Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column 03-17-08

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,

Readers say it best. Thank you for taking the time to write.

From my Email Bag:

(Winners of the five Fun Boxes will be announced in tomorrow's column. If you missed the column, go to: http://tinyurl.com/3atb2x)

"Dear Suzanne, it's the end of a really busy week for me, which included work over the weekend, some of it between midnight and 2 a.m. But I took the time to read your column, and I'm glad I did. In the past year, I have started to thoroughly enjoy "fun" again. I used to be so responsible, and still do most things in priority order. But lately I've been ranking the importance of some things based on their ability to make me smile. My dog is important--she makes me smile. Spending time with my husband is important--we make each other smile. My brand new four-month-old is important--I've never smiled so much in my life as I do with her! And on my desk right now is a small set of legos and a bobble-head. Why? Because they make me smile, and that's important, too. Thanks again for your column. It's so good to read with friends!"--Karen Ehrich

"Dear Suzanne, I really enjoyed this month's sample of 'The Outsiders' in the Classics Club. The opening grabbed me immediately because it was written so candidly and was relatable....we've all been through the cliques and segregation of high school. The unique names of the boys caught my attention immediately and I am intrigued about the three brothers living on their own without their parents. I couldn't imagine such a scenario today. When I finished the sample and then read the biography of the author, I was completely taken aback that the author is a female, given the majority of male characters in the book and that she wrote the story while in high school and was published while a new college student. Thanks so much for reading the Classics with us!"--Sincerely, Rebecca Schimming

"Suzanne, I just now read Tuesday's [Classic] column. I only needed to read the first line, "When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind: Paul Newman and a ride home..." The memories of being thirteen and reading that book literally hundreds of times came rushing back, along with the memories of my best friend in the eighth grade, Mary Claire. We read the book obsessively and regurgitated lines while we should have been studying science. I hadn't thought about Mary Claire or Soda and Pony Boy for years. Thanks for bringing a smile to my face and a tear to my eye."--Deborah L. Jones

To sample this month's Classic, go to: http://tinyurl.com/3a2qs2

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: Win free copies of books you'll read and never forget from these terrific authors; Linda Fairstein, Killer Heat; Maureen Canning, Lust, Anger, Love; Kirk Curnutt, Breathing Out the Ghost; Diana M. Raab, Regina's Closet: Finding My Grandmother's Secret Journal; Toby Barlow, Sharp Teeth. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

READ THE CLASSICS: The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/3a2qs2

Dear Reader Column 03-14-08

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,

There's a needling, clawing, feeling that runs through me now and then. Sometimes it gets so loud it feels like a snowball that started at the top of a long hill and the farther it rolls down the hill, the bigger and faster it goes. I take action. Start doing my best to dodge the scary thing, but maybe I should just sit down in its path and let it whack me, shake off the snow and cold and sift my way through the fear.

Fear is one of my loudest emotions. When I'm writing, if fear is foremost in my mind I panic and try to brush it away to find the words. I think the problem is writing--I fear I can't do it--but the reason fear has shown up is because something inside of me wants me to take a deep breath and stay put for a while. The thing I fear is ready to show its face and if I hang in there--after a second look--I'll be happy to greet it. Because in the midst of fear, many times there's something good waiting for me

I was raised to think 'When you feel fear Suzanne, run, save yourself!' But then one day I recognized that fear is one of the best ways to get my attention--sometimes it's the only way to get in touch with me. 'Tap, tap, tap, stay with this idea Suzanne, don't let go of it. Do it even though you feel afraid.' I'd been reading a book at the beach; put it aside to drive home, but my mind kept going back to the story. So I pulled my car over, picked up the book and started reading on the side of the highway. Pretty soon I was crying, feelings were overflowing and lucky for me I slightly knew the author and how to contact her. I called on the spot. Her voicemail picked up and in-between some tears, I proceeded to leave a passionate message about her book. Immediately after I hung up I was consumed with fear, 'what is this woman going to think, leaving such a crazy message?'

But that terrible fear--worrying 'what will she think' was also the same fear that pushed me to call her in the first place. And the author was so grateful I did. When she returned my call she said the book reflected something personal in her life and right before she hung up she said, "Suzanne, your call meant more to me than you'll ever know."

In the midst of fear many times there's something good waiting.

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

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

P.S. Boxes of Fun to give away. If you missed yesterday's column and how to enter, go to: http://tinyurl.com/3atb2x

READ THE CLASSICS: The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/3a2qs2

Dear Reader Column 03-13-08

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,

A friend of mine is learning how to have fun, or perhaps re-learning is more accurate. My friend is in her 40s, having fun came naturally when she was a kid, but somewhere along the way, she adopted the idea that adults need to do things with a purpose.

"What's the purpose of having fun and being silly?" she wondered.

I could see her point. I'm motivated to get my work done, even when I don't feel like it, because work equals lights, groceries and house payment. So what's the purpose of hoola-hooping, or blowing bubbles, or cutting out pictures of cats, laminating each one and then stringing them around my house? "Just because it makes me smile and it feels good," I told her.

Adults are supposed to be responsible and work hard. People pat you on the back, say nice things about you and they might even give you an award. "She's so talented, such a hard worker." But thankfully the past few years, I've been playing as much as I've been working and you know what? I get more done mixing the two.

A few weeks ago when I was in New York City on business, it was strange because at every single one of my appointments, at some point in the conversation we talked about how people want to have fun. Of course we were all in agreement that reading is fun, but we also talked about the silly, child-like things that make us smile. Blowing bubbles, playing with finger puppets, flying kites and coloring--one publishing executive was smiling and laughing as she confessed that behind closed doors she gets out her coloring book and box of 64 crayons.

I had so much fun talking about fun at my appointments that I was inspired to send boxes of fun to some of the publishing executives I'd met with and the boxes were a hit.

"Suzanne, lovely to meet you last week. You must have been over the moon with happiness when you were baking your batch of cookies for us. They are absolutely delicious. The whole office is in love. And thank you for the surprise box that came in the mail today! What fun!! I, the responsible one, refrained from blowing bubbles until 5:01 pm, but my other two colleagues caused quite a ruckus with their gifts this afternoon!"

Apparently a good time was had by all!

If you need some lessons on how to have fun, I have some FUN BOXES to give away to readers, just like the ones I sent to the publishing executives in New York City. To see the Fun Boxes and to enter the giveaway go to: http://tinyurl.com/37dgxg

Have fun today--and thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

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: Paul McComas, Planet of the Dates; Linda Fairstein, Killer Heat; Amanda Stevens, The Devil's Footprints; Michael Winder, An Officer and a Junkie: From West Point to the Point of No Return; and Nicole Seitz, Trouble The Water. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

READ THE CLASSICS: The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/3a2qs2

Dear Reader Column 03-12-08

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,

Actually I'm feeling a little bit sad this morning because two of my favorite places to do business with let me down. No big deal, I know, it's a relatively small thing in the midst of everything that goes on in the world. But it's a good feeling to be able to count on some things and I love to brag about "my favorites."

One of my favorites is, (or maybe was), a local restaurant that serves a great roast beef dinner. But last night after my husband and I divvied up our carry-out (one of their dinners is really dinner for two) and I took a bite of the meat, it didn't taste anything remotely familiar to roast beef. Tasted like a piece of processed Roast-Spam-in-the-Can, or some such thing.

The roast beef tasted so strange that I called the restaurant and asked to speak to the manager. I owned a restaurant for a number of years, so I realize that when someone phones and asks to speak to the manager it's not to tell them how tasty the roast beef was, it's because they have a complaint. I know the feeling inside the manager's stomach before they say "hello" on the other end, so I chose my first sentence carefully. "Hello, this is Suzanne Beecher, I love your restaurant, my husband and I order take-out frequently." Then I got to the business of explaining the mysterious-tasting meat.

The manager assured me they hadn't changed the type of roast beef they were serving. "Perhaps you got an end piece," she suggested, "the next time you order ask for me and be sure to remind me what happened."

It was a nice gesture, (not sure why she wanted me to ask for her, she never explained that part) but it was awkward enough having to make the initial call and tell the story once. Now the next time I order I will have to ask for the manager, hope she is working and retell my story all over again. Sigh!

And now at 5:30 this morning, it happened again when I went to my favorite Starbucks location. The rule is (or was), "Buy a pound of beans, get any free drink." My usual free drink is always a simple tall black coffee, even though the person behind the counter always reminds me I could have any specialty drink I wanted. So this morning when I set my beans on the counter, what the heck, I went all out and ordered a free Grande instead of my usual Tall. And that's when the man behind the counter reprimanded me, "You only get a free 'tall' coffee when you buy beans." So I told him the "story" about the "other" times I'd bought coffee beans, and he stood there looking at me like a deer-in-the-headlights. Sigh!

I took one of the manager's business cards on my way out so I could telephone later. A bit of deja vu--didn't I just do this last night? Sigh!

To my surprise, I ended up talking to the "deer-in-the-headlights" guy, who was in fact the manager. We had a lovely conversation. He said there was a special promotion that had changed the rules for a while, but some employees have apparently forgotten the promotion ended. He said he would remind them and as a thank-you for my taking the time to call and have "such a constructive conversation" there's a bag of coffee beans waiting for me at the counter. Compliments of the management! Smile!

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: The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/3a2qs2

Dear Reader Column 03-11-08

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,

"When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind: Paul Newman and a ride home. I was wishing I looked like Paul Newman--he looks tough and I don't--but I guess my own looks aren't so bad. I have light-brown, almost-red hair and greenish-gray eyes. I wish they were more gray, because I hate most guys that have green eyes, but I have to be content with what I have. My hair is longer than a lot of boys wear theirs, squared off in back and long at the front and sides, but I am a greaser and most of my neighborhood rarely bothers to get a haircut. Besides, I look better with long hair.

I had a long walk home and no company, but I usually lone it anyway, for no reason except that I like to watch movies undisturbed so I can get into them and live them with the actors. When I see a movie with someone it's kind of uncomfortable, like having someone read your book over your shoulder. I'm different that way."

Those weren't my words, they're from this month's Classic The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton. It's a different kind of read and I think you'll enjoy it.

The Classics are featured every other month this year. Go ahead, give The Outsiders a try. And after you've sampled the read, enter the giveaway and let me know what you thought. Are you a Classic kind of reader, too?

The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton, go to: http://tinyurl.com/3a2qs2

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

Warm regards,

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

Dear Reader Column 03-10-08

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 much easier for me to write how I feel about something when I've just experienced the moment. Even a simple, "Thank you, I loved it!" is more poignant and heartfelt the first time I thought about it. When I opened the box and looked inside that initial excitement is what I want the other person to hear and feel, too. But unless I tell them about it right away it takes a lot of work to get in touch with that initial joy, and the words are never quite as pure and explicit. That's why I tape record--in the moment--what I'm thinking. Then it's easier to find my way back to what I was feeling, when I'm ready to sit down and write or call to say thank you.

It may sound contrived, recording my thoughts and some people might think it cheapens or takes away from the sincerity of my reply. (What if they knew I rehearsed and prepared for the thank you?) But I feel it's showing respect for someone else's thoughtfulness. They took the time to remember and they made me feel special, so I'm simply making the effort to do the same.

Isn't it funny how sometimes life needs an extra step to make it seem simple?

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

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: Paul McComas, Planet of the Dates; Linda Fairstein, Killer Heat; Amanda Stevens, The Devil's Footprints; Michael Winder, An Officer and a Junkie: From West Point to the Point of No Return; and Nicole Seitz, Trouble The Water. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

READ THE CLASSICS: The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton and enter the free Penguin Classic's Drawing. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/3a2qs2

Dear Reader Column 03-07-08

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 so good to read with friends" and the other evening it was a lot of fun to eat Mexican food with a friend, too. Alicia reads at the book club and she'd sent an email asking if I'd recommend some tasty local restaurants "that were easy on the pocket book", because she was going to be in Sarasota overnight on business.

I was happy to oblige but when I was making a list of my favorites, including El Toro Bravo, I realized that it had been awhile since I'd eaten one of their Chimichangas and maybe I needed a night out on the town myself. So I extended an invitation, "Would you like to go to dinner with a crazy writer?" And what do ya' know Alicia accepted my invite.

On the way to the restaurant I must admit that I felt a little nervous because I started thinking, 'I'm meeting a reader so I should make a good impression, be on my best behavior, kind of like first date rules; no elbows on the table, don't say anything too outlandish, make Ms. Manners proud.' But then it dawned on me that since Alicia reads my column every day, it was a little too late to put up a polished facade--she knows everything about me--good and bad. So I just relaxed and after courteous hellos, soon we were double-dipping taco chips into the same bowl of homemade salsa and talking like old friends.

The conversation never lulled, work, hiking in the mountains, hobbies, pets (Alicia and her husband have five dogs, four standard schnauzers and one border collie), clothes, and of course books and writing. Dinner wasn't a disappointment, the food was great and for dessert Alicia and I blew bubbles in the restaurant and I asked our waiter to take a picture. It was a delightful, relaxing evening. If you'd like to see a photo of "dessert" go to: http://tinyurl.com/22uzap

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read (and eat Mexican) with friends.

Warmest regards,

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

Dear Reader Column 03-06-08

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

If you'd like to discuss this week's book with other readers, please visit the Book Forum. And as a special treat, Blaize Clement, the author of this week's mystery book, is answering questions and comments from readers. She'd love to hear from you. Go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/talk.html

Who wins all the things I give away? Congratulations to the winners of the recent Just Because Giveaway:

Michelle Harrison, Millie Gresham, Theresa George, Karyl M Williams and Dee Clark were vintage apron winners.

The book bag winners were Donna Studniarz, Sandra Smith and Heather Beverley.

Carissa Moddison, Susan Pertierra, Judi Ver Hey, Lili Scarrott and Amy Luncan won cookbooks.

And the calligraphy set winner was Elise Devlin.

Kelley Culp won the Book Lover's Desk Calendar.

And the readers who will soon be making paper chains (the winners of the paper chain kits) are: Dee Laswell, Hena Skelton, Luanne Weir, Celeste Childress, Jill Tirone and Deborah Fochler.

If you've never entered a giveaway, you should, someone always wins. Be sure to check out today's AuthorBuzz, where you can meet five authors and you might win a signed copy, too. The link is right after my column.

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: With so many new books out every week, we promise these are five that deserve your attention: John Lescroart, Betrayal; Linda Lael Miller, Deadly Deceptions; HelenKay Dimon, Right Here, Right Now; Scott M. Davis, MD, Living Jonathan's Life: A Doctor's Descent Into Darkness and Addiction; and C.T. Adams & Cathy Clamp, Timeless Moon. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader Column 03-05-08

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,

Thank you so very much for writing. I love to hear from readers.

Inspired readers...from my Email Bag:

"Yes Suzanne, you did truly inspire us to bake! I thought you would find this funny. Yesterday I woke up at 4 a.m. and knew I couldn't go back to sleep. I was thinking of all the constructive to-dos around the house I could tackle. But the day before I had had some unexpected joy and I still needed to celebrate. Then it hit me, the store down the street was open 24 hours and all I needed were the chocolate chips and white sugar and I could make a double batch of my famous chocolate chip cookies (secret ingredient is high-quality Mexican Vanilla with an average of 1-2 T per batch--not one teaspoon). So I did, and there was great celebration at the office that morning. I credit you with the inspiration. Joyfully,"--Ellen

"Dear Suzanne, a couple of weeks ago, after tasting my aunt's chocolate chips cookies, I asked her if she minded sharing the recipe with me. She laughed and said that the recipe certainly wasn't her own invention and she'd be glad to share. Well, to my surprise, she came back to the kitchen with a print-out of the recipe. Guess the title? 'Suzanne's Chocolate Chip Cookies'! And so I found out that she also belongs to your email bookclub as well and she is addicted to your daily column just as much as I am!"
--Alessandra

"Suzanne, your February 28th column was one of the nicest things a reader has written, and you have responded to, I have read in a long time. For some reason it made me teary. I think because it was two real people in this great big world, who when you get right down to it, have pains just like everybody. You two were like two sisters interacting with each other in such a special way. You are a very dear person, I have enjoyed reading you for quite awhile. Keep up the good you do for us all. It doesn't matter if we aren't actual writers, all you say affects our lives in the same way, so we keep on. You inspired to do just that today."--Bonny

*If you missed the February 28th column you'll find it at:
http://tinyurl.com/ytsukb

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

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

Dear Reader Column 03-04-08

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 was five in the morning and my husband woke me up. "Suzanne the oven is on, but I can't find the recipe." He wanted to make a batch of my mother's Oatmeal Chocolate Chip cookies. John and Diana, our neighbors, were expecting us to show up at 6 a.m. Today was the Sarasota Marathon and the person in the lead would probably run by their house around 6:30.

John called last night and invited my husband and me to watch the race with them. That's when I offered to bring breakfast--"Oatmeal" Chocolate Chip Cookies, but I fell asleep before I got around to baking them. And that's why my husband was up in the wee hours trying to bake cookies. My husband and I are the perfect team. When one of us falls short, the other one steps in and makes up for it.

"Suzanne it's time to get up," my husband was softly nudging me. "Where is your mother's oatmeal cookie recipe?"

"At my recipe blog, online, Dear."

I crawled out of bed and in-between getting dressed to go to the marathon, I mixed and my husband baked.

Last year I watched the marathon alone, sitting in a lawn chair, out in front of our house, with a laptop resting on my knees. I'd stop working to clap and cheer whenever a runner went by. I stayed put until the end. Cheering for the last, final runner was actually the most important to me. I appreciate the challenge an underdog faces, (from whence I came) and periodically I find myself back in that position. When things are going good for someone, no sweat, who needs a cheering section? It's when your confidence hasn't shown up for a few weeks--or you know you're out of your league--but nevertheless you're determined to try anyway, (everybody has to start somewhere right?) that's when you need clapping and cheering the most.

So the four of us, John, Diana, my husband and I, turned into a band of encouragement (literally) for the runners in the marathon. My husband kept the beat going on a drum, I was on tambourine, John had a Didgeridoo (a very long horn that makes deep low sounds) and Diana hooted and hollered for every single runner, "Don't stop now. You can do it!" Our musical cheering section got rave reviews. Marathon runners smiled and laughed, (Even some runners who were making really good time, couldn't help but laugh out loud when they saw us. I worried we might add a few seconds to their finish time). Other runners yelled that we should run behind them and play for the rest of the race, and some of the runners who had turned into walkers--gave us a "thumbs-up," picked up their pace and started sprinting again.

And of course we waited patiently for the last runner. A determined woman who had odds and ends hanging from a belt around her waist and there was a helium-filled balloon tied to the end of a broom, that she carried in her hand while she was running. I guess she was the "clean-up" crew, a whimsical ending to a magical race.

*If you'd like to see a photo of "the band" and the final runner, go
to: http://tinyurl.com/ysyc5o

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

Warm regards,

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