl from New York City who worked in advertising for 15 years and lives in Connecticut with a wonderful musician and a very cute dog.

But it's what I believe. And that's how I explain why a few years ago that day in the restaurant, when I first met Suzanne Beecher, the owner and founder of DearReader.com I was sure I'd met her before.

But how? Who had we been? What century had we lived in? Was she always reading and baking chocolate chip cookies? Was I always writing?

Close your eyes and imagine who Suzanne Beecher was before. Then write me at mjroseAuthor@aol.com and tell me. Two people will be chosen at random to receive signed copies of my new novel, The Reincarnationist as well as Starbucks gift cards.

Maybe you knew us both before, too!

M.J. Rose

You can reach author M.J. Rose at: mjroseAuthor@aol.com Her website: http://www.mjrose.com/content/index.asp

Dear Reader Column 09-13-07

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,

My husband and I are on vacation in the Smoky Mountains again this year. Today's guest column is written by author Louise Penny. Louise has two signed copies of her book, A Fatal Grace for readers. She'd love to hear from you. Send her an email at contact@louisepenny.com And when you visit her website, be sure to read "About Louise." (Have a tissue handy.) Thanks Louise for filling in for me while I'm on vacation.--Suzanne Beecher

Dear Reader,

What a pleasure it is to write those words and be a part of this amazing network of people who so adore books our enthusiasm can't be contained! I have to tell you, it's a real tonic to be writing this guest column today. Though Suzanne can't have known it she may be saving my sanity.

As soon as I stop writing this column I need to email my travel agent. Something I've been dreading. To delay it I even went to exercise class this morning. First time in two years. Have you noticed that exercise instructors can make time stop but they can't actually count?

The problem began when I was invited to the Brisbane Writers Festival, a fantastic event and a great opportunity. I, of course, couldn't say yes fast enough. Just as I hit the 'send' button I remembered. Brisbane's in Australia. I'm in Canada. That's a long cruise. Or walk. Or, oh oh, plane ride.

How could I have possibly forgotten I'm afraid to fly? I'll tell you how. The only thing faster than my fear is my ego. For a long time I used to think my ego and fear were battling it out for control of my tongue, but now I realize they're much more cunning. They're collaborators. Yes. My ego gets me into situations then sits back and lets the fear rip, like a diabolical tag-team. Flying, public speaking, elevators, bridges, crowded halls. 'Speak to five hundred people at the dedication of the Three Gorges bridge in China? Absolutely.'

D'oh. The travel agent's latest email said that it was actually cheaper to buy an around-the-world ticket than fly to Australia direct. What? Do they really expect me to do something that insane? I sent a terse reply. 'Sounds good, book it.'

I seemed to be channeling someone not afraid to fly. For a moment it felt quite good until I considered the possibility it was Amelia Earhart. And then, even as I just wrote that, I remembered one of my favorite quotes of all time, from Amelia, the aviator. She said, 'Courage is the price life exacts for granting peace.' Internal courage, internal peace. And I think maybe it isn't ego, maybe it isn't even fear. Maybe something more gracious has been guiding my answers and inviting me to lead a life fuller than I would ever myself design.

Do you remember that scene from Ken Kesey's "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" where McMurphy begs the other inmates to help him lift a marble urinal and toss it out the barred window, to freedom? None would help and finally he tries alone. Straining, struggling he collapses, exhausted. The other inmates are in hysterics at this man trying to do what even they know is impossible. McMurphy raises his head and says, 'Well, at least I tried.' And maybe, maybe, that's what I need to remember. Not that I'm afraid, but that at least I try.

Thank you Suzanne, for allowing me to write this, and spend time with your readers, and with Amelia.

Louise Penny

Email: contact@louisepenny.com Website: http://www.louisepenny.com

AUTHORBUZZ: Win free copies of books you'll read and never forget from these terrific authors: Justine Musk, Uninvited; Penny Rudolph, Lifeblood; Tessa Radley, The Kyriakos Virgin Bride; Michael Adamse, Ph.D, God's Shrink; and Amy Hest, Remembering Mrs. Rossi. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader Column 09-12-07

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'm on vacation in the Smoky Mountains and author Deborah Raney, who reads at the book club with us every day, has graciously offered to write a guest column for me. Deborah's book Remember to Forget was featured last week at our book club and she's currently working on her seventeenth novel.

Deborah is also giving away five copies of her books to readers. "I'm really excited about doing the guest column and I'll definitely reply to anyone who emails." So be sure to send Deborah an email. You can reach her at: debraney@mac.com

Thanks for reading with us every day at the book club, Deborah, and thanks for sharing a column with us today, too. I really appreciate it.--Suzanne Beecher

Dear Reader,

A couple very dear to me split up a few weeks ago. These days, it's not really news when long-married people go their separate ways. But this split was too close to home. This was my husband's grandparents, who've been part of my life for three decades--since the day I walked into their farmhouse as a fresh-faced teenager, only to have Grandpa razz me about being just one of a string of girlfriends Ken had brought out to meet them.

It wasn't long before I learned to read that ornery twinkle in Grandpa's eye. Soon I could dish his tongue-in-cheek teasing right back, even as Grandma dished up her famous fried chicken and made-from-scratch chocolate cake.

Throughout the lean years of our marriage Grandma and Grandpa never sent us away without fresh-dug potatoes, jars of home-canned tomatoes or homemade cinnamon rolls Grandma kept in the deep freeze for anyone who might drop by.

Our photo albums are crowded with images of Grandma and Grandpa cradling our babies. They were never too busy for great-grandchildren's birthday parties or ballgames.

Through trials and tragedies, Ken's grandparents modeled undying commitment. So it hit hard when they split up.

Oh, it's not that the split was their choice. It was a heart-wrenching decision after Grandpa began to wander away from home, and Grandma's failing eyesight and four-foot-eleven stature kept her from going after him. In recent months, we would come to visit and the vacant stare, the missing twinkle in his eyes, told the truth. Still, his stock greeting was, "Come on in! I don't know who you are, but we sure do love you."

Then one day Grandma couldn't get Grandpa up out of his chair, and the difficult decision was made to move him to a nursing home. Ken and I took Grandma to visit yesterday. Grandpa is failing day by day. He lives in his own impenetrable world, wolfing down nursing home fare, ignoring his tablemates.

But Grandma's voice brought a ghost of that famous twinkle to his eyes. She touched his arm and he turned to wrap her in a hug and plant a kiss square on her lips. He must have kissed her half a dozen times during our hour-long visit. Sitting knee-to-knee in the dayroom--Grandma on a vinyl loveseat, Grandpa in his wheelchair--he looked her in the eye. "Are you married?"

Grandma's self-conscious chuckle made her sound like a schoolgirl. "I 'thought' I was."

"Well, you sure are good-looking," Grandpa declared.

Grandma threw us a sidewise wink before turning back to Grandpa. "I'm married to 'you,'" she said.

Grandpa pumped a frail fist in the air. "Thank you, Lord!"

Ever notice how much it hurts to laugh and cry at the same time.

Grandpa will be 98 at Thanksgiving and on New Year's Day Grandma turns 97. Grandma sleeps alone now in their double bed layered with quilts. But mere miles could never truly split them up. And if Grandpa makes it through the winter, there will be a big celebration come May 26. Ken's mom will drive out to the farm to pick up Grandma and bring her to the nursing home. Somebody will order a cake and we'll have to tell the bakery at least twice, "No, that's not a typo. The cake should read:

"Happy 79th anniversary, Grandma and Grandpa. We love you."

Deborah Raney

Email Deborah at debraney@mac.com She answers all of her mail and she has five copies of her books to give away to readers. Website: http://www.deborahraney.com

Dear Reader Column 09-11-07

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,

Hundreds of readers entered the Write a Dear Reader Contest and today I'd like to congratulate Catherine Schinkel, one of the contest winners. Catherine's an HR Director and she's been reading at the book clubs for over two years. Fiction is her favorite kind of read, but her column is all about her personal experiences with the troublesome game of golf. Thanks for entering the contest Catherine. You wrote a wonderful column! And thanks for reading with me every day.--Suzanne Beecher

Dear Reader,

This weekend I turned a corner.

I have been playing golf for 3 years--three long, frustrating years. I took it up when I got engaged to my husband, thinking that it would be a great thing for the two of us to do together. In fact, his wedding present to me was a set of women's clubs. Well, thank goodness that he is a patient man.

Despite hours of lessons and dozens of games, I could never quite get it together. When I'd go to the tee box and drive the ball, it would dribble along the ground instead of flying in an arc towards the green. More than once I wanted to break the club over my knee after hitting the ball into the bush, water or sand. But this weekend, miraculously, everything came together.

I can't put my finger on exactly what happened. Maybe it was that tip I recently read in a golf magazine--something about dragging your club along the ground in your backswing. A simple and basic tip, but something I was missing from my routine. It could also be my new golf instructor--no matter how many times I "whiff" the ball, he is endlessly positive and encouraging: "You've almost got it Catherine! The mechanics are all there--all you need to do now is connect!"

Whatever it was, the ball was flying up into the air, with a decent amount of distance and accuracy, to the point that the group that I regularly golf with was gasping with surprise! A friend's small son even told me, "You're good at this game." With a giant grin I replied, "No one has ever said that to me before!"

Could there be any more breakthroughs on the way? Golf isn't the only area of my life where I have invested a lot of time and effort, only to reap constant frustration. Sometimes the aggravation and disappointment is enough to make me want to pack it in. But what if success is just around the corner? Maybe one small adjustment or one encouraging word is the only thing standing between victory and me. Maybe the next breakthrough is just around the corner.

Catherine Schinkel

Dear Reader Column 09-10-07

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'm on vacation for two weeks. My husband and I are wandering around the Smoky Mountains again this year. If you see us, be sure to say hello. Some of my friends have graciously offered to fill-in for me while I'm gone.

Today's column is written by William Duncan. (I call him Bill.) Bill is a gardener, loves my hot 'n sour soup, and he's an old fashioned guy who still sends letters with a post mark on them. But most of all, Bill is a very good friend and mentor--what would I do without him?

Be sure to send an email and say hello to Bill. Here's his address: semperfi@douglasfast.net. He'll write you back.--Suzanne Beecher

Dear Reader,

Suzanne calls me her mentor, but I can't tell you how many times I have instructed her to write columns in advance of her vacation because her readers want to read her sharing, not some old retired newspaper editor who will keep on plugging until God hits him in the head with a baseball bat. He has already taken a few swings at me -- two wars as a Marine, terminal cancer 27 years ago, two heart attacks, two broken ankles and more time spent in the Valley of the Shadow of Death than I wish to remember. But here I am for the third year in a row filling in for Suzanne who is somewhere enjoying life instead of pounding a keyboard.

If you are a long time reader of Suzanne's DearReader.com on-line book clubs, you already know that this guest columnist is a biblioholic. I suffer from what Tom Raabe described in his book, "Biblioholism: The Literary Addiction."

Proof of that affliction is I am the token male member of the Sunday Afternoon Book Club here in Roseburg, Oregon. It wasn't always that way, but statistically males die off sooner than females and here I am the sole surviving member of my gender in the book club. All this simply means I have read a lot of chick books just to be knowledgeable in the book discussion. When my choice last year was Debbie Macomber's Christmas book, Libby Smolensky, one of the members, who is president of the Douglas County Friends of the Library, thought that I was a converted romance reader. Not so, but Debbie did write a funny story and I don't think she fits the romance genre.

By the same token, when a Tony Hillerman book was my choice, Libby moaned about how she disliked Hillerman's macho style. She didn't show up on the Sunday the club discussed the Hillerman book. The purpose of a book club is to get members to read books they might never read and proof of that is I probably would never have considered Sue Monk Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees had I not been the token male in the Sunday Afternoon Book Club. She is now one of my favorite authors and if you have not read her latest book, First Light, about her early inspirational writings, by all means do so. Suzanne's readers may not know this, but she will soon have a book published of her "inspirational" writings that will also include some of her famous recipes. That is one chick book I intend to share with the girls at the Sunday Afternoon Book Club.

William Duncan

*William J. Duncan is a retired California newspaper editor who now lives in Roseburg, Oregon where he writes a weekly syndicated column, writes book reviews and edits a monthly newspaper magazine, The Senior Times. He loves to talk to readers. You can reach William at semperfi@douglasfast.net.

AUTHORBUZZ: Win free copies of books you'll read and never forget from these terrific authors: Justine Musk, Uninvited; Penny Rudolph, Lifeblood; Tessa Radley, The Kyriakos Virgin Bride; Michael Adamse, Ph.D, God's Shrink; and Amy Hest, Remembering Mrs. Rossi. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader Column 09-07-07

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,

Tomorrow I'm leaving for a two week vacation. My husband and I are heading back to the Smoky Mountains. We always have a wonderful time, only this year I could do without a visit from a bear. In case you missed last year's vacation summary, a huge, I'm talking really big, 400 pound bear, showed up on our deck. He was cute--in a bear sort of way--but just the same, I'm not interested in a bear reunion this year.

I can't believe how much effort it takes to get everything organized and packed, before you can actually get-out-of-town and be on vacation! I'm pooped already. I'm going to miss you, but I'm leaving my column in great hands. Some famous authors have graciously offered to take my place while I'm gone. Not only have they written some wonderful guest columns, they're also giving away signed books and every one of them has promised to answer their mail, so feel free to "talk" to them. And of course the two winners from the "Write a Dear Reader" Contest will be featured, too!

I'd better sign off now. There's still one more thing to do on my list--call the cat man. Twice a day he stops by to feed and love our three indoor cats, and the three outdoor cats, Mama, Papa and Goldie, whom we've kind of adopted.

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

Officially on vacation,
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com 
http://www.DearReader.com

READ THE CLASSICS: In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/2ory4c

Dear Reader Column 09-06-07

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 you get busy and fall behind in your reading, just hit the delete key. Keep the book club fun. It's guilt-free reading. Every Monday I feature a different title.

Thanks so much for taking the time to write. I know you're busy. It's always wonderful to hear from you.

From my Email Bag:

"Hi Suzanne, every day I look forward to sitting down with my morning coffee and reading your column. Today's column (August 28th) gave me a good 'out loud' laugh. It reminded me of another situation you described about your husband meeting someone out on the street and then you went to a party and your husband got locked in the bathroom. Could you please let me know when that was so I could read it again? Thanks for your time."--Lynne

(Suzanne responds)

Lynne, funny you should ask to read that column again. My husband and I went to another party, at that same house, over the Labor Day weekend. The upstairs bathroom, the one my husband got locked in last time, has a new lock on it. But now the downstairs bathroom has no lock at all. I had to have someone stand guard outside the door. Maybe by the time our neighbors have their next party they'll get this "bathroom lock thing" figured out!

Enjoy the bathroom column, go to:

http://tinyurl.com/29flal

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: So many great books, so many great authors! Don't miss a single one: Stacey Patton, That Mean Old Yesterday; Shobhan Bantwal, The Dowry Bride; Douglas Clegg, The Queen of Wolves; Mary Lawson, The Other Side of the Bridge; and Mark Gimenez, The Abduction. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

READ THE CLASSICS: In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/2ory4c

Dear Reader Column 09-05-07

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,

Congratulations to the August Chocolate Chip Cookie winners: Rochelle Stone, Janell Hunnell, and Pat Smith. Watch for your cookies, they'll be arriving later this week.

I baked for the chocolate chip cookie winners over the weekend and I tested some new peanut butter cookie recipes, too. My agent, who loves peanut butter cookies, suggested that making a great chocolate chip cookie was easy, but could I bake a great peanut butter cookie? So I took the challenge and I came up with two recipes that I really like, one of them was my Grandma Hale's old recipe.

To get a copy of the peanut butter cookie recipes and to see my new "cookie tester" go to:

http://tinyurl.com/2xakxe

Thanks to everyone who entered the cookie giveaway. I'll be giving away cookies again at the end of this month.

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

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

READ THE CLASSICS: In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/2ory4c

Dear Reader Column 09-04-07

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,

My job is pretty much a 24/7 kind of thing, but along with that comes the freedom to come and go as I please, and work when I please. If the work gets done and I do a good job, that's all that matters.

There were only two jobs that I ever had where I was supposed to punch a time clock. One of them was when I was 20 and I worked the third shift in a factory. I ground lenses for safety glasses. I punched in at 11 p.m. and punched out at 8 a.m.

Everyone had a quota to fill and I always finished mine two hours before anyone else, so I would just sit and read or do whatever. I wouldn't have minded continuing to work, but my supervisor said that it would set a bad example and politely ordered me not to do so. It never made any sense to me; after all, I was being paid to work, but that factory was a very strange place and there wasn't a whole lot of common sense going around. Employees did their work in the midst of a soap opera atmosphere, and every night there was a different story line.

It wasn't unusual for the night manager to get in his car and pick someone up for work, or more truthfully, to go and beg someone to come to work so he wouldn't have to fire them. He refereed marital arguments and went looking for an employee's kid who was out in the wee hours. And he was an early version of Amscot--employees would write him a personal check, he'd give them cash and not cash their check until payday.

Everyone got two breaks during the night and even though it was 3 in the morning no one thought about sleep. For two weeks during coffee breaks, everyone debated the authenticity of the picture that Marie took on her vacation. She held up a picture of a waterfall in the woods and pointed to the outline of Jesus in the background. Was it really Jesus? It didn't matter; it was 3 o'clock in the morning.

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

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

P.S. Cows, a hat, bubble machines, lanterns, cookie droppers (just like the one I use) and book bags--all waiting for lucky readers. Enter the Leftover Giveaway. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/2n4fw2

READ THE CLASSICS: In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/2ory4c

Dear Reader Column 09-03-07

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,

Today's the Leftover Giveaway. I'm giving away cool, left-over stuff that's been sitting on my shelf for quite a while now and I just haven't gotten around to giving it away. But today's the day!

Hats, cows, cookie droppers (the kind I use when I bake my chocolate chip cookies), lanterns (I have one in my bedroom), book bags and bubble machines (I have one of those, too.) Turn on a bubble machine and all kinds of magic happens.

To enter the Leftover Giveaway all you need to do is send me an email--be sure to include your mailing address in case you're a winner. If you have a favorite "leftover" request, go ahead and let me know, but no guarantees. It's all great stuff, so be sure to enter.

To enter the giveaway and to see a photo of my leftovers, go to:

http://tinyurl.com/2n4fw2

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

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

AUTHORBUZZ: So many great books, so many great authors! Don't miss a single one: Stacey Patton, That Mean Old Yesterday; Shobhan Bantwal, The Dowry Bride; Douglas Clegg, The Queen of Wolves; Mary Lawson, The Other Side of the Bridge; and Mark Gimenez, The Abduction. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

READ THE CLASSICS: In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/2ory4c