Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column 04-16-09

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

Dear Reader,

Would you pay $50 for a fresh loaf of homemade bread? Thirty people in Great Bend, Kansas did 21 years ago when their local library was facing a financial crisis.

In 1988 the small library in Great Bend, Kansas was facing a $10,000 deficit in their budget and when the city council couldn't find any more money to help, James Swan, the Library Director at the time, decided to use his bread making talents to raise the extra money. Swan drafted a fundraising letter offering to bake one of his famous homemade loaves of bread (his bread already had a reputation at the local Farmer's Market) for anyone who donated $50 or more to the library.

Thirty people signed up for a loaf of fresh homemade bread and the bread donations totaled $3,100. What a clever way to raise money for libraries. The bread story got me thinking, I wonder if baking homemade chocolate chip cookies could accomplish the same return for libraries? I'll have to noodle that idea a little more.

It's National Library week and since many libraries are facing budget cuts right now, and some have had to close their doors, I've been promoting my Dear Reader Stimulus Package this week. Here's my idea...

Email a note about why you enjoy your local library (include the name of your library) and I'll forward your comments on to the director and staff--who doesn't like to get compliments? Then, I'll enter your name in a drawing for a $25 gift certificate to Target and if your name is drawn, I'll send your library a check for $25 (that's the Dear Reader Stimulus Package). I have eight gift certificates and eight stimulus checks for libraries. It's a fun way to celebrate and spread some good will. Hundreds of readers have already written, join in the fun. I'm waiting to hear from you.

Thanks for joining in the celebration, send your note to:
Suzanne@EmailBookClub.com

From my Library Email Bag:

"Why I like my library...Kankakee (IL) Public Library.

I am a mother of three boys ages ten, seven and four. Where else can you take them and say, 'Look around and pick out whatever you want, and we can bring it home'? The staff are always friendly and not at all concerned about the noise level that comes with my crew.

They love to ride the windowed elevator to the 2nd floor where the entire floor is filled with kids' books and fun places to read...especially the pirate ship! They also like to be able to pick out any movie to take home or just watch in the car. They beg to go, and it has allowed me to read more novels in the last two years than ever before! I also personally enjoy sampling all the music CD's, too...simply awesome. We are truly blessed."--Tricia Mills

I'm anxious to hear about your favorite library. Be sure to write:
Suzanne@Emailbookclub.com

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: Mark T. Sulivan, Triple Cross; Arthur Phillips, The Song Is You; Jessica Bram, Happily Ever After Divorce: Notes of a Joyful Journey; Jilliane Hoffman, Plea of Insanity; and James LePore, A World I Never Made. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader Column 04-15-09

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

Dear Reader,

It's National Library Week! That's the good news; the not-so-good news is that some libraries around the country have had to close their doors. So this year as part of our National Library Week celebration I've created a Dear Reader Stimulus Package. Here's my idea...

Email a note about why you enjoy your local library (include the name of your library) and I'll forward your comments on to the director and staff--who doesn't like to get compliments? Then, I'll enter your name in a drawing for a $25 gift certificate to Target and if your name is drawn, I'll send your library a check for $25 (that's the Dear Reader Stimulus Package). I have eight gift certificates and eight stimulus checks for libraries. It's a fun way to celebrate and spread some good will. Hundreds of readers have already written, join in the fun. I'm waiting to hear from you.

Thanks for joining in the celebration, send your note to:
Suzanne@EmailBookClub.com

From my Library Email Bag:

"As I'm living outside the US, I won't participate in the [drawing]. But I have received so much through your columns and the books you helped me discover, that I have decided to do something to pay it a little bit back. I have asked the Cedar Mill library in Portland, OR for their zip code and as soon as I get it, I will send them 20 Dollars leftover after my last trip to the States. Thanks for all you do for us, in addition to helping discover books."--Anne-Francoise Kraus, Germany

"Tickets to a rock show? A yard sale? Free Xboxes to the first ten customers? No, it's just a few minutes before 10:00 and a large group has formed in front of the Belmar Library, waiting for the doors to open. More people are using our library now. I like waiting in line with my neighbors for the doors to be unlocked and all of that information and entertainment to be available to us for another day. Whether we are searching for a job or a recipe, we are doing it together in their community. It's a welcoming place for us all."--Marty Dawley

"I like our local library system for many reasons. The one that popped in my head as I was reading your e-mail was Bunny Books. My library puts together a bag of 10 child age appropriate books, separated by 3 sets of ages. Parents can go up to the counter and just ask for the bag, no need to drag your crying toddler around to find the 'perfect' book. --Laufa Morgan

"We live in an area that is economically depressed. I am a retired speech language specialist from the Vineland Public School. Many of our students stay and never leave the area. Our local library, staffed with kind, nurturing people lets many people travel without leaving the library or their home. The computer area allows many of us access to the internet that we might not have at home. Their vast array of books, CD's books on tape and movies allow all the city residents to have wonderful media entertainment. This library is a gem that we are so fortunate to have. The staff is excellent. Thanks for giving me this opportunity to share the beauty of our Vineland Public Library."--Sallie V. Gartner

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

*Please send me a note about your library and I'll forward it on to the staff.

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

 

Dear Reader Column 04-14-09

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

Dear Reader,

How do people grow up to become librarians? What were some of their early inspirations? And how does a library get started?

Today's Guest Column is written by Roberta Whipple, the Library Administrator, at the St. Pete Beach Library in St. Pete Beach, Florida.

"In 1951, about a year before I was born, a group of civic-minded ladies set up the Long Key Library in my hometown. A donation of 350 books formed the core of the collection. The library was located in a wing of the Community Club's own building, right on the property it is now. Volunteers from the Club maintained the library until the present structure was opened, and the City of St. Petersburg Beach assumed control. It is a familiar history for public libraries in the state of Florida.

While my parents bought us books--mostly Little Golden Books, selections of nursery rhymes, stories from the Bible and, of course, a dictionary and an encyclopedia set--the library was always an extra resource. There were for starters, juvenile-sized biographies on the new Queen Elizabeth and famous people from Florida and American history. I still remember the giant step it took to walk down into the room reserved especially for children. Sometimes, passing through the rest of the library, I'd stop and investigate the more complicated volumes containing photographs of faraway places, scripts of Broadway plays, shell and tree identification guides. Though it was undoubtedly then just a shoestring operation, the shelves seemed to be packed with all the current, popular authors--Dr. Seuss and Rosamund du Jardin for young people, and Erle Stanley Gardner and Art Linkletter for adults. Because my father's drugstore was only a block from the library, I was a frequent visitor. And, as a result, my 'career' as a lifelong learner, not just an avid reader, was nurtured within its walls.

Obviously, the world, our town (and I) have changed a lot since then! The Cold War has ended, the island of Long Key is completely built out, movies can be viewed at home, mail doesn't always need a stamp, and I am the administrator, not simply a patron, of the library.

A former member of our Friends' board once noted that, in every place she has ever lived, the public library lies at the emotional, if not geographical center. Despite my own positive experience and present position I'm too much of a realist to expect that everyone will become a regular user. But if you want, the library can be the start to a very rich life."

Unfortunately some libraries around the country have had to close their doors. So this year as part of our National Library Week celebration I've created a Dear Reader Stimulus Package. Here's my idea...

Send me a note about why you enjoy your local library and I'll forward your comments on to the director and staff--who doesn't like to get compliments? Then, I'll enter your name in a drawing for a $25 gift certificate to Target and if your name is drawn, I'll send your library a check for $25 (that's the Dear Reader Stimulus Package). I have eight gift certificates and eight stimulus checks for libraries. It's a fun way to celebrate and spread some good will.

I'm waiting to hear from you. Thanks for joining in the celebration, send your note to: Suzanne@EmailBookClub.com

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 04-13-09

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

Dear Reader,

It's National Library Week in the U.S.A. and I'm ready to party, how about you? If you're reading along at a Canadian Library, we'll be celebrating this coming October for you, too.

The good news about National Library Week is that it calls for hootin', hollering, and a lot of fun. The bad news is that budgets at libraries around the country have been cut so deeply, some have had to shut their doors.

Last month, book club reader Margaret Reid wrote: "Early last year they closed our local library, as well as the library adjacent to my town (40 miles away). I now utilize the library about 1 1/2 hours away. We are endeavoring to reopen our local library and I'm looking forward to it as are all of the other townspeople."

I featured Margaret's email in my column and when Sarah Ferneding heard the news, it inspired her to write...

"Suzanne I live in Bucks County, PA where I am a ten minute drive to at least 4 different branch libraries. I would hate to have to drive an hour and a half to a 'local' library! I belong to 2 book discussion clubs and use one branch as a meeting place to tutor a middle aged intelligent man who speaks excellent English, but who only reads on a second grade level. Philadelphia, the big city near my home, is having trouble keeping their library branches open. I feel so fortunate to have access to my system.

Today's column [about Margaret's library] really tugged at my heart. How sad to close a library. I work across the street from our city's main library and can drive pass various branch libraries depending on which route I take home. I've been taking this 'luxury' for granted. What can we do to help Margaret Reid and her townspeople reopen the library? Would a Dear Reader Stimulus Package work? There are always projects that need an extra dollar, but what if (we) your readers each gave up a mocha or a book or a special treat for a day (or week) and sent the money to Margaret's town library fund? Perhaps other readers have ideas also."--Sarah Ferneding

Sarah's email inspired me to combine our National Library Week celebration with a Dear Reader Stimulus Package. Here's my idea...

Send me a note about why you enjoy your local library and I'll forward your comments on to the director and staff--who doesn't like to get compliments? Then, I'll enter your name in a drawing for a $25 gift certificate to Target (that's the party part) and if your name is drawn, I'll send your library a check for $25 (that's the Dear Reader Stimulus Package). I have eight gift certificates and eight stimulus checks for libraries. It's a fun way to celebrate and spread some good will.

Later this week there will be a Guest Column from a library director and I'll tell you about one man who raised $3,100 for his library by baking bread. I wonder if chocolate chip cookies would work?

Thanks for joining in the celebration, send your note to:
Suzanne@EmailBookClub.com

I can't wait to hear from you.

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: Mark T. Sulivan, Triple Cross; Arthur Phillips, The Song Is You; Jessica Bram, Happily Ever After Divorce: Notes of a Joyful Journey; Jilliane Hoffman, Plea of Insanity; and James LePore, A World I Never Made. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

 

Dear Reader Column 04-10-09

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

Dear Reader,

Suzanne is off today, dying Easter Eggs with Paul and James, her two grandchildren. Here is one of her favorite Easter columns. Have a wonderful weekend. She'll return on Monday.

My husband bought me fresh tulips last week. It wasn't a romantic purchase, more of a rescue. We were at the market and after we picked out some strawberries, we walked through the flower section and that's when I got a case of the "remember when" blues. Looking at the spring flowers made me think about my father and our Easter tradition.

Every year, the day before Easter, my father would walk down to the florist and when he came back home he was carrying two small white boxes. Inside one was an orchid corsage for my mother and in the other box, a pretty pink and white carnation corsage for me.

My father wasn't a sentimental man, far from it. He never said "I love you" but once a year, when the tulips and daffodils of spring were peeking up through the ground--signaling a change in season--briefly there'd be a change in my father, too. I'm not sure how or where my dad got the idea, but buying a corsage for my mom and me, it became an Easter tradition. "Look at what my dad bought me." I wore my corsage all day long, even after I came home from church and changed into my play clothes and I fell asleep with it on my pillow too.

When I was older and moved out on my own, my father stopped buying me an Easter corsage. I missed it. Not just the flowers, but the feelings I used to get every year when he'd hand me the box from the florist.

And now here I was standing in the middle of the market, tears in my eyes and my husband knew why. "I think you need some fresh flowers for Easter, Suzanne. Don't these tulips look like spring?" And he handed me a pink and yellow bouquet of tulips--a new beginning and a new tradition of love.

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? Read the "Between the Lines" feature interview with Carla Neggers then read about great thrillers from: Haggai Carmon, Rob Marsh, Robert Liparulo, Gordon Aalborg, Paul Levine, Robert Dugoni, Clea Simon, Jilliane Hoffman and Allison Brennan. Go to: http://www.thrillerwriters.org

Dear Reader Column 04-09-09

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

Dear Reader,

At 6 a.m. yesterday morning I abruptly announced to six felines, "I'm not a short order cook!" (Heaven help me, I sounded like my mother.) I was an only child, yet frequently I drove my mother nuts asking for whatever we "weren't" having for dinner.

So I guess it's not a big surprise that my three indoor cats Rudy, Billee and Abigail, and my two outdoor adopted strays Papa and Mama, and Goldie, a feral cat, (that one of these days I'm going to catch so I can get him fixed) each want to eat something different every morning. And then when I do take the time to serve up their favorites, they each decide--"I want what the other guy is having!"

Rudy's busy eating his favorite turkey and gravy delight, but when he hears the snap of the lid on a can of shredded roast beef, suddenly turkey isn't good enough, "Where's the beef?"

Yes, cats seem to think that somebody else's is better than their own. And even though we have our own, and have plenty of our own, (am I still talking about cats?) sometimes we don't want to share.

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

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

AUTHORBUZZ: New authors, old favorites--all wonderful books you can win: Jennifer Cody Epstein, Painter from Shanghai; M.K. Scott, Zamora's Ultimate Challenge; Leanna Ellis, Ruby's Slippers; and Julia Hoban, Willow. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader Column 04-08-09

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

Dear Reader,

Writing a daily column is a love/hate relationship. Well perhaps hate is too strong of a word. Let's just say that some days when I haven't written my column yet, but my husband is headed out the door to do something fun, I feel like the kid who has to wash and dry the dishes before she can go out and play softball with the other kids in the neighborhood.

Friends of mine frequently suggest I should write my columns a week or two in advance, but that daily deadline has become a meditation of sorts. Sure, sometimes like today, I rebel. But the truth is that writing every morning forces me to figure out what's going on inside of me and that's a good thing. If writing every day wasn't a requirement, I'd get busy with other things in life and paying attention to my feelings would end up last on my list.

Writing brings clarity to stuff that's messing with my mind. Taking inventory, laughing at myself, a little bit of scolding for saying or doing something insensitive, or simply learning something new about Suzanne makes my day go better. My theory is that I'm never really alone if I know and enjoy myself and the only way I've been able to work it all out is to write. Five or ten minutes, taking time to write doesn't have to be a big deal. Doesn't even have to be something that could be published somewhere else. It's just a little daily "note to self," tidying up the house, washing and drying the dishes and then I can go out and play left field.

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 04-07-09

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

Dear Reader,

Odds and ends and leftovers today.

1. If your life is swamped or if you're going on vacation, hit the delete key and start fresh on a Monday morning. Please keep the book club fun, read guilt-free.

2. If you filled out a copy of Abigail's Map of your Heart, if there's a story you'd like to share I'd love to hear it. You can reach me at suzanne@emailbookclub.com

I sent Abigail's teacher Ms. Anderson a note about the column (http://tinyurl.com/d3npr6) and this was her reply:

"Dear Suzanne,

Thank you for your email. I shared your column with my class today. It made Abigail and the other children feel very special. When I showed the children your column, I equated our Flat Stanley buddy letters to throwing a stone into a pool of water. I feel that it is important that children understand at an early age that their actions have a 'ripple effect' on those they come in contact with...even if it is through the written word (Which is what you do each and every day!) Your beautifully written column became a lesson on the ripple effect of kindness today. You taught my students that something as simple as sharing a Map of Your Heart can have an impact on people whom they may never have the opportunity to meet.

One of my little boys, Stuart, raised his hand after my lesson and said, 'Does that mean that now we are famous?!' I smiled and answered, 'Well, no, not exactly. We do not have to be famous to do something nice for others. In fact, it should be nice just knowing that we helped share a kindness with someone else...and maybe...just maybe that kindness will continue to grow.'

Then little Stuart raised his hand again and said, 'So...does that mean that we are secretly famous?!' I had to laugh...'Yes, Stuart, I guess you could say that we are secretly famous.' (Can you see why I love my job so much?! Children are just precious!)

I am pleased that many of your readers are enjoying the Map of Your Heart. It is a wonderful activity and one that is meant to be shared with others. Thanks to you...the ripples continue...I also wanted you to know that I printed off the copy of the heart that you made. I will keep it in my files to use in years to come. You made it look so crisp and polished! Just beautiful!"

Sincerely, Sandra Anderson, North Liberty Elementary School

3. Searching for your next Big Thrill? Read the "Between the Lines" feature interview with Carla Neggers then read about great thrillers from: Haggai Carmon, Rob Marsh, Robert Liparulo, Gordon Aalborg, Paul Levine, Robert Dugoni, Clea Simon, Jilliane Hoffman and Allison Brennan. Go to: http://www.thrillerwriters.org

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? Read the "Between the Lines" feature interview with Carla Neggers then read about great thrillers from: Haggai Carmon, Rob Marsh, Robert Liparulo, Gordon Aalborg, Paul Levine, Robert Dugoni, Clea Simon, Jilliane Hoffman and Allison Brennan. Go to: http://www.thrillerwriters.org

Dear Reader Column 04-06-09

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

Dear Reader,

My husband is a Craigslist fanatic and now he's got me hooked. Instead of going to the beach, or doing the laundry, lately we've been spending any extra non-working minutes checking Craigslist. At least six times a day, we log on to see if any new home furnishings have been listed. My husband and I have always loved a mission. Whenever we've needed something new to replace something old in our home, it's not the actual "getting something new part" that we're excited about, it's the hunt. So we were thrilled when our son and daughter-in-law told us about their upcoming move, because it gave us an excuse to help them search for deals to furnish the new place.
Let the hunt begin!

To get a real deal on Craigslist--to get the good stuff--you have to be ready to hookup your trailer immediately. (Our small trailer hooks up to the back of our car in minutes.) We've gotten so good at interpreting the ads on Craigslist that last week I bought a coffee table sight unseen. I couldn't go look at it right away--a girl's got to work some time--but I knew if I waited to check it out later that evening it would be gone.

But late last night our Craigslist adventures took a new twist. It was 11 o'clock, I was already sleeping, and before my husband came into bed he decided to check Craigslist one last time. And there it was--just what we'd been looking for--the perfect lamp for our son and daughter-in-law's bedroom. So my husband quickly replied to the listing and three minutes later our phone rang. It was our son calling. He thought for sure my husband was playing a joke on him--our son was the person selling the lamp. We're a family of jokesters, but my husband wasn't in on the joke, hadn't a clue, because when you reply to a classified on Craigslist you have no idea who the seller is.

So my husband and I are still searching and if you're looking for a gorgeous lamp, I know where you can find a real deal and I can vouch for the seller...

*If you have a son or daughter, or grandchildren, or you're crazy about your neighbors' kids, be sure check out today's AuthorBuzz (the link is right after my column.) In addition to free signed books, a child can win a chance to have a character named for him or her in author M.K. Scott's next book.

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

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

AUTHORBUZZ: New authors, old favorites--all wonderful books you can win: Jennifer Cody Epstein, Painter from Shanghai; M.K. Scott, Zamora's Ultimate Challenge; Leanna Ellis, Ruby's Slippers; and Julia Hoban, Willow. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader Column 04-03-09

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

Dear Reader,

The map of Abigail's heart made a big impression on readers. If you missed Tuesday's column and haven't had a chance to fill in a map of your own heart, you can print out one for yourself. The link for the column and heart are at the end of today's column.

From my Email Bag:

"Suzanne, what an absolutely wonderful idea! I bet you get tons of responses from your readers who feel the same way. You can probably tell Abigail she's started a big new trend. My goal will be to [fill out a heart] each year on Valentine's Day, and then keep them for future comparisons. For 2009 I will cheat and do one now. Wish I'd done this every year of my life...that would be really be interesting...but will settle for all the years I have left and be glad the idea was passed on now."--Linda in Lakewood

"This heart map is so cool! I sent [the heart link] to teachers, Sunday School teachers, Day Care teachers and to people who deal with kids. I think it is really neat! Thanks for sharing it with your readers. I hope a lot of them will do the same thing I did. This is too neat to ignore!"--Regards, Pat Swaney

"Thanks for sharing this with us. I'm going to do this as a craft in our Wednesday night Kids Club. Thanks to Abigail as well!"--Sonnya Clinton

"Suzanne, I enjoyed your column so much today! I could not wait to do the map of my heart. You are right--in the busyness of life we sometimes forget what is really important. Now I have my heart's map so I can always remember. I gave the map to the psychologist and counselor of the school I work at and they thought that it would make a great activity for some of their kids."--Daniabelle Hromanik

"Good Morning Suzanne, can't wait to print two hearts. One for me, Nana, to complete and send to our granddaughters in Raleigh, NC and the other for the 2+ big sister to complete. What a wonderful idea!"--Bernadette

"I loved today's column regarding Abigail's heart. Wow...out of the mouths of babes. This little girl has such wisdom and insight. I'm making my own heart and will refer to it often to make sure I'm still on track with what's important in my life. Thanks to you and to Abigail!"--Sue Kayser

"LOVED this article and the sweet picture of Abigail's map. A bright little girl who can teach us grown-ups a few things! Thanks so much for sharing this with us, your readers! I think this is a great idea & something that all teachers can use with their students as well! Can't wait to fill mine out!"--Cherie, Simsponville, SC

To read the original column, go to: http://tinyurl.com/d3npr6
To print the Map of my Heart, go to: http://tinyurl.com/dxbhrt

Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

You're in my heart,
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com