Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column 01-31-12

Subscribe to one of Suzanne's online bookclubs and receive her daily
column at: DearReader.com


Sample Suzanne's book at:
Muffins and Mayhem, Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win: Goto: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader,

Today I've invited author Susan Breen to write a guest Dear Reader column. Susan's debut novel, THE FICTION CLASS (previously featured in our Fiction Book Club) was published by Plume (Penguin). Her short stories have been published widely, most recently by Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. Susan currently teaches at Gotham Writers' Workshop in Manhattan and today's she's giving away five copies of THE FICTION CLASS, so be sure to drop her a line and say "hello".
You can reach her at [email protected]

Thank you Susan, take it away...Suzanne Beecher

One of the first questions I'm asked when I visit book clubs or libraries is, "Where do you get your ideas?" I wonder about that myself, quite honestly, and worry that some day the ideas will run out and I'll have nothing to write about. So far, however, the ideas keep coming. Quite often they come from something I see or overhear.

Just recently I was at the vet with my dog, a cockapoo. A woman sat across from me who was clearly agitated. She didn't have a leash or anything else that made me think she had a pet. She kept looking at the door, checking her watch. She wore lipstick, but her clothes were rumpled and old. Suddenly, another woman burst into the vet's office, this one carrying a crate with a cat in it. She sat down alongside the first woman, putting the crate to the side, so that they were both ignoring the cat, although the cat was pressing its paws against the grill, causing the crate to rock back and forth, making me worry the whole thing would tip over.

To make a very long story short, the lady with the cat was a rogue animal rescuer. She had placed a dog with this first woman, telling her it was part Shih Tzu. The first woman was unhappy with the dog, however, and wanted a bonus for keeping it, such as free dog food. The two women began arguing, I began thinking how much Charles Dickens would have enjoyed this, and then I'm darned if a woman doesn't walk in with a Shih Tzu.

Now, if you've ever seen a real Shih Tzu, you know they are quite a dog. They have long beautiful hair and bulging eyes and look like they should be sitting on a king's lap. They are also very proud of themselves for being so lovely. Both the aggrieved woman and the rescuer eyed this Shih Tzu intently and finally the aggrieved woman looked at the other and said, "There's not a bit of Shih Tzu in my dog."

From that one moment I got so many ideas. There was the humor of the moment, of course. Some words, like Shih Tzu or cockapoo, make me laugh. But the situation was also tragic. Here was this woman who wanted something and realized, looking at this beautiful dog, that she would never get it. I doubt I'll have a scene about a vet in my next novel, but I might very well have a scene in which a woman faces disappointment. I'll be thinking of that woman's face as I write it, the way she sucked in her breath, the way her eyes disappeared into her flesh for a moment. When you read that in my new novel, and I hope you do, you'll know that's where that idea came from.

Susan Breen

Email Susan, say hello, welcome her to our book club and be sure to include your mailing address in case you are a winner. Susan is giving away five copies of her book. Email: [email protected]

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 THE MARTYRED by Richard E. Kim. Start reading now and enter to win a Penguin totebag. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/January12Classics

AUTHORBUZZ: Meet author Kristin Hannah, author of HOME FRONT (Fiction)...

HOME FRONT is a timely and intimate look at the price of deployment on an American family. I really believe HOME FRONT is the best, and most emotional book I've ever written; it explores big emotions and big themes: love, honor, duty, commitment and sacrifice. It's about doing our best and doing the right thing in the face of incredible odds. I hope you enjoy it!

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader Click on HOME FRONT to read more. Author Kristin Hannah would love to hear from you.

 

Dear Reader Column 01-30-12

Subscribe to one of Suzanne's online bookclubs and receive her daily
column at: DearReader.com


Sample Suzanne's book at:
Muffins and Mayhem, Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win: Goto: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader,

"We'll pick you up at 6:30," I told our friends. "You'll get something to eat, but we're not having dinner at our house and we're not going to a restaurant. It's a surprise!" My husband and I wanted to do something special for our friends. They opened a retail store a few months ago, and for the past few weeks (and probably for a couple more months) the road in front of their store has been torn up. We knew they'd been working longer hours than usual, so we wanted to make our evening out together stress free. And besides, my husband and I love a project we can work on together. After brainstorming about something different to do for dinner, we decided on a picnic in the dark. Remember, we live in Florida. No snow, but it does start getting dark around 6:30, so we needed to find some place with ambiance and at least one street light.

We didn't need a picnic table because we'd packed our own lawn chairs and fold-up serving table. My husband even ironed a table cloth and we brought a small potted plant to set in the middle. Since the evening picnic was a spur-of-the-moment idea, there wasn't time for me to cook. Not even time to bake some of my chocolate chip cookies. But after stopping at two of our favorite delis, a bakery, and wine store, we put together an amazing feast. A variety of cheese, meats, salads, mango salsa (it was the hit of the evening), a variety of dinner rolls, strawberries, apples, oranges, grapes, deviled eggs, two slices of chocolate cake, and a miniature cherry pie for us all to share.

Our friends were amazed when my husband and I set up an instant gourmet picnic in a small waterfront park on Sarasota Bay. A tall gray heron (I'd hired for two hours, well that's what I told our friends) walked aimlessly back and forth nearby, and a slice of moonlight even shimmered over the water. It was one of those perfect, picturesque evenings, especially because we shared it with good friends.

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 THE MARTYRED by Richard E. Kim. Start reading now and enter to win a Penguin totebag. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/January12Classics

AUTHORBUZZ: BOCA DAZE (Mystery) by Steven M. Forman

It's 2006 and sixty one year old ex-cop Eddie Perlmutter still fights crime. In BOCA DAZE he confronts a Liberty City drug dealer, investigates an assault on a homeless man, attacks the pill mill industry and goes after the perpetrator of the largest Ponzi scheme in history. In his spare time, he tries to save sea turtles--using his Glock.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader Click on BOCA DAZE to read more. Author Steven M. Forman would love to hear from you.

Dear Reader Column 01-27-12

Subscribe to one of Suzanne's online bookclubs and receive her daily
column at: DearReader.com


Sample Suzanne's book at:
Muffins and Mayhem, Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win: Goto: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader,

This morning I finally took the time to reply to a friend who had sent me an email (I'm embarrassed to admit it--last October). Shame on me. Seriously, shame on me. I think the problem is that calling or emailing a friend is one of the things I keep on my "When I Have Time to-do" list. My intentions were good. I thought of my friend each and every time I glanced at my, "When I have time to do list," but I never took the time, and now when I finally am taking the time to reply, I feel a bit awkward.

"Hey it's me. I know you must have thought I died and someone forgot to call you." It's what I want to lead with, because I feel the need to offer an explanation about why I've been silent for so long. And therein lies part of the problem, because that awkward feeling, it makes me want to put off sending an email or picking up the phone, and the distance between us becomes even longer. So I've decided when I re-establish contact with a friend I haven't been in touch with for a long time, I'm not going to offer an excuse. Instead, I'm jumping right into, "Hello, I was thinking of you today. How are things? What's been going on?" And after I listen, instead of reciting a list of all the things that have happened in my life since we last spoke, I'll stay in the present. I'll talk about what I'm working on today and my plans for tomorrow and soon the awkwardness simply feels like two friends sitting on a park bench sharing their heartaches, joys and dreams.

*Congratulations to Peggy Wilcoxen, the winner of the Crazy Message Practical Jokes Calculator.

* Today's the last day to enter the January Chocolate Chip Cookie Contest, go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/cookies-0112.html

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 THE MARTYRED by Richard E. Kim. Start reading now and enter to win a Penguin totebag. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/January12Classics

AUTHORBUZZ: Meet Karen Kondazian, author of THE WHIP (FICTION)

My book, THE WHIP is inspired by the true story of a woman, Charlotte "Charley" Parkhurst (1812-1879) who lived most of her extraordinary life as a man in the old west.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader Click on THE WHIP to read more. Author Karen Kondazian would love to hear from you.

 

 

Dear Reader Column 01-26-12

Subscribe to one of Suzanne's online bookclubs and receive her daily
column at: DearReader.com


Sample Suzanne's book at:
Muffins and Mayhem, Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win: Goto: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader,

If you have a question about writing or publishing, email it to me and I'll be glad to give you my two cents worth--well, maybe in today's economy it's my $2.50 cents worth. I won't be able to answer every reader personally, but I'll include your questions and my replies in upcoming columns. You can reach me at: [email protected] I'd love to hear from you. You'll find previous questions and answers at: http://tinyurl.com/WritingQ-A

Today's question:

"Hi Suzanne, I've been reading the writing emails you've responded to recently and I was wondering, 'How would you go about telling someone they are NOT a writer?' Of course this would be after reading something they had written. I have a good friend who has written a book and is looking for an agent. She's also started another book. I try to encourage her to follow through and to get her book published. I've read her book and it's very much like a Harlequin Romance novel. Do you have any advice I could share with her? So good to read with you!"--Debbie

(Suzanne's reply)

Debbie,

I'm not certain from your email whether you enjoyed reading your friend's book or not. Are you wondering, in general, how to tell someone you don't think they're a writer? Or are you searching for a way to tell your friend you didn't like her book and that she shouldn't quit her day job, because she's not a writer? The good news is in either case, it's not your responsibility to tell anyone they're not a writer. Most writers, especially writers in the beginning of their careers, are thin-skinned and create enough self-doubt on their own. They don't need a friend to critique their work, they need a friend to encourage them to follow their dreams, and that's exactly what you've been doing.

Having said that, I realize when a friend asks, "What did you think of my book?" if you didn't enjoy reading it, you're in an awkward situation. Unfortunately the rule your mother taught you, "If you can't say something nice don't say anything at all," doesn't apply here, because your friend is waiting for an answer. So what do you say? You don't have to fawn over her book if you didn't enjoy reading it, but I'll bet you could find something positive to say. Maybe you thought the title was clever, or one of the main characters reminded you of a neighbor when you were growing up, or you thought a particular plot twist was clever. Or you could simply compliment her on accomplishing her goal of writing a book.

Every writer needs a cheerleader in the background and your friend is lucky to have you.

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

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

*Meet authors, sample their books and enter for a free giveaway. It's fun and it's at AuthorBuzz.*

(Fiction)
A LADY NEVER SURRENDERS by Sabrina Jeffries

(Fiction)
THE HURRICANE LOVER by Joni Rodgers

(Fiction)
OXFORD MESSED UP by Andrea Kayne Kaufman

(THRILLER)
SECRET SIGNS by TJ Waters

(FICTION)
THE WHIP by Karen Kondazian

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

* This month's Penguin Classics book is THE MARTYRED by Richard E. Kim. Start reading now and enter to win a Penguin totebag. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/January12Classics

AUTHORBUZZ: SECRET SIGNS (THRILLER) by TJ Waters

Amy Kellen has a new job as a sign language interpreter for All Hands Video Relay Service, enabling routine telephone calls between the deaf and hearing communities. But when a political strategist dies during a video call Amy resolves to investigate the incident herself. She soon discovers she was not an observer, but rather the unwitting trigger of a political assassination. But can she save her daughter and herself when the assassins come for her?

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader Click on SECRET SIGNS to read more. Author TJ Waters would love to hear from you.

 

Dear Reader Column 01-25-12

Subscribe to one of Suzanne's online bookclubs and receive her daily
column at: DearReader.com


Sample Suzanne's book at:
Muffins and Mayhem, Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win: Goto: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader,

The secret to my homemade chocolate chip cookies? My friend, author Blaize Clement included my baking tip in her latest book, The Cat Sitter's Pajamas. (It was the last book she wrote before her death this past July.) Blaize loved my chocolate chip cookies and I kept her freezer stocked. I didn't have any idea that she'd mentioned the cookies in her book, but book club reader, Holly Meyer spotted it right away.

"Hi Suzanne, I just had to write you. I'm reading Blaize Clement's newest book and on page 178, a character takes chocolate chip cookies out of the freezer and says she always freezes them right after baking because it 'makes the chocolate set up, and they're crispier after they're frozen.' I can't help but think this an homage to you, Suzanne, knowing what good friends you two were. Reading this last book is bittersweet and I'm trying not to read too fast, for fear of finishing it and then being--done. I know Blaize's son plans to continue the Dixie Hemingway series, and for that I am grateful. But I will always feel the loss of such a wonderful, warm person. I'm sure you miss her deeply.

By the way, you are absolutely right about freezing the cookies. I would have never believed it had I not tried it, but freezing them brings out the wonderful flavors in a brand new way. Thanks for the tip and for being such a good reading friend."

Holly Meyer
Evansville, Wisconsin

Blaize's son, John Clement, will be writing a Guest Column on February 6th and I'll be featuring Blaize's book at the book clubs. Blaize's series will continue, read all about it on February 6th.

In the meantime, enter this week's Chocolate Chip Cookie giveaway. I'm ready to bake. Are you ready to dunk and munch cookies? To enter, go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/cookies-0112.html

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 THE MARTYRED by Richard E. Kim. Start reading now and enter to win a Penguin totebag. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/January12Classics

AUTHORBUZZ: OXFORD MESSED UP (Fiction) by Andrea Kayne Kaufman

Rhodes Scholar Gloria, who suffers from a near debilitating case of OCD, has just arrived at Oxford University. There she meets her neighbor and loomate Henry, a young British musician. Their relationship evolves from a shared obsession with Van Morrison's music into a desire to fill the gaps in each other's lives.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader Click on OXFORD MESSED UP to read more. Author Andrea Kayne Kaufman would love to hear from you.

Dear Reader Column 01-24-12

Subscribe to one of Suzanne's online bookclubs and receive her daily
column at: DearReader.com


Sample Suzanne's book at:
Muffins and Mayhem, Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win: Goto: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader,

A llama has moved into my neighborhood. Actually it's taken up residence in my yard. To be more precise, it's living on top of my carriage house. (My home was built in 1926 along with the carriage house.) Yep, a smiling llama beaming with joy (obviously happy with his new digs), is standing tall on the roof of my carriage house this very minute. His smile is infectious. Eventually, I may even invite him into my home. The (Dali) llama (my son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren named him) doesn't have much of an appetite and he'd be an easy houseguest to move from one room to another when I'm vacuuming, because he's on wheels.

My grown son is a talented practical jokester. He's not a planner, his funnies are spur-of-the-moment ideas. Like yesterday when he was driving by a school, instead of seeing a llama sitting at the curb, waiting for trash day, my son envisioned the llama sitting on top of my carriage house. How he managed to haul that llama up to the top of the carriage house, I'm not sure. The (Dali) llama made out of paper mache and wood, is life size and heavy--not to mention the wheels. No doubt about it, the joke was hilarious and I was laughing. But now, like when my son filled my yard with pink flamingos and I didn't want to give them back to the man when he came to retrieve them, I've fallen in love with the llama. I may even put a collar and leash on my (Dali) llama and walk (roll) him around the neighborhood. (Craziness runs in our family.)

The most memorable practical joke my son ever pulled off was on the day of my mother's funeral. Our family had been staying with my mother's husband, Ron. Six people together in a small house, getting ready for a funeral, I know Ron appreciated the company, but I know we drove him a little crazy, too. Especially my grown son's bad habit of leaving half-filled water bottles around the house. Personally it drives me nuts, because you don't know whose bottle it is, so you have to dump it out. But in the midst of a funeral, half-filled water bottles didn't seem all that important.

Surrounded by friends and family at the reception, Ron knew eventually we'd have to say good-bye, and I could see it in his eyes that he was a little nervous about going home and walking into an empty house. But thanks to my son, Ron didn't have to.

We said our good-byes at the reception and an hour later, as we were driving to the airport, our cell phone rang and it was Ron, laughing hysterically--at least for a few minutes. Unbeknownst to my husband and me, our son had left the reception earlier in the day, snuck into Ron's house, took all 47 water bottles out of the recycle bin, filled them half-full of water, and strategically placed them in every room of the house.

To see my llama and to enter today's drawing for a Crazy Message Practical Jokes Calculator, go to: http://tinyurl.com/llamajoke

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

* This month's Penguin Classics book is THE MARTYRED by Richard E. Kim. Start reading now and enter to win a Penguin totebag. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/January12Classics

AUTHORBUZZ: THE HURRICANE LOVER (Fiction) by Joni Rodgers

During the record-smashing hurricane season of 2005, Shay Hoovestahl, a puff piece reporter, stumbles on the story of a con artist using chaos as cover for murder. She enlists the help of Dr. Corbin Thibodeaux, and a deadly game of cat and mouse unfolds amidst polarizing politics and high-strung Southern families.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader Click on the book to read more. Author Joni Rodgers would love to hear from you.

 

 

Dear Reader Column 01-23-12

Subscribe to one of Suzanne's online bookclubs and receive her daily
column at: DearReader.com


Sample Suzanne's book at:
Muffins and Mayhem, Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win: Goto: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader,

It's cookie time. I'm ready to bake. Are you ready to dunk some homemade chocolate chip cookies? To enter, simply send your name, address, and tell me how long you've read at the book clubs. Every month (except December) I bake homemade chocolate chip cookies and deliver them overnight to readers. Readers love them and apparently so do squirrels. To enter this month's drawing and to find out whose cookies were devoured by squirrels, go to:
http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/cookies-0112.html

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

Warmest regards and ready to bake for you,
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
www.muffinsandmayhem.com

* This month's Penguin Classics book is THE MARTYRED by Richard E. Kim. Start reading now and enter to win a Penguin totebag. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/January12Classics

AUTHORBUZZ: A LADY NEVER SURRENDERS (Fiction) by Sabrina Jeffries

Lady Celia thinks merely getting betrothed to a wealthy, high-ranking man will help her sidestep her grandmother's ultimatum to marry within two months or be disinherited. But the fascinating Bow Street Runner whom Celia hires to investigate her potential fiances decides he wants her for himself.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader Click on A LADY NEVER SURRENDERS to read more. Author Sabrina Jeffries would love to hear from you.

Dear Reader Column 01-20-12

Subscribe to one of Suzanne's online bookclubs and receive her daily
column at: DearReader.com


Sample Suzanne's book at:
Muffins and Mayhem, Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win: Goto: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader,

It's really much more difficult to "tail" someone in your car--without them seeing you--than it is in the movies. My husband and I tailed the bagel delivery woman the other morning at 6 a.m. Obviously, it takes a skill that we're lacking, because we were either right on top of her tan Mazda or so far back that we totally lost sight of her car--especially when we were going around long curves. It was embarrassing, because at one point her car ended up behind ours. Oh well, thank heavens tailing people is not my day job.

It might sound strange, our following the bagel woman, but we're into cinnamon raisin bagels and sometimes our usual spot runs out of them. So, we thought we would check out what other businesses she delivers to. I know we could have just asked her, but that would have been boring, wouldn't it?

The bagel woman was running late because she didn't show up at the Hess station until 6 a.m., and we're usually already there buying our bagels at 5:30. The Hess station doesn't have much atmosphere, but at 5:30 in the morning we're not looking for ambiance, just a fresh bagel. Lucky for us, the bagel woman bought a snack in the Hess station, so that gave us time to buy our bagels and jump in our car before she left.

Our first stop was the Mobil station. We watched her from the neighboring parking lot while she delivered one large, brown shopping bag of bagels.

Then we headed out to Siesta Key. I figured that since she was headed to the island this was a real advantage for us. How could we lose her on an island? (Actually that was where her car ended up behind ours.) We got tricked in a parking lot.

We did find a grocery store that she delivers to that sells their bagels 30 cents cheaper than anyone else. The only problem is, they don't open until 7 a.m. That was the problem with most of the other new bagel spots that we discovered--restaurants that don't open until 8 or 9 a.m.

After tailing her for about 40 minutes and using up all of our undercover police jokes (tailing someone and watching them carrying bagels in and out of businesses is really pretty boring work) we gave up the chase.

But I don't know, I've been thinking about bread. There's this great baker that frequently sells out of my favorite bread by the time I get there. I know he delivers to other businesses...hmm...maybe next week we'll tail the bread man?

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
www.muffinsandmayhem.com

KIDSBUZZ: Meet new authors--send an email, ask a question and they will reply. Plus enter to win a free (signed!) copy of the featured books from Barry Hoffman, CURSE OF THE SHAMRA; Jason Lethcoe, THE FUTURE DOOR: NO PLACE LIKE HOLMES SERIES, BOOK 2; and K.D. McCrite, CLIQUES, HICKS & UGLY STICKS: THE CONFESSIONS OF APRIL GRACE, BOOK 2. For a chance to win a free copy, say hello to the authors, and more, see www.authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz

* This month's Penguin Classics book is THE MARTYRED by Richard E. Kim. Start reading now and enter to win a Penguin totebag. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/January12Classics

AUTHORBUZZ: (Fiction) THE PHILOSOPHICAL PRACTITIONER by Larry Abrams

He's poor. She's now rich. She wants to get back together with him. Their goals are different. His father's mind is going. His clients want to know how to live their lives. And a woman he's never seen before wants to kill him.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader Click on THE PHILOSOPHICAL PRACTITIONER to read more. Author Larry Abrams would love to hear from you.

 

Dear Reader Column 01-19-12

Subscribe to one of Suzanne's online bookclubs and
receive her daily column at: DearReader.com

Sample Suzanne's book at:
Muffins and Mayhem, Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win:
Goto: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader,

A young reader sent me the cutest email the other day:

"I represent a small reading club in my school. My friends asked me to interview you. So I am here for my first email interview (also my first interview). Will you please answer these Q's however stupid or aggressive they seem to be? I am also a bookworm like you. Here goes... Yours hopefully,"--Viju

One of the things that my young friend wanted to know was what my hobbies are. I told her that one of my more interesting hobbies is people-watching. Nothing better than sitting on a park bench in the sun, watching people come and go. But for serious observers, like myself, there are two prime people-watching days of the year: the Friday after Thanksgiving and the day before Christmas. I go to the stores with no agenda other than to observe what's going on around me, so it's a stress-free activity. Personally, I favor the day before Christmas. The procrastinators--last minute, crazed shoppers--are out in droves. They want to find the perfect gift and have good intentions, but they are left with only two hours before the stores close. So, unfortunately, many of them reach for one of those pre-packaged Christmas gifts made up for their own personal holiday gift-giving salvation.

This past year I had the privilege of being one of Santa's little helpers when I helped a frantic husband pick out some clothes for his wife. I could see that he was in trouble when he kept pulling different sizes off the rack, holding up hangers one in front of the other--trying to eye the difference. Fortunately, he said his wife was about my size. I sure hope she had my same taste in clothes. (I steered him away from a sequined, hot pink sweater with matching pants.)

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
www.MuffinsandMayhem.com

*Meet authors, sample their books and enter for a free giveaway. It's fun and it's at AuthorBuzz.*

(Mystery) Lucky in Love by Deborah Coonts

(Fiction) Night Swim by Jessica Keener

(THRILLER) Hitler's Silver Box: A Novel by Allen Malnak

(Fiction) The Philosophical Practitioner by Larry Abrams

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

* * *

This month's Penguin Classics book is The Martyred by Richard E. Kim. Start reading now and enter to win a Penguin totebag. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/January12Classics

Dear Reader Column 01-18-12

Subscribe to one of Suzanne's online bookclubs and
receive her daily column at: DearReader.com

Sample Suzanne's book at:
Muffins and Mayhem, Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win: Goto: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader,

Life is ups and downs and treading water in-between...

...and that's ok, because when I was a young girl at Girl Scout Camp I was never the best swimmer, but I was really good at treading water.

It was unfortunate that I never realized, until I was older, what an important life skill I had learned. I was always dreaming of being the best swimmer. Treading water seemed so boring, after all they didn't hand out prizes for it.

But knowing how to stay calm and tread water has served me well. It's true, treading water isn't too exciting and sometimes it feels like I'm not making any progress, but I know from past experiences that I really am.

Treading water in life is staying alive until help arrives, or until I find the answer to that problem that's been driving me crazy. Or sometimes it's the more difficult task of just waiting for something to happen. Waiting for things to change.

And sometimes, when I'm in one of those troublesome situations in life, I can still hear my instructor's words, "You're really not in any danger, Suzanne. Just relax, breathe slowly and tread water. You're just taking a break and then you can swim to safety."

* Congratulations to Laura Oka, winner of the Potato Peeler Giveaway.

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
www.MuffinsandMayhem.com

KIDSBUZZ: Meet new authors--send an email, ask a question and they will reply. Plus enter to win a free (signed!) copy of the featured books from Barry Hoffman, Curse of the Shamra; Jason Lethcoe, The Future Door: No Place Like Holmes Series, Book 2; and K.D. McCrite, Cliques, Hicks & Ugly Sticks: The Confessions of April Grace, Book 2. For a chance to win a free copy, say hello to the authors, and more, see www.authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz

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This month's Penguin Classics book is THE MARTYRED by Richard E. Kim. Start reading now and enter to win a Penguin totebag. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/January12Classics