Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column 04-16-08

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,

This cookie baker feels pretty darn special when someone bakes for her!

A big thank you to Alessandra Mazzeo, book club reader and owner of Nonna Pina Bakery. Alessandra's card says she specializes in "Fine Italian Desserts" and let me tell you her cookies are divine! Last Wednesday I left for New York City, and later that evening my husband called my hotel room and informed me that a cute little box filled with tasty cookies came from a reader. I could hear my dear husband chewing something on the other end of the phone and I reminded him that the box of cookies was addressed to me. He couldn't resist eating two cookies, but he put the rest in the refrigerator for when I returned. Alessandra is a woman after my own heart, even the packaging made me smile. Lovely!

When you bake as much as I do and someone bakes for me, not only do I love getting to eat a treat without doing any work, but I realize the time and love that went into their baking. Thank you so very much Alessandra. (By all means keep me on your cookie list!)

If you'd like to see the treat that was waiting for me when I returned from New York, and to see who won the hand-written pie crust recipe cards, go to: http://tinyurl.com/3j8vdm

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

Warmest regards,

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

Dear Reader Column 04-15-08

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 to everyone who sent me a cheerleading go-get-'em email when I was in New York City last week talking to editors about my book. My New York trip is still playing out and when I know something, I'll be sure to let you know. Thanks again for all of your good luck wishes! I appreciated hearing from you more than you'll ever know. I brought cookies along on every one of my appointments. Good thing, too, because if I didn't bring out the cookies right away, invariably someone asked, "Suzanne, you didn't happen to bring any of those homemade chocolate chip cookies, did you?"

Something homemade, from the heart, leaves an impression on people and most of all it makes things fun--even business. So many of the "moments" in my life and cherished memories involve food. I still have some of Grandma Hale's pink crystal water glasses and embroidered pillow cases to remind me of her, but eventually they will wear out or get broken. But her recipe for Poppy Seed Cake, it will always be with me and the memory of spending time with Grandma will be right there--just like yesterday--when I bake her favorite cake. And that's how other bookclub readers feel too...

From my Email Bag:

Dear Suzanne,

"Reading about your pie crust column [April 11th] hit home with me tonight. My uncle passed away at midnight last night--a wonderful man! Despite being in extreme pain during his last few days, he was able to maintain his sense of humor and communicate his great love for his family up until the end. Though he would probably not be considered a success in financial terms, he was a wonderful father and an incredible uncle and in one of our last conversations, he said that it was always enough for him to be a good dad and to have been an 'Uncle Ronnie.' Uncle Ronnie made a wonderful chocolate pie using his grandmother's recipe and just days before he died he was talking to my sister who does not cook (her husband says that they use the oven to heat the house and the refrigerator to cool it) and Uncle Ronnie told her he was going to teach her how to make that chocolate pie. He won't have that chance now. But his funeral is on Saturday and I am going to use your pie crust recipe, along with his chocolate pie filling recipe and we will have pie on Saturday in his honor."--Donna

(Suzanne replies:) Thank you Donna for taking the time to tell us about your Uncle Ronnie. What a wonderful way to remember him.

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

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

P.S. It's National Library Week. Would you do me a favor? Please send your local library a celebration note and thank them for offering the book club. If you can't locate your library's address, send your email to me and I'll see that they get it. Every celebration needs gifts, so as a thank you for taking the time to send your library a note, I have 100 books sitting on my shelf for readers. So don't wait, please send your email today, let me know and I'll get a book right out to you. (Be sure to give me your mailing address.) Suzanne@emailbookclub.com

Congratulations to the winners of my favorite pie crust recipe: Frances Boynton, Susan Harkati, Linda Deline, Jane Jennings, Sandra Montesano, Linda Erskine, Shauna Ens, Lynn Ostrum, Jane Coleman and Jeanne Baj.

Dear Reader Column 04-14-08

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,

This week is National Library Week! Please do take a minute right now to send your library an email and thank them heartily for providing the online book club. Your comments do make a big difference. Budgets are tight and feedback from patrons assures the people-in-charge that the online book club is something you appreciate receiving. And your local librarian would LOVE to hear from you. It gets lonely in those stacks and stacks of books! (Your library's email address is probably at the beginning of the book club email, or you can send your note to me and I'll see that your library receives it.)

What's a party without some fun and games and prizes! The American Library Association produced the cutest GO FISH video in celebration of Library Week. If you'd like to see it, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/5nlxlq

Be sure to let me know when you send your library a thank you. I have a free book for the first 50 readers who send their library a "Thank-you."

If you're a librarian, who regularly reads at the book club and you've never tasted my chocolate chip cookies, I'd love to bake for you and your coworkers. Well--I can bake for the first 6 librarians I hear from! (I only have a single oven).

Take part in the Library Week Celebration--send an email to your local library, get a free book and dunk some cookies! It's time to party!

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: Jessica Harper, Uh-Oh, Cleo; Megan DiMaria, Searching for Spice; Penny Vincenzi, Sheer Abandon; Meredith Hall, Without a Map; and Jane K. Cleland, Antiques to Die For. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader Column 04-11-08

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,

One of the things I love about our book club is that we inspire each other. When you hit the "reply" key and send me an email commenting on this week's book, or you take the time to tell me what's going on in your life--you inspire me. Thank you so very much. Read about pie crust inspiration and enter-to-win today's giveaway. I've hand written my favorite pie crust recipe on a 3x5 recipe card and I'd love to send you one.

From my Email Bag...

"Hi Suzanne, your column [from March 25th, about Amy] really hit home! I was blessed to be able to retire early and one of the ways I spend my new free time is with homebound parishioners from our church. I bring communion to some of them and others I just visit. Each one has made my life so much richer; they make me laugh and teach me so much about life. I've gotten quite close with one, Gladys, who reminds me of your friend, Amy. Gladys and I got to talking about pie crusts quite a few months ago, and she offered to teach me how to make a good pie crust. We haven't had that lesson yet. Today when I was taking her to a doctor's appointment, I told her about your column and reminded her that we should have that lesson. She's also promised to teach me her favorite card game, Hand and Foot. Gladys is 84 and she's an inspiration to me. From day one, we were never short on conversation. In fact, I'm not sure where the time goes when we get together. Anyway, thanks for giving us the nudge to have that pie crust lesson. I'll try to take a picture to send to you when she teaches me!"--Patty Wainright-Smith

* Patty and Gladys did get around to having that pie crust lesson...

"Dear Suzanne, I had my pie crust lesson with Gladys yesterday and attached is the picture I promised to send you. Gladys was a great teacher--patient and supportive. With her help, it wasn't so daunting. We used the crust for a custard pie and last night my husband and I took the pie over to Gladys' house to enjoy it for dessert. Because she has no daughters, I think it was especially fun to her to pass along some of her baking legacy to her honorary daughter. Many thanks to you for your column that gave us a special nudge to do what we had been talking about for a long time."

*To see the photo of Patty, Gladys and the picture-perfect pie crust and to enter the recipe giveaway, go to: http://tinyurl.com/6dp45b

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

* Want a BIG THRILL? Go to: http://www.thrillerwriters.org/

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

SEARCHING FOR YOUR NEXT BIG THRILL? Win copies and read about this month's new thrillers from: David Baldacci, Hilary Norman, Dan Fesperman, Libby Hellmann, Kathleen Lawless, Mary Higgins Clark, Thomas Greanias, Jeff Sherratt and Stuart Woods. Visit the April issue of the Big Thrill now! Go to: http://www.thrillerwriters.org

Dear Reader Column 04-10-08

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,

Everyone says there's a book inside of them and there was a book inside of me, but it sure has taken a lot longer than I thought to get it out--over two years. Such frustration. Every time I'd sit down to start working on a book, I'd end up writing a column instead. Because that's what felt comfortable, it's what I knew how to do.

Before I thought about writing a book I'd actually decided that maybe it was time to sit back and coast a little bit. I'm the kind of person who's frequently crawling out on a limb in life and trying new things--excited about challenging myself, yet at the same time feeling like I'm going to throw up any minute because the "new" adventure is scaring me half to death. But after coasting for awhile I discovered that life got boring, so what the heck, why not write a book?

You'd think that writing a book wouldn't be a big deal--after all I've been writing a daily column for almost eight years now. But the truth is that putting a book together was one of the most difficult things I've ever done in my life. It was hard. Nothing romantic about it in the beginning. Sheer torture at times. Up in the middle of the night wondering what the heck was wrong with me, why couldn't I figure out how to attack this new project? Look at all of those other writers who've written a book--no problem. So what the heck was wrong with me?

My usual approach when I'm trying something new is to see how others have done it successfully, take note of their framework and then "make it my own." But for a while "my own" was a mess. When someone would ask, "Suzanne, what's your book about?"

I'd reply, "Don't have a clue--but at the moment it's titled, THE BIG MESS."

But like so many other messy situations in life, eventually things worked out and now I love working on the book, in fact it's almost finished--finished enough to sell it. And that's what my agent and I are doing in New York today, talking to editors who might be interested in buying my book.

Everyone says there's a book inside of them--and I hope at least one editor loves the book that was inside of me.

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: Min Jin Lee, Free Food For Millionaires; Dan Ronco, Unholy Domain; Sheila Weller, Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon--And the Journey of a Generation; Ginny Aiken, A Steal of a Deal; and Judy Duarte, Mulberry Park. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader Column 04-09-08

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,

The way it's supposed to work is that I'm in charge of my own life. But periodically everybody else's life and mine get mixed up and then I wonder, 'Am I still living in my own house, or have I moved into somebody else's?'

When it feels like boundaries have gotten confused and property lines are blurred, it's time to clean house--let go of other people's criticisms that have stung and hurt me deeply. For some reason I've invited them in, even put out the welcome mat. "Come on in and make yourself at home."

A little cabin fever is welcome when I can't clearly see my property line anymore. Keep to myself for awhile and put up a fence to keep out other people's stuff, because I need time to review what's going on in my own life. Maybe pull a few weeds, do some replanting, fertilize, then stand back and take another look. 'Is this how I want my life to look--not how other people think it should look?'

And when I feel confident that I have my own place back in order, then I can take down the fence and let other people in again.

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

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

Dear Reader Column 04-08-08

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,

Searching for your NEXT BIG THRILL? Go to:
http://www.thrillerwriters.org/

Today I'd like to welcome the folks from ITW (International Thriller Writers) to the online book clubs! Discover the latest thriller, win free copies and read all about ThrillerFest--a reader and writer's playground. Where else can you meet more than 100 kidnappers, spies, detectives, terrorists and bestselling writers in one place? Go for the fun of it, be a volunteer and rub shoulders with bestselling thriller authors, or if you're an aspiring writer take part in CraftFest--where writers focus on the craft of writing. (And in a couple of weeks I'll be giving one lucky reader a free pass to ThrillerFest!)

Keep your eyes on THE BIG THRILL, and right now go to:
http://www.thrillerwriters.org/

I'd love to hear your feedback about it. Please do send me an email.

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

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

SEARCHING FOR YOUR NEXT BIG THRILL? Win copies and read about this month's new thrillers from: David Baldacci, Hilary Norman, Dan Fesperman, Libby Hellmann, Kathleen Lawless, Mary Higgins Clark, Thomas Greanias, Jeff Sherratt and Stuart Woods. Visit the April issue of the Big Thrill now! Go to: http://www.thrillerwriters.org

Dear Reader Column 04-07-08

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,

There's something NEW at the book clubs!

Frequently readers have asked for a way to keep track of books they're reading and now you can. We've developed a new Book Forum that lets you create your very own personal bookshelf and you can have other "special interest" book shelves. Books you'd like to read some day, books you've read, a list of books about your hobbies, or you can make an all-time favorite bookshelf--whatever you'd like to create.

Of course you can leave comments about a book you've read, too, and that's what I've been doing. I've been looking up some of my favorites at the Book Forum: Bird by Bird, The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid, The Three Signs of a Miserable Job, The Reincarnationist, Mistakes Were Made but Not by Me, A Complaint is a Gift, and even The Little Engine That Could. I've accumulated a long list, but every day I add a few more titles to my bookshelves, like Blaize Clement's new book Even Cat Sitters Get the Blues.

Even though my world is online and all about email, I'm not a very "techy" person, but the nice thing about our new Book Forum is that once I spent a few minutes with it, I felt like a pro.

Here's the link to the new Book Forum.
http://supportlibrary.com/fm/guest.cfm

Go there and nose around, and be sure to Sign Up--the button is at the very top of the page.

After you've visited the Book Forum, drop me a line. I'd like to hear your comments and suggestions.

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: Min Jin Lee, Free Food For Millionaires; Dan Ronco, Unholy Domain; Sheila Weller, Girls Like Us: Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon--And the Journey of a Generation; Ginny Aiken, A Steal of a Deal; and Judy Duarte, Mulberry Park. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader Column 04-04-08

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,

I was an only child so I'm not sure, but it seems to me that my three indoor cats and the two strays that I've invited to set up housekeeping on my side porch behave like brothers and sisters in a family. Each one has their own personality. They seem to realize they're sharing a home; sometimes they're happy together, even defending each other if the need arises and other times they can barely tolerate each other.

Abby my young gray cat, likes to pick on 17 year-old Rudy, she chases him around the house. There's a wedding dress on a form in the corner of my bathroom, (it's just part of my bathroom decor). Abby likes to hide under the dress and when Rudy walks by the long flowing white taffeta, Abby sticks out her paw from underneath, Rudy's caught off guard, Abby jumps out and away they go--Rudy running and Abby right behind in close pursuit. Sometimes Abby gets to running so fast, on my slippery wooden floors, that when she's rounding a corner from the dining room to the kitchen, her legs are bicycling in mid-air and she reminds me of the Tom and Jerry cartoon show I used to watch when I was a kid. Cat chases mouse, only I have youngster chasing old guy. I used to chastise Abby, "Leave the old guy alone." But old guy doesn't really seem to mind all that much. Rudy could easily call off the chase and I've noticed that if Abby gets bored with the play too soon, Rudy peeks around the corner to see if she's coming. 'Where did that crazy kid go?'

My cats coexist, but they each demand their own special alone time with me. Abby wants to cuddle at night and she sleeps by my feet at the end of my bed. Billee, my Calico, loves to be groomed and whenever I'm cooking turkey or chicken she hangs out in the kitchen waiting for a sample. None of the other cats beg for turkey, they seem to realize that "turkey time" is Billee's special treat. And old-guy Rudy, he's an early riser, just like me. Every morning we sit together on the sofa while I drink my coffee.

Our foster children, Mama and Papa Cat, bunk on my side porch and since I live in Florida it's their cozy little bungalow. And every now and then when Mama and Papa come inside for a visit, their brother and sisters don't mind a bit--seems that even in a big family there's always enough love to go around.

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

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

Dear Reader Column 04-03-08

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 little miracle I perform every time I'm getting ready to go out of town on business and I wish I could figure out how to do it every day. I'm not a huge fan of business trips, but one of the things I've learned from them is how to focus. I start out with a long list of things that "absolutely" must get done before I leave. But then at some point in the process my focus shifts, and I let go of anything that doesn't concern my trip.

It's a wonderful feeling to be able to concentrate on one thing at a time, to give it my all and then move on and repeat the process. When I'm out of town and those "other" things creep into my mind, I simply remind myself that I can't get distracted. I can only concentrate on my next appointment, I need to give it my all and so that's what I do.

It's good advice and I listen to it when I'm out of town, but it's been frustrating because I can't seem to perform the magic when I get back home into my daily routine--I get easily distracted. Yesterday when I was working and Abby, my cat, jumped up on my lap I stopped to pet her and her purring was so comforting. And later in the afternoon, when my daughter called to tell me that my granddaughter was most improved in her class, I felt very proud.

Okay, so maybe I do get a little distracted when I'm working at home, but you know what? I've decided that's okay. Because yesterday's distractions felt like little miracles to me.

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: Joanne Proulx, Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet; Christine Fletcher, Ten Cents a Dance; Michael Stanley, A Carrion Death; Jennifer Cody Epstein, The Painter from Shanghai; and Nicole Jordan, To Seduce a Bride. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader