Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column 05-31-10

June 1st is the release date, but you can preorder "Muffins & Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if Disorderly) Life" and request a free autographed bookplate, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/Muffins-MayhemPO

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,

"Shh! Don't wake the sleeping baby--at least not until tomorrow."

Who would've thought it. I'm 56 years old and having a baby. The baby shower is tomorrow--and you're all invited!

Tomorrow, June 1st, is the official "On Sale" date for my new book Muffins and Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life. Author friends of mine had referred to their books as "my baby" and at the time, I thought it was a cute sentiment. But now that I've given birth myself, I understand exactly how they feel. All week long we'll be celebrating with giveaways. Each day I'll draw winners, so feel free to enter every day. Muffin pans, muffin top liners, fun kitchen utensils, aprons, journals, colored lights, bubbles, muffin cookbooks, and caps inscribed with the Muffins and Mayhem logo.

Looking back it's amazing all of the steps that it takes to write, sell, and get a book published. Thank you so very much for all of your support over the years. Exchanging thoughts with readers has been the ongoing inspiration for my book. In fact a reader inspired the idea for Muffins and Mayhem, and a reader sent me an email years ago that was so touching, I saved it because I knew if I ever wrote a book, I would use the words from her email as my conclusion. And that's exactly what happened! I couldn't have done it without you. I was a reluctant author at first. I was so familiar with writing columns, that every time I'd sit down to work on my book, I'd end up writing a column instead. But eventually I made the transition and now I'm itching to start another book--which is also inspired by a reader.

I'll share my writing journey with you this week. If you've always wanted to write a book, tune in. I've walked the road and I'm happy to share words of encouragement with you. In the meantime--today--visit my website: http://www.muffinsandmayhem.com/content/baby See a photo of the new sleeping baby, (it's cute, you'll love it) read a sample from my book, watch cooking videos, check out the in-person book club goodies, and if you decide to buy a book, be sure to request a free bookplate and bookmark. And if you're also giving a book as a gift, let me know. I'll include a personalized letter, autographed bookplate and bookmark you can include with your gift.

Have fun visiting http://www.muffinsandmayhem.com/content/baby but do it quietly, "Shh! Never wake a sleeping baby--at least not until Tuesday."

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
www.muffinsandmayhem.com

AUTHORBUZZ: New authors, old favorites--all wonderful books you can win: Jennifer Estep, Web of Lies; Melanie Dobson, Refuge on Crescent Hill, A Novel; W. Craig Reed, Red November, Inside the Secret U.S. - Soviet Submarine War; and Ellery Adams, A Killer Plot: A Books by the Bay Mystery. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

* This month's Penguin Classics book is Kokoro by Natsume Soseki. To start reading and enter for your chance to win a Penguin totebag go to: http://tinyurl.com/May10Classics

 

Dear Reader Column 05-28-10

June 1st is the release date, but you can preorder "Muffins & Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if Disorderly) Life" and request a free autographed bookplate, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/Muffins-MayhemPO

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,

"What's that sound?"

My first thought--a burglar was in house. Thieves had been on my mind, because a couple of weeks ago, when I didn't get all the plants I bought at the nursery planted in the ground, someone helped themselves overnight while I was sleeping.

It was a strange sound, a commotion of sorts. Maybe the thief had returned looking for my gardening gloves, hand trowel, and fertilizer? The noise was getting louder: a weird, frantic, whirring sound. Maybe the thief hit the grind button on my coffee machine?

Somehow the noise hadn't roused my husband, and since he'd been having trouble sleeping lately, I figured if he could continue sleeping through this loud intrusion, he needed his rest. So I went to investigate on my own.

Immediately when I walked into the hallway, outside of our bedroom, I knew the sound was coming from my bathroom. And when I walked into the bathroom, there was my thief--my new purple, battery operated toothbrush was dancing across the top of my bathroom vanity, while the two brush heads were spinning wildly, like two jet engines revving up for takeoff.

Case Closed. I brushed my teeth and went back to bed. (Who knows, maybe it's a new marketing ploy. Your toothbrush reminds you to brush your teeth.)

Next Tuesday, my book, Muffins and Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life officially goes on sale. Thank you to everyone who preordered the book, you'll be the first to read it. Get ready for a fun Book Launch week. Every day a giveaway and every day there will be winners, so feel free to enter each day: Crazy muffin-related giveaways, muffin recipe contests, crossword puzzles, and more. Thank you so very much for being part of this experience. Every reply email you've sent over the years, was an inspiration when I was writing the book.

Have a wonderful weekend.

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

Gratefully,
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
www.MuffinsandMayhem.com

KIDSBUZZ: This week, books for child and teen readers about family strength and overcoming prejudice; the Holocaust, friendship and family; and bad boys and demons from: Tim Tingle, Saltypie; Debbie Levy, The Year of Goodbyes; and Sarah Rees Brennan, The Demon's Covenant. For a chance to win free books and more, see http://www.authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz.

* This month's Penguin Classics book is Kokoro by Natsume Soseki. To start reading and enter for your chance to win a Penguin totebag go to: http://tinyurl.com/May10Classics

Dear Reader Column 05-27-10

June 1st is the release date, but you can preorder "Muffins & Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if Disorderly) Life" and request a free autographed bookplate, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/Muffins-MayhemPO

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,

From yesterday's Email Bag:

"Good morning, Suzanne. I print your column every morning, at six a.m. when I'm in the office and making coffee for everyone. I work in a building full of network engineers. I started leaving your column on the table in the break room, the guys started reading it, and they are hooked!

The talk around the coffee maker in the morning, and even at lunchtime is your column; whether it be your antics, or the books. Several times one or two of the guys have said they bought the [featured] book. So I guess in a way we have started our own little book club. Just for kicks, when I read it was your birthday [yesterday] I went and bought a birthday cake dedicated to you, for the guys to enjoy with their coffee. When they saw the cake and read your column, they said, 'Mark the calendar, so next year we can do something special for Suzanne.'

We would love to be a volunteer and help with your new release. Two of the guys have preordered your book for their wives, and one for his mom. And of course so have I. We would do a very good job!

Again Happy Birthday, we have enjoyed your day! Any day there is cake at work, it's a better day. We all feel like we know you, some one will say 'Can you believe that Suzanne?' and we all know who they are speaking of, with great admiration."--Pat Harmer

* Looking for volunteers. To celebrate the launch of my book, Muffins and Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life, next week, I'm going to hand out bookmarks to folks on Main Street in downtown Sarasota, where I live. If you're not shy, and it sounds like fun to wear a Muffins and Mayhem cap, and hand out bookmarks to folks in 'your' downtown, please let me know. I'm looking for 10 readers who'd like to join in the fun. I'll send you a cap, and bookmarks; your job is to hand out the bookmarks, have a lot of fun, promise to send me a photo, and any interesting tidbits you pick up in conversations with people you meet.

Interested? Send an email to: [email protected]
Discover Muffins and Mayhem at: http://www.MuffinsandMayhem.com

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

Gratefully,
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
http://www.MuffinsandMayhem.com

AUTHORBUZZ: New authors, old favorites--all wonderful books you can win: Debbie Macomber, Orchard Valley Brides; C.W. Gortner, The Confessions of Catherine de Medici; Linda Lael Miller, McKettricks of Texas: Garrett; Maria Hudgins, Death on the Aegean Queen; and M. J. Rose, The Hypnotist (Reincarnationist Series Book 3). Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

* This month's Penguin Classics book is Kokoro by Natsume Soseki. To start reading and enter for your chance to win a Penguin totebag go to: http://tinyurl.com/May10Classics

Dear Reader Column 05-26-10

June 1st is the release date, but you can preorder "Muffins & Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if Disorderly) Life" and request a free autographed bookplate, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/Muffins-MayhemPO

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,

Happy Birthday to book club reader, Pat Gorezyca. Today we're both celebrating birthdays. Out of 375,000 book club readers, I imagine there are other May 26th birthdays. So if you're celebrating today, too, "Happy Day, blow out the candles and make a wish!" My cake is chocolate, with chocolate frosting, what's yours?

Age is a strange bird. For me it's all about rounding numbers up to the nearest 10. When I was a kid, I hoped people thought I looked 20. Then when I really was in my 20s, age was meaningless. Nothing scary about mid-to-late twenties, until my age rounded up to 30, but after a couple of fretful weeks, I enjoyed an ageless reprieve until the big 4-0. But by the time I blew out 41 candles I was back to being ageless again. And so it goes. Age hasn't mattered for quite some time now. Today I'm happily celebrating 56 years.

Thank you to everyone who sent birthday greetings. It was very thoughtful. One of the emails gave me a fun idea for getting the word out about my upcoming book.

"Hello Mrs. Suzanne, just want to wish you a warm relaxing and joyful day. I enjoy reading and following your books. Bless you and I will share some ice cream on your May 26 day...Happy Birthday to you, and many more enjoyable memories." Book club reader, Jammie Sewell

Even though we're a virtual book club, sharing an activity together on the same day, like eating ice cream, gave me an idea. An author friend of mine, who's written several books, told me to be sure to do something fun to celebrate the release of my first book. So sometime, after June 1st (my release date) I thought I'd put on one of my new Muffin and Mayhem baseball caps, (a birthday present to myself--and I ordered some for readers, too) go downtown (Sarasota) and say hello to folks walking by. "Do you like to read? I'm celebrating the release of my first book," and hand them a Muffins and Mayhem bookmark.

Reading Jamie's email, gave me the idea to invite some readers to hand out bookmarks in their downtowns, too. If you're not shy, and it sounds like fun to wear a Muffins and Mayhem cap, and hand out bookmarks to folks in your downtown, have I got a volunteer job for you. I'm looking for 10 readers, who'd like to join in the fun. I'll send you a cap, and bookmarks; your job is to hand out the bookmarks, have a lot of fun, and promise to send me a photo and any interesting tidbits you pick up in conversations with people you meet.

Interested? Send an email to: [email protected]. I'm counting down, there's only six days until my online Book Release party: muffin recipe contests, Muffins and Mayhem crossword puzzles, fun giveaways every day, special promotions for book clubs that meet in person and if you've ordered a copy of my book, let me know and I'll send you an autographed bookplate. Take a look at my new website: www.MuffinsandMayhem.com

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
www.MuffinsandMayhem.com

KIDSBUZZ: This week, books for child and teen readers about family strength and overcoming prejudice; the Holocaust, friendship and family; and bad boys and demons from: Tim Tingle, Saltypie; Debbie Levy, The Year of Goodbyes; and Sarah Rees Brennan, The Demon's Covenant. For a chance to win free books and more, see http://www.authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz.

* This month's Penguin Classics book is Kokoro by Natsume Soseki. To start reading and enter for your chance to win a Penguin totebag go to: http://tinyurl.com/May10Classics

 

Dear Reader Column 05-25-10

 

June 1st is the release date, but you can preorder "Muffins & Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if Disorderly) Life" and request a free autographed bookplate, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/Muffins-MayhemPO

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,

Last Friday's column about retired middle school band director/now an elementary school bus driver, Cliff Goodman, brought numerous requests from readers. "Suzanne, I was expecting to see a photo of Cliff's truck." I aim to please, so I asked Cliff for a photo and he delivered.

Cliff has an unusual paint job on his truck. Here's the story behind his one-of-a-kind transportation.

"...I would have students in my band for their 5-8th grade years; it was a great job as I got to watch them grow up during that important time of their lives. At the end of their 8th grade year, they got to paint the truck. They looked forward to it from the time they were in 5th grade and I always had an interesting looking truck. Many of the classes tried to embarrass me by painting a theme that might be deemed as less than dignified...one year it was the Barbie truck, one year the Elmo truck. My favorite was the year they had made a very colorful flaming truck and stenciled on the hood 'Ask me about Mary Kay.'

My wife has mixed feelings about the truck. It is our only vehicle as we are usually bike riders. She especially has mixed feelings about all the waving as she drives it. She dreams of being able to drive a less noticeable car. I assure her that it is nice to have a car that is easy to find in the parking lot.

I now drive a school bus which is great because it takes care of my kid fix. I have tried to convince the bus company to allow my kids to paint the bus, but they are not going for it."--Cliff Goodman

To see the current paint job on Cliff's truck, and to enter a giveaway in honor of dedicated teachers like Cliff, go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/truck052510.html

* It's been fun signing bookplates to send to readers who've preordered a copy of my upcoming book, Muffins and Mayhem. I've signed hundreds of bookplates and last night I woke up worried that I might have made a mistake or two along the way. Please let me know if you need me to redo a gift or Happy Birthday letter, or redo a name on a bookplate.

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
www.MuffinsandMayhem.com

* This month's Penguin Classics book is Kokoro by Natsume Soseki. To start reading and enter for your chance to win a Penguin totebag go to: http://tinyurl.com/May10Classics

Dear Reader Column 05-24-10

June 1st is the release date, but you can preorder "Muffins & Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if Disorderly) Life" and request a free autographed bookplate, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/Muffins-MayhemPO

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,

Boy did I get a lot of entries for the May Chocolate Chip Cookie Giveaway. Congratulations to: (drum roll, please) Donna Holmen, Angie VanSchoick, Martha Catt, Kim Barany (who is a high school librarian, last day of school, May 26th, also my birthday, so I couldn't resist) and Mary Jordon. Cookies are going out today via UPS and will be on your doorstep tomorrow. Enjoy! But if you're a "dunker" you'll have to get your own milk!

From my Email Bag:

"Suzanne, I live at the bottom of a long hill in the Pittsburgh PA area. The city isn't known for their expertise in clearing snow in the winter. My section hardly ever got done, but that was okay, because the neighbors and I would simply shovel the street in front of our houses and we'd clear out our own section of road. One winter the snow was continuous, and we were getting very, very tired of shoveling almost daily. Then miracle of miracles, a plow came down our section of road. I was so excited! I ran out and flagged the plow driver down. He looked at me figuring I would chew him out about how long I waited for the road to be plowed. You would not believe the look of surprise and delight on his face when I handed him fresh warm cookies! Needless to say, I haven't had to shovel the street very often since then. My son, who was five at the time still says, 'Here comes the snow plow, get the cookies out!'"--Linda Gagliardo

"Hi Suzanne, after reading the email from the woman in Pakistan, I had to write and tell you about my boyfriend and his cookies. He has been taking cookies on every sales call for over twenty years. He doesn't bake them, but gets them from a local bakery. Still, it is no small feat to pack 25 dozen cookies and get them in the overheads on the airlines. It has been amazing the happy positive reactions he gets from people at each company. Many look forward to 'cookie day' and even have a favorite variety they hope is in the box. By the way, he has been the top salesman for his company for all these years, coincidence, I think not. But mostly David, like you and Brooke, [from Pakistan] enjoy the smiles and happiness a little thoughtfulness and sugar can bring. I've enjoyed reading with you and often do it eating cookies."--Eileen

Check out the AuthorBuzz link right after my column today and meet new authors. They're waiting to hear from you. And if you have time, please visit my website, http://www.MuffinsandMayhem.com I'm counting down the days until my book releases June 1st, but the Book Launch Party begins a little early, May 31st. You've been with me every step of the way in writing and getting this book published, and the big day is almost here.

From the Acknowledgement Page in my book, Muffins and Mayhem, "When there's joy in my life, there's joy in my writing. Thank you to all of the readers and librarians at the book clubs..."

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
http://www.DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: New authors, old favorites--all wonderful books you can win: Debbie Macomber, Orchard Valley Brides; C.W. Gortner, The Confessions of Catherine de Medici; Linda Lael Miller, McKettricks of Texas: Garrett; Maria Hudgins, Death on the Aegean Queen; and M. J. Rose, The Hypnotist (Reincarnationist Series Book 3). Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

* This month's Penguin Classics book is Kokoro by Natsume Soseki. To start reading and enter for your chance to win a Penguin totebag go to: http://tinyurl.com/May10Classics

 

Dear Reader Column 05-21-10

 

June 1st is the release date, but you can preorder "Muffins & Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if Disorderly) Life" and request a free autographed bookplate, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/Muffins-MayhemPO

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 reporter asked me the other day, "Suzanne, what do you hope people will take away from reading your book? What kind of experience would you like them to have?"

I replied, "My hope is that when folks read the stories and recipes from my life, it will inspire them to remember some of their own."

And that very thing happened to me the other day, when I read Cliff Goodman's email. His story made me remember how much I enjoyed being in our high school band. In concert, I played the flute (I wasn't very good) but in our marching band and for halftime shows, I twirled a baton and I was pretty darn good at that--if I do say so myself. If you'd like to see a photo of me in one of those parades, you'll find it at my Muffins and Mayhem website: http://tinyurl.com/37ffzht

The band was a big deal in our small town, we were really quite good and received invitations to march in big parades. It was a lot of fun for us kids, and when we'd return from a band trip on the road, parents and friends would be holding up signs and waving as the bus drove into town.

From my Email Bag:

"Suzanne: I think I'd like to have you as a neighbor. Here's a little story of my own. I am a retired middle school band teacher. I have a pickup truck that is very colorful to say the least. It always gets a lot of attention when it is parked in a parking lot and many waves from people when I am driving it in town.

The story behind it is that I would have students in my band for their 5-8th grade years; it was a great job as I got to watch them grow up during that important time of their lives. At the end of their 8th grade year, they got to paint the truck. They looked forward to it from the time they were in 5th grade and I always had an "interesting" looking truck. Many of the classes tried to embarrass me by painting a theme that might be deemed as less than dignified...one year it was the Barbie truck, one year the Elmo truck. My favorite was the year they had made a very colorful flaming truck and stenciled on the hood "Ask me about Mary Kay."

My wife has mixed feelings about the truck. It is our only vehicle as we are usually bike riders. She especially has mixed feelings about all the waving as she drives it. She dreams of being able to drive a less noticeable car. I assure her that it is nice to have a car that is easy to find in the parking lot.

I now drive a school bus which is great because it takes care of my kid fix. And I now can say that all my problems are 'behind' me. I have tried to convince the bus company to allow my kids to paint the bus, but they are not going for it. Thanks for all your great stories. Keep up the good work."--Cliff Goodman

To see an old photo from my baton twirling days, go to: http://tinyurl.com/37ffzht And while you're at the Muffins and Mayhem website, there's still time to preorder my book. It goes on sale June 1st. The week of May 31st, I invite you to celebrate Book Launch Week with me. Your emails were an inspiration while I was working on the book, so be sure to join in the crazy giveaways, muffin recipe contests, and fun. If you've already ordered my book and haven't requested a personalized, signed bookplate, be sure to request one.

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

Have a wonderful weekend,
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
www.MuffinsandMayhem.com

* This month's Penguin Classics book is Kokoro by Natsume Soseki. To start reading and enter for your chance to win a Penguin totebag go to: http://tinyurl.com/May10Classics

Dear Reader Column 05-20-10

Join my email book club. Over 330,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

June 1st is the release date, but you can preorder
Muffins & Mayhem:
Recipes for a Happy (if Disorderly) Life
and request a free autographed bookplate, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/Muffins-MayhemPO

Dear Reader,

There's a new cookie baker at the book clubs!

From my Email Bag:

"Dear Suzanne: I'm living in Pakistan. My husband is Pakistani and I'm American. We met online nine years ago and got married six years ago. The reason I'm telling you this is that I need to make a confession to you. Whenever I go out anywhere, I take chocolate chip cookies with me (from your recipe), and I can't tell you how much happiness I see on people's faces when I give them a bag of cookies. I give my taxi driver cookies, and the person who comes to fix the phone line or a/c problems--whoever or wherever--I always make sure I have cookies available. Seeing their happy smiling face when I give the cookies [away] is just awesome.

People here, they always look so stern and sad, never smile, never say hello or thank you, or you did a good job. So I decided I would do those things from now on, and include a bag of cookies. Of course the response I've gotten has been great. People are so shocked that an American woman would do this for them, when she doesn't even know them.

I'm glad I got the idea [from you] or should I say, I've 'borrowed' from you. I hope you don't mind. The men and women I give the cookies to are so grateful, and have such big smiles on their faces--I know I've made their day a little happier, and that's a great thing.

So I was reading your recent column about the lady talking nicely to you, and your friend writing the nice email to you, and I just felt I wanted to write what happens with me. I'm so grateful I found your site all those years ago. You really are the best. Take care of yourself, and your sweet husband and grandchildren. God bless you, Suzanne."--Brooke Benning

(Suzanne replies: Brooke, what a compliment that you "stole" my idea. Wouldn't it be great if everyone carried a bag of cookies with them? You and me--maybe we could start a "giving away chocolate chip cookie movement" around the world. Thanks for sharing your story.)

You can still enter this month's Chocolate Chip Cookie Giveaway, go to: http://tinyurl.com/38h9ext

To read a sample from my book Muffins and Mayhem (available for pre-order online or at your local bookstore) and to request a personalized bookplate, go to: http://tinyurl.com/2cpofek

You're Invited! Get ready for an exciting Book Launch Week, beginning the week of May 31st. Fun, food, crazy giveaways, crossword puzzles, muffin recipe contests, and more.

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

Warmest regards,
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
Muffins and Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life On Sale Now. Read a sample at: http://tinyurl.com/2cpofek

AUTHORBUZZ: With so many new books out every week, we promise these are five that deserve your attention: Gina Holmes, Crossing Oceans; Bo Hoefinger, Bad To The Bone: Memoir of A Rebel Doggie Blogger; Mel Starr, A Corpse at St. Andrew's Chapel, The Second Chronicle of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon; Alexandra Katehakis, MFT, Erotic Intelligence: Igniting Hot, Healthy Sex While in Recovery from Sex Addiction; and Nate Kenyon, Sparrow Rock. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

CLASSICS: This month's Penguin Classics book is Kokoro by Natsume Soseki. To start reading and enter for your chance to win a Penguin totebag go to: http://tinyurl.com/May10Classics

Dear Reader Column 05-19-10

June 1st is the release date, but you can preorder "Muffins & Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if Disorderly) Life" and request a free autographed bookplate, go to:
http://tinyurl.com/Muffins-MayhemPO

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 week ago I waited patiently on my front porch for the UPS man to show up. Last Friday, when I came home, the UPS man was patiently waiting for me.

My husband and I noticed the big brown UPS truck, parked in front of our house, as we were pulling into our driveway. And the next thing we noticed was Louis, standing on our side porch. It's not unusual for a UPS truck to stop by our house. Publishers and authors are constantly sending books for consideration at the book clubs; so four different UPS drivers deliver and pick up every day.

The early morning UPS guy delivers overnight packages--I've never actually seen him, his packages are already on my porch before my first cup of coffee. The mid-day driver gets right down to business, a quick in and out, but--he loves cats, so he always stops to pet Mama and Papa (the outdoor strays we take care of) before he drives away. Cleve shows up late in the afternoon to pick up outgoing packages--he's been our UPS man for years--and he loves my chocolate chip cookies. And then there's Louis, the guy waiting patiently on my side porch, the man who delivered four boxes of finished copies of my new book Muffins and Mayhem last week. (From 8 a.m., till 3 p.m., I sat on my front porch anxiously waiting for the delivery. If you missed the column you'll find it at: http://tinyurl.com/24jvovp)

Louis wanted to show his family the "special book delivery" column, so I printed a copy with photos, and then I asked, "Louis, do you have a brother in the army?"

You never know who's reading along with us at the book clubs. Indeed, it is a small world. The day after my column about Louis was featured, I received this email:

"Ma'am,

I'm a Soldier currently in Mosul, Iraq and I'm the little brother of that 'late UPS man.' What a joy it was to read your blog. I am overwhelmed with joy that my brother was able to celebrate that great accomplishment with you, even if it was just a couple of seconds. Congratulations on your book!"

Paul M. Guzman
Scout Platoon Leader

When Louis left my house he was carrying another special delivery, a signed copy of my book: "To Louis, the man who delivered my new bundle of joy!"

I'd love to sign your copy of Muffins and Mayhem too. Unfortunately I can't meet everyone in person, but I would love to sign and personalize a bookplate and I'll send you a bookmark, too. To read a sample and request a personalized bookplate, go to: http://tinyurl.com/y34vgtb

**You're Invited! Get ready for an exciting Book Launch Week, beginning the week of May 31st. Fun, food, crazy giveaways, crossword puzzles, muffin recipe contests, and more.

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
Muffins and Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life
www.MuffinsandMayhem.com

* This month's Penguin Classics book is Kokoro by Natsume Soseki. To start reading and enter for your chance to win a Penguin totebag go to: http://tinyurl.com/May10Classics

Dear Reader Column 05-18-10

June 1st is the release date, but you can preorder "Muffins & Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if Disorderly) Life" and request a free autographed bookplate, go to:
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Dear Reader,

The two day weekend isn't working for me any more. I really need three days to catch up on the work I couldn't get done during the week. For years I couldn't relate to people who'd wave their arms in the air, and do a happy dance while cheering, "Thank God it's Friday!" Maybe I've always felt differently about weekends because for most of my life, I've been my own boss. But the past couple of months, I've found myself joining in the TGIF party. Thank heavens it's the weekend, so I'll be able to finish all of the things on my "to-do" list I didn't get done during the week. But that weekend list--it sets me up for failure every time.

My mind is fired up and ready to go after that first cup of coffee on Saturday morning, but then I look outdoors. The weather's fine, I do have a few errands, or how about taking a walk to the Farmer's Market? After all it's the weekend, and I should let down a little before I start on my work. After a leisurely walk downtown, I pick up around the house, throw a load of laundry in, there's a nice cool breeze blowing through the front porch so I decide to sit a bit, pretty soon it's lunch, and before I know it, it's three in the afternoon. Still plenty of day left to get going on the work projects I wanted to get done, but I'm tired, lazy really. 'Not to worry Suzanne, there's always Sunday.'

After my Sunday morning cup of coffee I do get some writing done, but then my son calls; the grandsons want to stop by later. Hmm, family coming to visit, perhaps I should cook a few things and we'll have a little light lunch or early dinner. A little after six, later that evening, I wave goodbye, take the dishes out of the dishwasher, clean up after our two toddler grandchildren, the cats are hungry, maybe I'll slip into my pajamas, sit on the front porch and do a little reading--then my mind will be ready to start on that work I wanted to get done over the weekend. Or maybe not--there's always Monday.

To enter the May Chocolate Chip Cookie Giveaway, go to: http://tinyurl.com/38h9ext

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
www.MuffinsandMayhem.com

* This month's Penguin Classics book is Kokoro by Natsume Soseki. To start reading and enter for your chance to win a Penguin totebag go to: http://tinyurl.com/May10Classics