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
Suzanne@DearReader.com
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
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