Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column 10-16-09

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Dear Reader,

I'm on vacation and author Laura Griffin has graciously offered to fill in for me. Laura would love to hear from you. Send her an email, she'll reply and you might win one of two autographed copies of her most recent release, Whisper of Warning. Email Laura at: laura@lauragriffin.com --Suzanne Beecher

From author Laura Griffin...

"Wine a little. You'll feel better."

For my birthday this year, my husband gave me something sparkly--a T-shirt with this quote scripted across the front in glittery letters above a picture of a wine glass. In return, I gave him a quizzical look.

"You can wear it to Book Club," he explained.

It's a running joke in our household that my Book Club is actually more of a Wine Club, and I'd do almost anything to avoid missing a meeting. No matter how hectic, how crazy, how upside-down my life feels, I find a way--once every four weeks--to get the kids fed and my husband home early so that I can slip out of the house and meet up with a group of women who have somehow become best friends.

"You read the book this month?" my hubby asks as I race out the door, and I shoot him a look because--as I've explained before--that is so not the point.

At Book Club, we talk about books. Sometimes we even talk about the book we've been assigned to read. But we also talk about kids, and husbands, and jobs, and mothers-in-law. We exchange potty training tips and jokes about sex. We analyze the economy, and how it affects us personally. We ponder work-life balance, whatever that is. And yes, we drink wine.

Aside from Book Club, we have very little in common, at least on the surface. We are a nightclub singer, a paralegal, a corporate executive, an author, and the list goes on. We are moms and wives and sisters, though not all of us play all of those rolls. We are a diverse group, and our book selections tend to be as varied as we are: Under the Banner of Heaven, Choke, Anna Karenina (which, I must admit, I didn't finish), The Time Traveler's Wife, a biography of Eric Clapton.

In December, when life gets really hectic, we don't read a book at all, but meet at a movie theater to see a film based on a book. Pride and Prejudice was one of our better picks. Twilight, not so much. But that's part of the fun of Book Club--reading or viewing or talking about something new, something you might not have chosen on your own.

I learn a lot from our lively literary discussions. But I learn even more when our talks circle back to the here and now: How is your marriage? How is your boss? What do you do with the kid who pitches a howling fit in the supermarket aisle?

My Book Club--or my Wine Club, as my husband fondly calls it--is my touchstone. It's my link to other women who are different from me, and yet facing so many similar challenges. My Book Club is the place where I go for laughter and friendship, and even the occasional intellectual discussion.

Are you in a book club? I truly hope so. Because everyone needs a book club. Even when they don't read the books.

Laura is waiting to hear from you. Email Laura at: laura@lauragriffin.com

Award-winning author Laura Griffin started her career in journalism before venturing into the world of romantic suspense. Her thrilling new Tracers Series kicks off this November with Untraceable. Details and excerpts available at www.lauragriffin.com.

 

Dear Reader Column 10-15-09

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,

Today's column is written by Wanda Wolfe, one of the runner-up winners in the Write a Dear Reader Contest.

Congratulations Wanda and thanks for filling in for me today.
--Suzanne Beecher

Out of the clear blue last year, a couple of vines snaked up from the ground and wound themselves around the support post on one side of my porch. I came out one overcast morning to find them showing off, flashing beautiful pink morning glories all up and down their lengths. The thing is that I hadn't planted any morning glories. Must have been birds carrying the seeds from elsewhere, but why such gorgeous pink beauties? And why landing just right to avoid the lawn mower and climb up the side of my porch?

All summer long I enjoyed their beauty. Then as cooler weather began to prevail, the pretty blooms faded and were replaced with seeds. I came out one morning to find a neighbor plucking those seeds. She stopped, face turning as pink as the now-gone blossoms.

"Hm. Uh, I hope you don't mind. I know you paid for your seeds when you planted them, but I've been enjoying these all summer, and couldn't resist getting some seeds to plant next to my own porch," she said, eyes filled with guilt.

I laughed, of course, and told her the truth, and said she was welcome to the seeds. She dropped by later with a homemade cake to thank me.

This year, not only the two vines showed up. They brought sisters along and completely obscured the post, with blooms arching out a full foot away from the post. They were twice as gaudy as last year. Now it's coming up on the time for the seeds to show up. I think I'll gather a few of them myself, and bury them on the other side of the porch, so the post there won't be so lonely next spring, or ashamed of his plainness.

And maybe I ought to put a birdbath in the yard, to thank the birds for their gift. Maybe even a bird feeder, you reckon?

Wanda Wolfe

AUTHORBUZZ: New authors, old favorites--all wonderful books you can win: Marilyn Brant, According to Jane; Stuart Neville, The Ghosts of Belfast; Tammy Lakatos Shames, RD, LD, CDN, CPT, Lyssie Lakatos, RD, CDN, CFT, The Secret to Skinny: How Salt Makes You Fat and the 4-Week Plan to Drop a Size & Get Healthier with Simple Low-Sodium Swaps; Dora Machado, Stonewiser: The Heart of the Stone; and Kat Martin, The Christmas Clock. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader Column 10-14-09

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,

I'm on vacation and today's Guest Column is written by author Rosemary Harris. Rosemary knows all about our book club and how it works, because she's reading along with us every day. Email her and she'll share more of her travels, photos and she has books to give away to readers. You'll find more about Rosemary and how to contact her at the end of her column. Thanks for filling in for me Rosemary. I sure do appreciate it.--Suzanne Beecher

From author Rosemary Harris...

My husband and I have always been "book people." My first real job was as a bookstore manager. When I opened the doors in the morning I couldn't wait to see what new titles would arrive, that I would see and know about first, before any of my friends. Before his semi-retirement Bruce spent over 40 years in publishing. And now I'm a writer. Having just delivered a manuscript I had a little breathing room before starting my next book. For me that meant going back to Africa.

I've always had the Africa chip. Call it too many viewings of Out of Africa (my husband has yet to shampoo my hair ala Robert Redford)--or reading Born Free at an impressionable age (and he refuses to let me adopt a lion cub.) Whatever that first influence was, it left me indelibly marked. I would go on safari like Meryl Streep. I would climb Kilimanjaro. We would hold hands in a small plane over the Masai Mara.

Three years ago, on our fifth visit to Africa, we took a Habitat for Humanity trip to a small village in central Tanzania. With about 16 others we helped to build two homes. Basic to be sure, but light years ahead of the mud huts most villagers lived in which get severely damaged and must be rebuilt after the rains. While there we fell in love with the village of Mvumi and the children from a nearby school, Chalula Primary. Chalula has over 1100 students and 14 teachers. There is no running water and no electricity, but for two self-described book people one other fact astounded us more than the absence of those creature comforts. The school had no library.

I guess I'm a decent person, better than some, not as good as others. I have my share of "do-gooder" moments, but nothing exceptional. Still, I came home determined to do something about what I thought was a deplorable situation.

Perhaps it was because I had such a long lead time before the publication of my first book (22 months from deal to bookstore) and needed something else to obsess about. Perhaps it was that combination of arrogance and ignorance that sometimes prompts people to do things they might not ordinarily do. Who knows? In May of 2007, my husband and I held a fundraiser in a friend's apartment. She sprang for the wine and cheese. I found a Tanzanian singer on Craigslist. It was no one's idea of a black tie event, but in June 2007, we broke ground. And in November 2007, we held the dedication for the Chalula Community Library in Mvumi Makula, Tanzania.

We've gotten tremendous support from the publishing community including books from Barnes & Noble and Random House Children's and personal donations from executives at all of the major houses including one who donated the funds for solar panels. Now Chalula Community Library is the only building in the area that has electricity. This summer we made our eighth trip to Africa, buying books, hiring a new librarian and welcoming two energetic college kids from Seattle who volunteered to spend three weeks in the village helping out. We'll return in March right before my publication date. My editor might disagree but I can't think of anything better to do in between books.

To see some photos of me in Africa, go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/rosemary-harris.html

If you'd like to read the full story of the Chalula Community Library or see more pictures, please visit my website at www.rosemaryharris.com

Asante sana (thanks)

Rosemary Harris is a former bookstore manager and video executive who splits her time between New York City and Fairfield County, CT. She is president of Sisters in Crime New England, a board member of Mystery Writers of America's New York Chapter. She is a master gardener. Her debut novel Pushing Up Daisies has been nominated for both the Anthony and Agatha Awards. Deadhead, book three in her series is the story of a woman whose neighbors discover that she is a fugitive from the law who's been on the run for decades. It was inspired by a true story.

Rosemary is giving away copies of Pushing Up Daisies and The Big Dirt Nap. You can reach her at:  rosemary@rosemaryharris.com

KIDSBUZZ: This week, fascinating books about ballerinas, witches, explorers and angels from: Susan Kuklin, Beautiful Ballerina; Carolyn MacCullough, Once a Witch; Kathleen Benner Duble, Quest; and Suza Scalora, Evidence of Angels. Go to: http://www.authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz

Dear Reader Column 10-13-09

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,

Today's column was written by Linda Panczner, one of the runner-up winners in the Write a Dear Reader Contest!

"Write what you know," is the age old advice and Linda knows about walking and observing people. Every day she walks from twenty minutes to an hour and a half depending upon the inspiration she finds, and she teaches English Literature at the University of Toledo. Too bad Linda doesn't live closer to me because we had a delightful conversation on the phone, and I think we could be great walking buddies, too.

Congratulations, Linda. Thanks for filling in for me today.
--Suzanne Beecher

One of my neighbors is lost. John's partner of 26 years moved out, and he's left teetering without an anchor. He forgot how to stand without leaning. I asked him to join me in my early morning walk. Like a toddler on unsteady legs, he stumbles alongside me struggling for a pace and lifestyle unfamiliar to him. I walk straight and energetically, but then I've been doing this for years: walking and living alone. In fact, I think he joined me not for the exercise but to seek advice for a quick and easy way to survive unexpected isolation. What should I tell him? That there is a huge difference between "alone" and "lonely" and some people have to experience the void of loneliness in order to appreciate the distinction? Lonely is only a state of mind; we can be lonely within a crowd, while being alone can be a rewarding journey into solitary refinement.

True, some jaunts are more enjoyable with others, such as sharing reactions to a movie or a culinary treat. But going it alone is not punishment; in fact, I'll advise John to enjoy the opportunity while he can. I'll tell him about my mother who chooses the challenges of living alone because the tradeoff, her independence, is more important. We point out that living in a retirement center would provide opportunities to mingle with her peers and fill her calendar with social activities not accessible to her now. But she relishes having a choice, while it is still hers, to walk a path of freedom she didn't feel the need to explore when her husband was alive.

For, John, no matter how many examples I provide, he has to hear the companionable silence of aloneness, when it's quiet enough to listen without distractions to inner voices that lead to personal enlightenment. Right now, he's wavering on an edge, wondering if he can handle being on his own, while also considering a search for a new soul-mate. He wants me to steer him in a direction, but he has to pilot his own choice of journey.

I like when my walks merge with others, so John is welcome to walk beside me, his cautious baby steps down an uncertain trail, while I trek the familiar, comfortable, even nurturing trail of aloneness.

Linda Panczner

Dear Reader Column 10-12-09

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,

Author M.J. Rose had a great idea a few years ago, "Suzanne, you should give yourself a vacation every year and ask friends to fill in for you. Treat yourself to an annual vacation"...and from that ingenious idea the "Write a Dear Reader Contest" was born.

M.J. Rose is a good friend and a great writer. Send her an email and she'll reply, and she's giving away copies of her books. You can reach her at: MJRnewsletter@aol.com --Suzanne Beecher

From author M.J. Rose...

Instead of writing about reading books, I'm going to write about reading emails. And writing emails.

I've had wonderful friends my whole life. We'd have lunch, go shopping, see movies together, stay on the phone for hours and talk each other in and out of life's highs and lows. But then e-mail happened.

At first it seemed an even better way to keep in touch. Snippets of communication several times a day. Cheaper than the phone. Home, in bed, on my laptop, I could get work done. At work, I could e-mail friends or loved ones. Totally wonderful.

Except it isn't always, as this email exchange shows.

My e-mail kiss-off

From: RuthM To: MJRose Subject: Not having heard from you for three weeks Date: Sat, April 3, 2:34 PM

I haven't heard from you for three weeks and am saddened to know you have chosen to let go of our friendship. I had no idea you thought so little of me that you would treat me this way.--Ruth

From: MJRose To: RuthM RE: Subject: Not having heard from you for three weeks Date: Sat, April 3, 3:34 PM

I've been busy, traveling, crazy with nerves waiting to hear from my editor. Besides three weeks is not that long as far as my thinking goes. I don't know why you'd just jump to the conclusion that I have let go of our friendship nor did I realize you were clocking us.--MJ

From: RuthM To: MJRose RE:RE: Subject:Not having heard from you for three weeks Date: Sun, April 4, 9:04 AM

Obviously we just have a different view of friendship. I guess I like friends to be friends, not casual in and out acquaintances. So now we know. I wish you only the best but we can't be friends. Good luck with your new novel.--Ruth

The problem is, as a species, we're new at this e-mail thing. We've been learning how to communicate with each other face to face for millions of years and still can't get that right. E-mailing? We've only been at it five, ten, fifteen years at the most. We're not experts at it yet.

I hadn't ever thought about it before but when we rely on e-mail for important communications we miss out on a lot of what makes communication work. We don't get the cues in e-mail that we get looking at someone. We don't see eyes fill with tears, mouths break into grins, and frowns appear on foreheads.

In the mess of the e-mails that cost Ruth and I our friendship, what I didn't know was that her in-laws were getting divorced and that her husband--stressed over it--was taking it out on her. And what she didn't know was that a member of my family was in the hospital.

Had she told me that straight out, I'd have been more sympathetic. Had we spoken on the phone, I might have heard the worry in her voice. If we'd seen each other, she might have seen the circles under my eyes and asked what was wrong. But we missed all those clues.

The e-mail experience itself messes with our boundaries. Love letters, inter office messages, recipes from great Aunt Ida, and spam offering you very cheap vitamins or worse--they all come into the same box. And it's so easy to answer them all quickly and without taking the time to regroup, switch moods, and change our tone between responding to a relative and responding to a colleague.

Enamored with the ease and efficiency of the medium, we forget that not everything should be written down and sent off via the Internet. Some conversations need to be had in person or if that's not possible over the phone.

Once upon a time when the Internet was only a sci-fi writer's dream, communication in person or via letter was all we had. It's tempting to think that the only difference between e-mail and a letter is the way it gets delivered. But there are other, bigger differences.

So now I try to remember to think before I write and reread my message before sending and when I get an email that strikes me wrong I try not to jump to conclusions.

Feel free to tell me about your email issues--just email me at MJRnewsletter@aol.com. I promise to read your email slowly and write you back carefully. And the three best emailers will get a copy of one of my novels.

Thanks for reading with me--and Suzanne.

M.J. Rose
MJRnewsletter@aol.com
www.mjrose.com

M.J. Rose is the author of The Reincarnationist and The Memorist.

AUTHORBUZZ: New authors, old favorites--all wonderful books you can win: Marilyn Brant, According to Jane; Stuart Neville, The Ghosts of Belfast; Tammy Lakatos Shames, RD, LD, CDN, CPT, Lyssie Lakatos, RD, CDN, CFT, The Secret to Skinny: How Salt Makes You Fat and the 4-Week Plan to Drop a Size & Get Healthier with Simple Low-Sodium Swaps; Dora Machado, Stonewiser: The Heart of the Stone; and Kat Martin, The Christmas Clock. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader Column 10-09-09

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,

I was thrilled that Bill Duncan graciously offered to fill in for me again this year. Bill, Jack, Billy-Jack, William, (he's a friend with many names) has been a long-time mentor of mine. He loves to read mail from readers and he writes the most interesting replies. You can reach Bill at: semperfi@douglasfast.net --Suzanne Beecher

Moving Into the Barn
By Bill Duncan

I attended a workshop, called "Conquering Clutter," as part of the Extraordinary Living Conference on the Umpqua Community College campus in Winchester, Oregon. Extraordinary Living is the new name for the Conference on Aging that is in its 27th year. When you get my age, it is extraordinary to be living.

I took copious notes from what was said by the presenter, Rita Prothero, who is a professional organizer, making her living off pack rats like me. I savored the ideas she shared, but the proof of the pudding is in implementing those ideas.

I dread to think of how I am going to handle the stacks of paper, magazines, and books in my office. Every now and then I go on a rampage in my office and clear off all desktops, the floor and even the storage areas. Trouble is, I transport it from my office to the dining room table. A flat surface is a void that must be filled. There just aren't enough flat surfaces in my house. Not only is my office overloaded with paper, magazines, and books, but also the family room, my bedroom and several unoccupied rooms upstairs in my home, not to mention the garage and a two story barn out back. Prothero said if I downsized "my life would never be the same." That sounded inviting, until she hit me below the belt. "Your clutter," she said, "is a problem you are leaving for someone else." I figure that clutter is just getting even with my children for all the messes they made growing up--some of the stuff in that barn is what they left behind.

The presenter acknowledged it is hard work downsizing, but when cleaning out, go in to the chore with blinders on and "when in doubt throw it out." Then she added a stinger: "Once it is cleaned, it has to stay that way."

This neat business is going to be harder than hoarding all this stuff in the first place.

I dread it, but my wife also attended the workshop and won the door prize--two hours of Prothero professional expertise in getting rid of stuff.

My wife is a neat freak and scoffs at the sign over my desk that says: "A clean desk is the sign of a sick mind." With that gift certificate in her hands, I am sure she'll call for a dumpster and suggest I leave home for a couple hours.

Maybe, once it is all cleaned up I'll just move into the barn to make sure it stays that way.

(Bill Duncan is a retired editor--who couldn't. He still writes a syndicated weekly column, edits a monthly magazine for senior citizens and writes a weekly book review for his local newspaper in Roseburg, Oregon. He can be reached by at semperfi@douglasfast.net)

SEARCHING FOR YOUR NEXT BIG THRILL? Read the "Between the Lines" feature interview with Jeffery Deaver then read about great thrillers from: Alan Jacobson, Russel McLean, Karen Fenech, Wendy Lyn Watson, Wendy Corsi Staub, Kathryn Fox, Cindy Gerard, Kylie Brant, Brenda Novak, Mark Nykanen, Dave Zeltserman, Keith Raffel, Alex Kava and Patricia Gussin. Go to: http://www.thrillerwriters.org

Dear Reader Column 10-08-09

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,

Congratulations to one of the Grand Prize winners of the Write a Dear Reader Contest, Tish Schneider!

"Tell me a little bit about yourself," I asked when I called to give Tish the good news.

"I work, come home and read books 'online!'" Such a light hearted, happy person. Tish works in customer service and I can see why.

Thanks for filling in for me today Tish.
--Suzanne Beecher

My son waved to me, not once but twice. Now, that may not seem like a big deal to you, but to me, it was HUGE! You see, when my son was little, it was mostly just the two of us, so I'd take him to the playground a lot for what I felt was much needed interaction with other children. I mean, how much fun could it be for a little kid to be with just an adult all the time? As he ran and played, he'd occasionally turn towards me, shoot me that cute smile of his and give me a big wave. It was a cross between a "Yes, Mom's still there and I'm safe" affirmation and a "Hey, Mom, watch me" dare. Seeing that happy facefull of joy, my heart would melt and somehow my life would feel complete, no matter what else was going on. But, as he grew older,I noticed that his waves got smaller and smaller. By the time he was a tween, I was lucky to get a half-hidden quick flick of the wrist. Oh, I understood and didn't take it personally. It was just a passage of his growing up. I mean, how embarrassing to be caught waving to your mom, you know? Instead, I learned to cherish the hugs and smiles he gave me freely at home, "behind the scenes."

But then, the other day IT happened. My son, now a Senior in high school, was at marching band practice as I was leaving a band parents' meeting. He was crossing the lot with the rest of the drumline, many of them his friends, to rejoin the rest of the band when he saw me and waved. I was stunned! Is he waving at me, or someone behind me? What should I do? Was waving back allowed? Would it be too embarrassing? After a few more steps, he turned completely towards me, and with that characteristic crooked smile of his, he gave me a big "Howdy!" wave, with even a "Hi, Mom!" greeting thrown in. For a flash of a second, I saw my little boy standing on the playground and tears swelled to my eyes as my heart began that familiar melt. And suddenly, my world was complete.

Tish Schneider

AUTHORBUZZ: With so many new books out every week, we promise these are five that deserve your attention: Iain Levison, How to Rob an Armored Car; Eileen Goudge, Once in a Blue Moon; Melody Carlson, The Christmas Dog; Laurie Ann Levin, God, the Universe, and Where I Fit In; and Laura Childs, Tragic Magic. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader Column 10-07-09

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, I'm on vacation. Today's Guest Column is written by author Julie Compton.

Julie was an attorney, but gave up law when she moved to Florida to pursue writing full-time. Tell No Lies (St. Martin's Minotaur 2008) was her critically-acclaimed legal thriller described as part Scott Turow, part Jodi Picoult. Kirkus Reviews gave the novel a starred review and described it as "a taut, tense cautionary tale complete with courtroom drama and a surprise ending." Her second novel, Rescuing Olivia arrives in bookstores this February. In this romantic psychological thriller, a Florida biker sets out on a search against time to find and save the woman he loves when she mysteriously disappears after a suspicious motorcycle accident.

Julie reads at the book club every day and she would love to hear from you. Drop her a line, she will reply to everyone and be sure to sign up for her book giveaway, too. Thank you so very much for filling in for me Julie.--Suzanne Beecher

From author Julie Compton...

I'm honored to be asked to write a guest column while Suzanne is away on vacation. I've been a longtime fan of DearReader.com, and even on those rare occasions when the book of the week is not to my liking, I still look forward to Suzanne's warm welcome each day. I've never met her in person, yet through the magic of the Internet, I feel I know her so well.

Which brings me to my topic du jour: The Magic of the Internet.

This past summer I traveled to Scotland with friends. Seven of us rented a wonderfully unique vacation home, a church built in 1633 that had been converted several years back into a six bedroom house. The former church is located in a town called South Queensferry, not far from Edinburgh. We arrived from various points. My husband, Rick, and I came from Florida, as did our friends, Joseph and Jennifer. Margaret and Sarah came from New York, Richard from England. All of us are writers of some sort except Rick (but he fits in with any crowd). We had a delightful time seeing the sights in Queensferry and Edinburgh, attending the various festivals (including the Edinburgh Book Festival), and hanging out in the pubs sampling haggis and cider. It was the quintessential group vacation with good sights, new foods, and long talks with great friends.

But here's what was so unusual about our group, and the reason I mention the trip: except for me and Rick, all of us originally met each other because of an online connection. Joseph and Jennifer met years before in the early AOL writer chat rooms and have been a couple now for thirteen years. A few years ago, they started a social networking site for writers, artists and musicians called Inked In (www.inkedin.ning.com) and that's where I first "met" them. We later became more than virtual friends when they invited me and Rick to their holiday open house. Margaret and I attended the same university years ago, but were complete strangers until she emailed me last year after seeing a blurb about my first novel in our alumni magazine. I "introduced" her to Joseph and Jennifer when she joined the Inked In site. Sarah met Joseph and Jennifer through another friend of theirs from the AOL chat room, and all of us met Richard when he stumbled upon Inked In from a Google search.

I readily admit that I was once a skeptic about the long-term value of online relationships. Sure, I had fun chatting with online friends, but I never believed my cyber-buddies might become anything more than that. I certainly never thought I'd be vacationing with them one day. It felt odd, even, to attend the open house where I first met Joseph and Jennifer in person. I'll never forget the look on Rick's face after I told him we'd been invited to their party.

"How do you know these people?" he'd asked.

I'd shrugged a bit sheepishly. "Well, I don't, not really."

Yet we took a chance and drove across town to attend a party where we knew no one. I'm glad we did, because that drive has turned into a much longer--and yes, magical--journey.

Next stop: a road trip from Orlando to the Gulf Coast. It'd be a hoot to someday meet Suzanne in person, too.

To see our merry band of travelers, go to:
http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/julie-compton.html

(There was just something about the photo that made Richard turn it into an album cover.)

Julie is giving away two books. Be sure to email her to have a chance to win her first book, Tell No Lies, or an ARC of her upcoming release, Rescuing Olivia. Email her at: julie@julie-compton.com Her website is: www.julie-compton.com

KIDSBUZZ: This week brings new authors and longtime favorites, all wonderful teen books to enjoy (and possibly win) from: Katherine Gilbert Murdock, Front and Center; Mitali Perkins, Secret Keeper; Tanya Lee Stone, Almost Astronauts; and Mary Pearson, The Miles Between. Go to: http://www.authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz

 

Dear Reader Column 10-06-09

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,

I'm on vacation. Today's column is written by Christine Hughes, one of the grand prize winners of the Write a Dear Reader Contest. Christine does a lot of writing in her job, but this was the first time she tried writing about something dear to her heart, and the first time she'd ever entered a contest.

You did a great job Christine! Your 80 signed books are on the way. Watch your mail!

Congratulations from Suzanne Beecher

Several years ago while visiting a travelling quilt exhibition held to raise money for breast cancer research, I experienced one of those "a-ha! moments" that you hear people talk about from time to time. The hall was filled with many beautiful quilts and wall hangings, each accompanied by a short text written by the quilter(s) explaining why they had been inspired to make their quilt.

I was immediately attracted to a small, but colourful wall hanging that, according to the story, was called "The Good China." The banner featured several rows of cups and saucers, as if hanging in a china cabinet. The description explained that the quilter's sister had died of breast cancer at a young age. She revealed that her motivation for the quilt was that often in life, we save our "good china" for special occasions and the rest of the time it hides away in a cupboard. The woman noted that her sister's death reminded her that we should use our good china and wear our special clothing often and appreciate their beauty while we are able to enjoy them.

When I was born, my grandmother made me a beautiful, handmade quilt in the Dresden Plate pattern and it adorned my bed for several years. When Grandma died unexpectedly, I recall my mother swooping into my bedroom one day and removing the quilt from my bed saying that since Grandma wouldn't be able to make me another quilt that we should put this one away and save it.

The next time that I was home visiting my parents after seeing the quilt exhibit, I went down to the basement and dug Grandma's quilt out of the cedar chest where it had been packed away for years. I told my mother that I was taking it back to my apartment so that I could enjoy it and I related the story of "The Good China" wall hanging. She agreed and said that is what Grandma would have wanted. Now, I use my quilt every day and as I look at the blocks, lovingly quilted more than 40 years ago from Grandpa's worn shirts and Grandma's old dresses and blouses, I am reminded of their love for me.

Don't save your good china--make every day a special occasion.

Christine Hughes

SEARCHING FOR YOUR NEXT BIG THRILL? Read the "Between the Lines" feature interview with Jeffery Deaver then read about great thrillers from: Alan Jacobson, Russel McLean, Karen Fenech, Wendy Lyn Watson, Wendy Corsi Staub, Kathryn Fox, Cindy Gerard, Kylie Brant, Brenda Novak, Mark Nykanen, Dave Zeltserman, Keith Raffel, Alex Kava and Patricia Gussin. Go to: http://www.thrillerwriters.org

 

Dear Reader Column 10-05-09

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Dear Reader,

Write a Dear Reader Contest winners, guest columnists, free autographed books, the opportunity to ask an author a question (all the guest columnists promised to reply to every reader's email) and vacation goodies from me. For the next three weeks every day a guest columnist will be filling in for me. I'll be on vacation.

I have absolutely no plans for my vacation this year. Yes, I realize that's a dangerous approach, especially since my husband and I can drive around for an hour trying to decide where to stop for dinner. No cars surrounding a restaurant? It's a bad sign, so we drive on by. But when the next restaurant's parking lot is full, we worry we'll have to wait too long. So without any advanced reservations, it's iffy whether or not we'll actually get out of town this year on our vacation.

The backup plan is hanging out on our new screened in front porch. The weather is beautiful this time of year in Florida, so I thought maybe I'd sit on the porch and write. Maybe even start another book. I've had an inkling of an idea, but it seems the harder I try to think about it, the more it escapes me. So I've decided to let the idea come to me. I'm ready and waiting, no pressure, (but just a reminder for whoever might be listening )--I only have three weeks. I have to be back at work on October 26th. Talk to you then.

A special thank you to everyone who entered this year's Write a Dear Reader Contest and to the authors who are filling in for me while I'm gone.

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

AUTHORBUZZ: With so many new books out every week, we promise these are five that deserve your attention: Iain Levison, How to Rob an Armored Car; Eileen Goudge, Once in a Blue Moon; Melody Carlson, The Christmas Dog; Laurie Ann Levin, God, the Universe, and Where I Fit In; and Laura Childs, Tragic Magic. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader