Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column 10-15-10

Now on sale . . . Muffins & Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if Disorderly) Life by Suzanne Beecher, and when you purchase it, request a free autographed bookplate, by visiting:
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,

I'm not one of those people who can shop early for Christmas or birthday gifts, because I don't have any willpower when it comes to gift-giving. I always try to buy things for people that I would love to have myself--which makes me really excited about the gift--so I can't wait to give it away. I've even tried to cover up my precocious gift giving by including a note saying, "This is an early warm-up birthday gift. You're so special that you should celebrate the entire week of your birthday, not just one day."

Everyone loves to get a present so at this point my cover story hasn't been exposed, except to my immediate family members. But that's ok, they understand--I think it must be in our genes because none of us can keep the secret and hang on to a gift until the "big day."

There's only been one time when I was able to keep quiet about a gift but the problem is, it's "still" a secret. I bought my daughter something four months in advance of her birthday. I tucked the present away and made a pact with myself that I wouldn't break down and give it to her early. But the week before her birthday I bought her another present, because I'd forgotten about the original gift that I'd purchased and hidden away. About two weeks after her birthday I remembered the first gift, but to this day, I still can't remember where it is.

Be sure to tune in Monday, when book club reader Kathy Fletcher shares an amazing, sure-fired, you-won't-forget-where-you-put-it, gift for any occasion. Kathy sent me the cutest email about her idea. I'm making some over the weekend. Monday I'll have photos.

Enjoy the weekend.

* Congratulations to recent winners: Jamesa Carol Reese, the winner of the Sock Monkey and Kathleen McNerney, the winner of the blue mug.

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

Warmest regards,
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
http://www.muffinsandmayhem.com/

KIDSBUZZ: Books and books--lots of children's and teen books to give away. Email an author, sign up for their giveaway and learn about great titles for kids of all ages from: Lisa Brown/VAMPIRE BOY'S GOOD NIGHT; Julie Berry/SECOND HAND CHARM; Leslie Margolis/GIRL'S BEST FRIEND: A MAGGIE BROOKLYN MYSTERY; and Pamela Keyes/THE JUMBEE. For a chance to win free books and more, see: http://www.authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz

 

 

 

 

Dear Reader Column 10-14-10

Now on sale . . . Muffins & Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if Disorderly) Life by Suzanne Beecher, and when you purchase it, request a free autographed bookplate, by visiting:
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,

There's a lot to do after a house fire, but thankfully today my tasks are joyful and filled with color.

My husband and I are picking out paint colors for our grandsons' bedrooms, assembling a two-tone blue dresser, a light blue table with two playful blue chairs and a yellow stool, and two red bookcases--kid's bright, fun, almost cartoon-like furniture my husband and I found at Ikea. Our grandsons' (Paul and James) bedrooms were completely destroyed in the fire, but the contractor has a "get-to-it" crew and his plan is to have the house ready to move back into in another six weeks.

Every morning my husband and I peruse the new "For Sale" furniture postings on Craigslist--hitch up the trailer behind our car--and off we go to find a like-new bargain. It's amazing what we've been able to find. There's a gently used yellow VW kid's bed sitting in my living room. Who would've thought? Sleeping in a big, yellow bug. James will love it!

Writing is a solitary task--most authors don't get to hear from readers like I do. So do me a favor and visit Authorbuzz today http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader and send the authors a note to say hello. They're offering some unusual giveaways. Have fun.

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

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

AUTHORBUZZ: Enter a contest to write a love song, a spooky story and enter to win great books. Congratulations to last week's $25 book store gift card winner: Debra Guyette.

Stuart Neville/COLLUSION; Judith Arnold/MEET ME IN MANHATTAN; Patti Callahan Henry/THE PERFECT LOVE SONG; Otto Penzler (editor), CHRISTMAS AT THE MYSTERIOUS BOOKSHOP; and Mary Anna Evans/STRANGERS. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

 

 

 

Dear Reader Column 10-13-10

Now on sale . . . Muffins & Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if Disorderly) Life by Suzanne Beecher, and when you purchase it, request a free autographed bookplate, by visiting:
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,

Suzanne is still sorting and cleaning up from the fire. She will be back with a new column tomorrow. Today, enjoy one of her favorite columns.

When I was a teenager I washed dishes in a supper club and I liked my job a lot. It was very rewarding because at the end of the night I could see that I had accomplished something.

The tubs of dirty dishes that had been advancing on me, infiltrating the counters and the floor around me at the beginning of the night, were now stacked on the other side of the automatic dishwasher, all sparkling clean.

Most of the things that I do at my job now are abstract--phone conversations, implementing ideas, working on new concepts and troubleshooting problems. I also read books and I write the daily "Dear Reader" and yes, those are things that I can "tally up" and visually see, but there are a lot of days when most of my time is spent talking on the phone, and I feel a little unrewarded at the end of the day. 'How can I possibly feel exhausted? After all, all I did was talk on the phone today.' Rationally, I know that conversations are "work," and they take a lot of energy, but sometimes I still long for my dishwashing days when there wasn't any doubt in my mind what I had done all day and why I was tired, because everything was neatly stacked up right in front of me.

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

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

KIDSBUZZ: Books and books--lots of children's and teen books to give away. Email an author, sign up for their giveaway and learn about great titles for kids of all ages from: Lisa Brown/VAMPIRE BOY'S GOOD NIGHT; Julie Berry/SECOND HAND CHARM; Leslie Margolis/GIRL'S BEST FRIEND: A MAGGIE BROOKLYN MYSTERY; and Pamela Keyes/THE JUMBEE. For a chance to win free books and more, see: http://www.authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz

 

 

Dear Reader Column 10-12-10

Now on sale . . . Muffins & Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if Disorderly) Life by Suzanne Beecher, and when you purchase it, request a free autographed bookplate, by visiting:
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,

Today Suzanne shares one of her favorite old columns.

Whenever I want to get in touch with my past and resurrect memories, I visit antique stores. When I walk through the different sellers' booths, I find myself thinking, "Oh, I remember that." Browsing in antique stores triggers wonderful memories from days gone by.

We used to have a red-and-white flowered tin bread box, just like that one, sitting on our kitchen counter. Grandma Tindell collected poodle figurines. See that black one over there, with the gold chain on it. It sat on a white doily on top of her television set--I wasn't allowed to touch it. The set of dishes in booth #5 looks like the one that we had when I grew up. When I was a kid, they were just dishes--no big deal. Now they bring me comfort. I can see Grandma Hale in the basement doing the laundry on that slightly rusted wringer washing machine over there. She always had a wooden stick in her hand to help push the clothes through the two wringers that clamped down tight, on the top of the machine. I can hear her now, "Keep your fingers away from there, Susan, or they'll get caught in the wringer. Always use the stick."

My husband is amazed at all the things that I recognize and the memories that come flooding back to me when I see them. He says he must have had a deprived childhood because when we're "antiquing" together and I say for the tenth time, "Oh, we used to have that," or "Grandma used to have that," he can't understand it. He doesn't see anything that reminds him of his childhood.

I'm always surprised at what the things of my past would cost me now if I wanted to purchase them. The things that I used every day are now collectibles. Even some drinking glasses--the same ones that we got for free at the grocery store when we saved up enough points--would now cost me $68 for a set of six.

Oh my, there's Grandma Hale's cookie jar. The same one that I have sitting on my own kitchen counter right now. There's no need to look at the price to see what it's worth today. No one could ever offer me enough for it, and my memories.

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
www.muffinsandmayhem.com/

SHOUTOUT: Mark Laxer runs a software corporation, a storytelling gathering, and a wildlife conservation organization. In 2004, he invented virtual ecotourism. After writing Take Me For A Ride and weathering a $30 million lawsuit, he wrote THE MONKEY BIBLE. If you enjoy controversy, THE MONKEY BIBLE might be a good match for you. Visit author Mark Laxer's website, read a sample from his book, learn more about him and enter the Sock Monkey giveaway, go to: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/users/templates1/mweb/path2-1.html

 

Dear Reader Column 10-11-10

Now on sale . . . Muffins & Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if Disorderly) Life by Suzanne Beecher, and when you purchase it, request a free autographed bookplate, by visiting:
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 are you doing this coming Saturday, October 16th?

If you're in the St. Petersburg, Florida area, join me for some Muffins and Mayhem fun at the St. Petersburg Public Library. I'll be sharing my "Ingredients for a Happy Life" (as featured on MSN), as well as stories about writing, reading, and talking about my book, Muffins and Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life. The fun begins at 2 p.m. in the library's auditorium. Bring along your copy of Muffins and Mayhem so I can sign it for you, or support the library and purchase a copy at the event. Call (727) 893-7724 for address and more info.

Or if you're busy this Saturday, or don't live in the St. Petersburg, Florida area, I'd love to "meet" you via SKYPE at your local library or at your book club. SKYPE is an application that allows you to connect over the Internet and it's free. I'd never heard of SKYPE until my public relations agency in New York, suggested I use it to help get the word out about my book. "We'll ring you tomorrow via SKYPE Suzanne, and teach you how to use it."

This SKYPE thing, it sounded like a great deal to me. I didn't have to leave home, no packing, no flying around the country, a librarian could advertise, "Meet author Suzanne Beecher" and using my computer I'd be able to see and hear folks in the audience, and they'd be able to hear and see me. It was that able to "see" me part that didn't seem to register in my mind.

I'd been writing all morning, when my PR agency called for my SKYPE training session, so I was in my comfy writing attire. Hair twisted up with a clip, wearing my favorite old sweater over a ratty navy blue T-shirt, barefoot and no make-up, feeling free and loose--perfect writing attire. But ridiculously, embarrassing-beyond-belief attire for a SKYPE call. There I was on the screen--I freaked! "I DON'T NORMALLY LOOK LIKE THIS!" I yelled from underneath my writing table where I was out of camera range. Of course the people at the PR agency had seen a photo of me, but this was their first up close and personal look-see. I was horrified! How could I look so bad? Apparently I couldn't even believe what I was seeing because I kept bobbing up and down, taking another look at myself on the screen.

"You don't look bad, Suzanne." Apparently one of the skills they teach you in PR college is how to keep a straight face when you meet your client for the first time and she looks like one of those deranged authors, who never leaves the house and can only be creative when she's on the verge of a mental breakdown.

I kept my position underneath the writing table while I learned how to use SKYPE, and as soon as my lesson was over I took emergency action. A trip to the hairdresser, a manicure, a pedicure (just in case), lipstick, foundation, blush and eye shadow, and wearing one of my favorite outfits, I placed a SKYPE call.

"I realize this call makes me seem like even more of a weird, crazy author, but I just wanted you to see how I really look. Don't I clean up nicely?"

"We don't think you're strange. Just a gorgeous, talented author."

I guess this is why I hired them.

I'd love to visit your library or book club via SKYPE. It's a lot of fun. The last time I did a SKYPE program at a library, they brought in a chef who made one of the recipes from my book. Email [email protected] if you're interested.

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
www.MuffinsandMayhem.com

AUTHORBUZZ: Enter a contest to write a love song, a spooky story and enter to win great books. Stuart Neville/COLLUSION; Judith Arnold/MEET ME IN MANHATTAN; Patti Callahan Henry/THE PERFECT LOVE SONG; Otto Penzler (editor), CHRISTMAS AT THE MYSTERIOUS BOOKSHOP; and Mary Anna Evans/STRANGERS. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

 

 

Dear Reader Column 10-08-10

Now on sale . . . Muffins & Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if Disorderly) Life by Suzanne Beecher, and when you purchase it, request a free autographed bookplate, by visiting:
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,

Early this morning my cat Rudy and I were in the midst of our daily coffee and reading ritual and when I turned the page, there was GENEROSITY.

In big, bold type the word GENEROSITY was sitting all by itself on a blank page. Instantly I smiled, I laughed. I didn't want to turn the page. The feelings I experience when I'm the giver or receiver of generosity--in that very moment I felt the joy of handing a bag of my homemade chocolate chip cookies to someone, and then I pictured looking at the photo book a reader sent for my family, after the fire. This reader does scrapbooking and somehow she had saved family photos I'd featured in my columns. Each page of the handmade book had a photo with a sentimental saying hugging it. Every single one of us: my husband and son, daughter-in-law, and two grandsons were in the book. "I thought your family would enjoy this, you probably lost all of your photos in the fire."

I cried. My family cried. When we need to get the tears out to help the grieving, we open the handmade photo album, turn the pages and we cry.

Generosity. "I feel guilty, uncomfortable," my daughter-in-law could hardly take in the kindness of friends and strangers. "People are giving us clothes, things, gift cards. I'm overwhelmed at their kindness. It's hard for me to accept this help."

"There's a time to give and a time to receive," I explained. "You do need help right now, so freely accept generosity. It's one of life's lessons: I've learned how to be generous, because I've allowed myself to receive."

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
www.MuffinsandMayhem.com

P.S. Thank you so very much for your generosity and prayers.

 

Dear Reader Column 10-07-10

Now on sale . . . Muffins & Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if Disorderly) Life by Suzanne Beecher, and when you purchase it, request a free autographed bookplate, by visiting:
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,

I love reading your mail. Thanks for taking the time to write.

From my Email Bag:

"Suzanne, I am so sorry to read about your son and daughter-in-law's fire loss...pets & house. When my niece was five (she's now 32), my brother's house burned. The three of them only had what was on them at the time (thank God they weren't home). A neighbor saved two of the dogs and the cat, the other dog & birds died.

I have to tell you...you will all grieve for weeks. We did. It's the little things that drop you to your knees, but it's also little things that pull you back up. What upset my brother and sister-in-law was the loss of five years of pictures of their daughter Lindsey, and their entire courtship and marriage. All those years they were on me about taking pictures every time Lindsey burped or smiled. So I spent evenings going through my photos and putting together photo albums for them.

I know you enjoy taking pictures, you will become [your family's] memory machine. Blessings and hugs to you all,"--Bren

(Suzanne responds:) Bren, your email had perfect timing. Two days ago my husband and I went through old photos we'd taken over the years and re-ordered prints. (The photos were stored on our computer.) Yesterday, the prints arrived and I refilled photo albums for my grandsons. What a joyful thing to hear three-year-old grandson Paul (who was riding in the backseat of our car), laughing while turning the pages and giving us a play-by-play memory of the day each picture was taken.

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

Warmest regards,
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
www.MuffinsandMayhem.com

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover five new books, meet the authors and enter-to-win books and a $25.00 book store gift card. Send an email to me at [email protected] letting me know which author(s) caught your attention and your email will automatically enter your name in a drawing for a $25.00 bookstore gift card.

Laura Childs/FIBER & BRIMSTONE; Julie Leto/HARD TO HOLD; Anne Germanacos/IN THE TIME OF THE GIRLS; Alan Jacobson/VELOCITY; and Sharon Gillenwater/EMILY'S CHANCE.
Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

 

Dear Reader Column 10-06-10

Now on sale . . . Muffins & Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if Disorderly) Life by Suzanne Beecher, and when you purchase it, request a free autographed bookplate, by visiting:
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,

I hold up pretty good in a crisis, even with Benign Essential Blepharospasm, my eye and nervous system disorder. Yes, I was a rock in the midst of the fire that consumed my son's home last week. People could count on me--until yesterday--when apparently I felt the situation was under control enough that I could let down. So I did. And now here I sit an emotional mess. You'd think I'd be weepy, but instead I'm filled with anger. Not a rage, but an irritating "leave-me-alone, get-out-of-my-way-world" feeling and I can't seem to shake it. The "nice" in Suzanne seems to be buried under the charred debris.

I think the problem is I haven't given myself permission to begin grieving the loss. Psychologists say that anger is really sadness tucked away deep inside. I would agree. There's not a "why my family?" question inside of me when I replay the fire. I think the anger is more of an overwhelming sadness and confusion--I feel the need to protect myself. A couple of days after the fire I "had" to clean out my clothes closet. My mind needed to get rid of clothes I hadn't worn in years. Out with the business suits I used to wear years ago when I was calling on publishers in New York, out with clothes that were cute and stylish ideas in the store, but uncomfortable to wear when I brought them home. Fifty hangers opened up in my closet. I found pieces of clothing I'd forgotten I owned and now I can clearly see everything. My closet is more inviting and it's strange, but in the back of my mind, if my own house should burn to the ground, now there would be less to lose. 'Hey there fire, you won't be able to take these clothes away from me, because I'm giving them away before you can even get to them.' I'm telling myself that a bit of weirdness is expected when you're grieving a loss.

I can't seem to talk myself out of feeling irritated. So instead, I've decided to take action and do something that's brought joy to my life in the past. Today I'm hand delivering cookies to June. June is a librarian here in Sarasota, who pulled my reserved books off the shelves last week. When I picked up my books, there was a tiny sticky note on one of them. "Hi Suzanne! Cookies?" (with a smiley face in the middle of the word) and she signed her name. Emotions on the surface from the fire tragedy, I just about started crying. June's itty, bitty note brought joy to my day; a lasting joy, because when I got home I put a piece of scotch tape on the top of the note and left it on the book.

Reading June's note again today I'm reminded that she's right. Baking cookies does make me smile and I bet I'll find that missing joy later today when I hand June a big bag of my homemade chocolate chip cookies.

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

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

 

Dear Reader Column 10-05-10

Now on sale . . . Muffins & Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if Disorderly) Life by Suzanne Beecher, and when you purchase it, request a free autographed bookplate, by visiting:
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,

Reading an author's bio has never compelled me to read their book. The bio is something I normally take a peek at after I've read about 25 pages. But the bio of author Mark Laxer piqued my interest in taking a look at his latest work, THE MONKEY BIBLE. I missed him the first time around, even though his book Take Me For A Ride apparently caused a lot of (expensive) controversy. (Read part of his bio below.) If you enjoy controversy, THE MONKEY BIBLE might be a good match for you. But if there's already enough controversy in your life with things like recovering from a fire (yes, my family is getting better each day; thanks for your continued support), Laxer's book might not be a good match for you. Either way, you can sign up for the cute sock monkey I'm giving away.

It's funny, how the title of Laxer's book, made me remember the backyard sock monkey tea parties I used to have as a kid. My Grandma Hale was always working on a sewing project and for a couple of years, sock monkeys were all the rage. Heavy brown and white work socks, the ones with the red toes, were turned into cute little stuffed monkeys, who loved to drink tea.

Visit author Mark Laxer's website, read a sample from his book, learn more about him and enter the Sock Monkey giveaway, go to: http://www.supportlibrary.com/nl/users/templates1/mweb/path2-1.html

From the Author's Bio:

Long ago, Mark Laxer's quest to understand the bigger world landed him in the inner circle of a brilliant, charismatic guru gone mad. After writing Take Me For A Ride and weathering a $30 million lawsuit, Laxer continued the quest by writing The Monkey Bible. Laxer runs a software corporation, a storytelling gathering, and a wildlife conservation organization. In 2004, he invented virtual ecotourism.

Still working on recovering here. Talk to you tomorrow.

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

Warmest regards,
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
www.MuffinsandMayhem.com

Dear Reader Column 10-04-10

Now on sale . . . Muffins & Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if Disorderly) Life by Suzanne Beecher, and when you purchase it, request a free autographed bookplate, by visiting:
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,

My family and I are on the mend from the fire. It's a lot of physical and emotional work to get things in order, but we are empowered by the kindness of friends and strangers. Again, thank you for your emails and gifts.

Cooking always helps get me grounded, so over the weekend I turned on the grill and made a new recipe I've been wanting to try. It was DELICIOUS! Simple to make. Marinate fresh, uncooked shrimp, put five or six on a skewer, then simply grill for a couple of minutes on each side. The leftovers--eat them cold. My husband and I topped off a lettuce salad with cold shrimp the next day.

Marinated Shrimp

3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup tomato sauce
1/3 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (don't leave this out, it does NOT make the marinade hot, only gives it a great flavor)
2 pounds fresh shrimp, peeled and deveined

Stir together in a large bowl, the garlic, olive oil, tomato sauce and red wine vinegar. Season with the basil, salt and cayenne pepper. Add the shrimp and stir to coat. Then I dumped the marinade and shrimp mixture into a large zip lock bag. It took up less space in the frig and I could tip the back upside down to really get all of the shrimp covered. Marinate for 30 minutes to an hour--at least.

Preheat the grill--medium heat. After the mixture has marinated, thread the shrimp onto skewers. I put 5 or 6 on each one. Pierce twice, once near the tail and once near the top. Discard marinade. Lightly oil the grill grate. Cook the shrimp on the preheated grill for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, or until it turns pink.

Yummy! They were easy to make, great to eat and it was such a joy to be back in the kitchen cooking again.

Talk to you tomorrow.

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

Warmest regards and thanks,
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
www.MuffinsandMayhem.com

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover five new books, meet the authors and enter-to-win books and a $25.00 book store gift card. Send an email to me at [email protected] letting me know which author(s) caught your attention and your email will automatically enter your name in a drawing for a $25.00 bookstore gift card.

Laura Childs/FIBER & BRIMSTONE; Julie Leto/HARD TO HOLD; Anne Germanacos/IN THE TIME OF THE GIRLS; Alan Jacobson/VELOCITY; and Sharon Gillenwater/EMILY'S CHANCE. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader