Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column 07-17-12

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,

I feel compelled to spread the bubble joy this week, especially after reading Barbara's email. Be sure to enter my bubble machine giveaway.

From my Email Bag:

"Dear Suzanne: Has anyone ever complained about your bubbles? My mom and I used to stand on the walkway outside our apartment and blow bubbles (well, I blew and she waved...) and people complained that it marked their cars and the walkway. Then we went down to the north dock (the one with only a few boats at that time) and bubbled down there until some old crock complained that the bubbles were blowing back to where she was sitting in the gazebo! Eventually we gave up, and last year when I was doing the One Piece of Junk Per Day campaign, I tossed all the wands and the liquid. It wasn't fun anymore. Just wondered if people are sunnier where you live."--Barbara

(Suzanne replies:)

Barbara, let me share a column I wrote last January about my bubble trouble.

A police officer knocked on my front door and it's probably a good thing my husband answered the doorbell instead of me. I was busy in the kitchen, so the hoopla was all over by the time I heard the news.

I own a bubble machine. To me, bubble watching is one of life's simple pleasures. It brings me joy. I turn on my bubble machine whenever I need cheering up, to add fanfare to celebrations, and on weekends bubbles are floating in front of my house for the walkers, joggers and parents pushing kids in strollers to enjoy. I've been entertaining folks with bubbles for so long now that I've gotten quite a bubble reputation. If my bubble machine isn't turned on, I get requests, "Where's the bubble machine today Suzanne?" Bubbles seem to give folks an excuse to spend a few minutes in child-like play. People passing by enjoy the bubbles so much that they do an about face, so they can walk through the bubbles again.

And sometimes I turn on my bubble machine late in the day, about the time folks would be driving home, hoping that after a hard day at work, seeing a few bubbles would make them smile. But there's always one. And that one called the police to report me and my bubble machine. "The bubbles could be a driving hazard and they should be stopped!"

So my husband went outside, turned off the bubble machine and gave me the news. When it comes to protecting my joy, I'm like a mama bear defending her cubs. My first reaction was: killjoy, drag, party pooper, spoilsport, wet blanket and bubble-hater. But even silent name calling steals my joy, and puts me in the same league with the person who filed the complaint.

Joy is all around me in this life. It's there for the taking, but sometimes it's tough to hang on to because 'one' is all it takes. One cranky person who's looking for a way to unload their crummy day. I should be forgiving, because sometimes when I've had a challenging day, I catch myself heading down the same road. And who knows for sure? Maybe seeing bubbles in the air is a hazard to drivers? After all, how can a person text message friends and family, drink a soda, read paperwork they didn't get to finish at the office, keep at least a couple of fingers on the steering wheel, sing along with a tune, and watch for the light to change--how can a person properly multi-task with bubbles floating in the air? (Whoops, there I go again, stealing my own joy.)

Watching bubbles wafting out over the sidewalk, floating high across the street, over top of the neighbor's house, a few adventurous bubbles even heading up towards the clouds--it amazes me that seeing such a glorious sight wouldn't make someone smile. But alas, there's always one who tries to ruin the fun. But in this situation, there's also one who refuses to give up her joy. I'm heading outside to turn on my bubble machine and if I end up singing, "Nobody knows the bubble trouble I've seen" from my jail cell, my good friend assures me she'll bail me out of my bubble trouble.

To enter my bubble machine giveaway, send an email to: [email protected]

*Enter the 8th Annual Write a Dear Reader Contest. Great prizes. You'll find the details, at: http://www.dearreader.com/contest2012/

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 HARBOR by Ernest Poole. Start reading now and enter to win a Penguin totebag.  Go to: http://tinyurl.com/July12Classics

AUTHORBUZZ: SLEEPING WITH DOGS AND OTHER LOVERS (Fiction) by Julia Dumont

Cynthia Amas has her hands full launching a boutique matchmaking service for exclusive clients in sunny Southern California; dealing with her own irresistible bad-boy complicated, steamy romantic life; her kooky mother; and even her new best girlfriend who has an entourage of curiously gifted canines. Before long, Cynthia's personal, professional, and amorous lives begin crashing hilariously into one another.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on SLEEPING WITH DOGS AND OTHER LOVERS to find out more about the book and the author, Julia Dumont. Send her an email, she'd love to hear from you.

Dear Reader Column 07-16-12

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,

Author Sandra Bryd has written today's guest column and I must say after reading it, I think I might invite friends over to my home for a Retro Dinner. The menu? Fried chicken, macaroni salad, potato salad, deviled eggs, a Lazy Susan relish tray adorned with: Bread and Butter Pickles, crinkle-cut carrot and celery sticks, pickled beets (my favorite) and flowered radishes (that no one ever eats, but they look colorful), and of course a layered tower of Jello. Sandra's column brings back memories.

Please welcome Sandra to the book clubs. Send her an email and she will personally reply and she will enter your name in her book drawing. She is giving away 10 copies of The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Kateryn Parr. Email her at: [email protected]

Take it away, Sandra . . .

An Ode to Jello

Recently I attended a summer barbecue picnic and potluck. As they arrived, the invitees lovingly placed gourmet offerings such as grilled salmon skewers, corn on the cobettes dusted in truffle butter and delicate little canapes on the red-checked tablecloths. But only one dish brought sighs and covetous glances; it was gobbled up first and there was not enough for seconds. Can you guess what it was? Under the Sea Salad. Yes, that simple but tasty throw-back to summers past, a froth of emerald gelatin foam with delicate pearls of pears nestled within.

Although we often think of cold weather as the time to soothe ourselves with food, summer dishes offer much emotional resonance, too. At its core, comfort food reminds us of home and family, days gone by when life seemed as simple as a swim in the lake, a Frisbee game with friends, and Popsicles with cousins. In my family, everyone knew to show up with something, anything, but never potato salad. Potato salad belonged to Grandma! Later in life, I experimented with her pleasingly familiar recipe, building up the courage to put my own twist on it. My daughter has demanded that I share the recipe with no one but her, a kind of twenty-first century dowry for her to hand down to her daughter. Grandmother to granddaughter, over again.

Although most of us no longer pace our lives on a nine month school schedule, there is still something about the middle months that beckon us to slow down, revisit the past, take slow walks along the beach or in the forest and, of course, read good books. There's a reason that there is a genre called "beach reads" but not one called "ski reads!" Summer is a time to uncoil and enjoy ourselves. Even though we are no longer children, childlike pleasure still beckon, and should be indulged. So this week, make plans for a few hours in a hammock or on a patio, falling into a good story in a good book. And don't forget the Jello!

Email Sandra and enter her book giveaway, [email protected]

Sandra Byrd has published more than three dozen books in the fiction and nonfiction markets, including the first book in her Tudor series, To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn. Her second book, The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Kateryn Parr, illuminates the mysteries in the life of Henry's last wife and was released just last month. For more than a decade Sandra has shared her secrets with the many new writers she edits, mentors, and coaches. She lives in the Seattle, Washington, area with her husband and two children.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
www.muffinsandmayhem.com

* This month's Penguin Classics book is THE HARBOR by Ernest Poole. Start reading now and enter to win a Penguin totebag. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/July12Classics

AUTHORBUZZ: DARK INHERITANCE (Fiction) by K. Reed

Enter a Dystopian Regency Romance! DARK INHERITANCE: FALLEN EMPIRE will shatter everything you think you know about Regency England. The world is in turmoil, and Grayson and Juliette are left to struggle with their feelings as they battle for theirs, and England's, survival.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on DARK INHERITANCE to read more and to email author K. Reed, you'll get a reply.

Dear Reader Column 07-13-12

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,

Bubbles, bubbles, bubbles...after reading Wednesday's bubble column, readers wanted to know:

(If you missed the column, go to: http://tinyurl.com/cadmwy7 )

From my Email Bag:

"Good morning Suzanne, I smile when I think of bubbles wafting out across the street in your neighborhood. What a happy picture in my mind! You mentioned that you have a preferred brand of bubble blower liquid. Could you tell me what it is, please. I gave my grandson a bubble blowing 'lawn mower' for his birthday and provided a few bottles of liquid from the Dollar Store. His father, my son, reports that I should save my money on that liquid. So, what is this world class product that produces the smiles on your neighbors faces as they walk past your house?"--Sue Steiger

"Hi Suzanne, could you tell me what kind of bubble machine you have and where you purchase your bubbles? Most of the machines I've seen online don't seem to last long. I'm thinking my granddaughter would enjoy one!"--Angela Stewart

(Suzanne replies:)

I feel like the Consumer Reports bubble lady today, and I could definitely do the job, because I've tested most of the bubble machines and bubble solutions on the market. My bubble recommendations have changed over the years, because manufacturers keep changing the quality of their products. Unfortunately I can't make any A-plus recommendation for a battery operated bubble machine. The problem with most battery operated bubble machines is that when you run them for a long time, eventually the machine chokes on itself and the bubble solution gets foamy, instead of making bubbles. So then you need to give the machine a long rest. Right now, I think your best bet for an inexpensive battery bubble machine is one made by Kidoozi, model number GO2389. It's $19.95 at Amazon.

My electric bubble machine is a Chauvet B-250. I bought it on Amazon and I've had it for several years. It runs for hours and hours every week and I've never had a problem with it. So it was definitely worth the money.

Which bubble solution should you buy? Does it make a difference? Yes it does. The bubbles I recommend (and yes, I've tried making my own, without success) are Super Miracle Bubbles--with a second label on the bottle that says, Premium Bubble Formula. You'll find the solution at Target or WalMart. The Miracle Bubble company makes two different bubble solutions, very similar in the name, but the bottles are shaped differently. Don't buy the square-shaped colored bottle. Buy the Super Miracle Bubble solution in the 100 fluid ounce, colored, curve-shaped bottle. That formula makes hundreds of bubbles.

** The 8th Annual Write a Dear Reader Contest! Simply write for fun. Read all about it at: http://www.dearreader.com/contest2012

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 HARBOR by Ernest Poole. Start reading now and enter to win a Penguin totebag.  Go to: http://tinyurl.com/July12Classics

AUTHORBUZZ: THE WOMAN AT THE LIGHT (Fiction) by Joanna Brady

Imagine being pregnant on a deserted lighthouse island with three children. And then your husband vanishes.

That's what happens to Emily Lowry in THE WOMAN AT THE LIGHT, my historical novel set in the Florida Keys. Faced with tending the light, a desperate and exhausted Emily welcomes a handsome runaway slave to help her. A hurricane interrupts their idyllic existence, causing havoc in their lives.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on THE WOMAN AT THE LIGHT to read more and to email author Joanna Brady, you'll get a reply.

Dear Reader Column 07-12-12

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,

Do you need some new socks? Yes, strange, but fun, today's the day for one of my crazy giveaways. Pink, blue, black, or white cuffed socks. What's your favorite colored socks? Knee-high or ankle? Soft and fuzzy, or thin and sleek? And what size do you wear? Give me the specifics and I'll be your personal (sock) shopper.

It's easy to enter. Simply send an email, including your name and mailing address, then describe the socks of your dreams, and if you're one of the four winners, I'll personally shop for your socks! One more thing, if you're a winner, you must promise (Scout's honor) to send me photo of yourself, or your feet, wearing your new socks.

Type "Sock Entry" on the subject line of your email and send it to: [email protected]

If you've never entered one of my giveaways, today's the day to enter. I'm ready to shop for your socks!

And if you haven't entered my 8th Annual Write a Dear Reader Contest, it's time to start writing. To find out about the cash prizes, rules, past winning samples and deadline, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/contest2012/

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

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

*Fun, free books and meet authors. Ask questions, they'll reply and read samples from their books. Visit AuthorBuzz at: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

(Fiction) RARE EARTH by Davis Bunn

(Thriller) NIGHT WATCH by Linda Fairstein

(Mystery) SOME LIKE IT HAWK by Donna Andrews

(Fiction) THE SHOP OF SHADES AND SECRETS by Colleen Gleason

(Fiction) THE WOMAN AT THE LIGHT by Joanna Brady

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

* * *

* This month's Penguin Classics book is THE HARBOR by Ernest Poole. Start reading now and enter to win a Penguin totebag. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/July12Classics

Dear Reader Column 07-11-12

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,

I was put here on earth to do the little things. Turning on my electric bubble machine every Saturday and Sunday (all day long), certainly doesn't sound like anything very important, especially when you consider all of the problems in the world. Yet week after week I get confirmation, that for some reason, part of my assignment here on earth is to blow bubbles. But sometimes even I have trouble believing.

After all, 'If I can do it, then it must not be a big deal, right?' It's amazing how I can mess with my mind. When I'm given the time to relax and blow bubbles or plant flowers, I'm feeling guilty that I should be doing something grander with my time. When I'm doing something I consider to be one of those "grander" tasks in life, I'm wishing I could relax and blow bubbles--what a mess. Thank heavens there seem to be people whose "job" is to rescue me. Like the woman who pulled into my driveway yesterday, when I was planting flowers in my garden.

She leaned out her car window, "I'm so glad you're out here, because if you weren't, I was going to knock on your door. I just had to let you know how much I love your bubble machine. You were late last Sunday. On my way to church there weren't any bubbles when I drove by your house. I was so disappointed, but then when I was driving back home, there-were-the-bubbles!"

The woman said she'd talked about my bubble machine so much that her husband surprised her with a bubble machine of her own. So I schooled her on where to buy the best bubbles, and I even gave her a bottle to take along with her.

"Got to run," she said. "I'm on my way to a tap dancing lesson at the Friendship Center. I'll wave Sunday, when I go by."

We all have our "jobs" to do here on earth, and my new friend reminded me that life can be as easy as tap dancing or blowing bubbles.

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

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

P. S. So what is your assignment here on earth? It could be the topic of your entry for this year's Write a Dear Reader Contest. Go to: http://www.dearreader.com/contest2012/

* This month's Penguin Classics book is The Harbor by Ernest Poole. Start reading now and enter to win a Penguin totebag. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/July12Classics

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

SOME LIKE IT HAWK (Mystery) by Donna Andrews

SOME LIKE IT HAWK is the latest book in my Meg Langslow series. When eccentric hermit Phineas Throckmorton is accused of murder, everyone in the town of Caerphilly knows someone's framing him. But it's up to Meg prove his innocence--and save the town from financial ruin.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on SOME LIKE IT HAWK to read more and to email author Donna Andrews, you'll get a reply.

Dear Reader Column 07-10-12

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,

Annie is working on an entry for the 8th Annual Write a Dear Reader Contest and she's wondering...

"How can I get rid of writer's block? I freeze when I face the blank page or computer screen."

(Suzanne's reply:) It's the writing question most frequently asked by book club readers. Some folks put a different spin on the question, but in my way of looking at it, it all boils down to "How can I get out of the way and let myself write?"

Everyone has to discover their own path. Mine is music, and I realized the other day that I'd been missing the music. How could I forget the most important tool that inspires and allows me to stop feeling self-conscious about every word I write and just let go? So I cranked up my current favorite tune, "Home" by Phillip Phillips, listened to it three times while dancing around the living room and finally--I felt ready to write. I don't know if it's the music, or that I'm just so exhausted from dancing, but finally I let go and freely write. So don't be shy, grab your notebook, put on your dancing shoes, turn up the music, and I bet, soon you'll be writing.

You'll find all of the information: cash prizes, rules, samples from past winners, and the deadline for this year's writing contest at:
http://www.dearreader.com/contest2012/

Today's special treat is the Penguin Classics. To sample this month's book, The Harbor by Ernest Poole, go to: http://tinyurl.com/July12Classics

(If you were a June Chocolate Chip Cookie winner, get ready to dunk and munch, your cookies are on the way.)

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

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

AUTHORBUZZ: NIGHT WATCH (Thriller) by Linda Fairstein

I'm delighted to tell you that Alex Cooper and Mike Chapman are back together again in NIGHT WATCH, the 14th in this NEW YORK TIMES bestselling series of crime novels.

Coop is vacationing in the South of France when she stumbles on a pile of human bones, and finds herself in the middle of a dangerous ride (quite literally) on the supposedly romantic Cote d'Azur.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on NIGHT WATCH to find out more about the book and the author, Linda Fairstein. Send her an email, she'd love to hear from you.

    

Dear Reader Column 07-09-12

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,

I invite you to enter my 8th Annual Write a Dear Reader Contest! It was a lot of fun designing the web site for this year's contest, so even if you decide not to enter, you must go take a peek--I'm so delighted with the finished pages.

The contest is an even bigger event this year. Six hundred dollars in cash prizes, signed copies of my book Muffins and Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life, and the winning entries will be published in my column and at BookTrib.com.

What can you write about this year? Anything you want. Truth or make-believe, just simply write for fun. Grab a notebook, carry it with you and when an idea pops into your head, start writing.

Read all about it at: http://www.dearreader.com/contest2012/

And please tell your friends. Post the link on Facebook or tweet an invitation. If you'd like a widget to add to your own personal blog or Facebook page, let me know and I'll email one to you.

I can't wait to read your entry, so start writing, and who knows, I may be calling to tell you--you're a winner!

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

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

AUTHORBUZZ: RARE EARTH (Fiction) by Davis Bunn

For eight months after returning from Iraq, State Department intelligence agent, Marc Royce, has lived in limbo. But everything changes when he's sent to East Africa to investigate possible corruption and bribery within the United Nations. Thrust into the chaos of Kenyan refugee camps, Royce seizes on a risky venture for restoring justice to this troubled land.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on RARE EARTH to read more and to email author Davis Bunn, you'll get a reply.

    

Dear Reader Column 07-06-12

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,

"How can we top an 11-layer rainbow cake?" Every year when Seth and Bailey, my two teenage grandchildren come to visit we bake something unique. Looking for new ideas, I asked book club readers for suggestions. Hannah Beck and Michel Gallegos certainly sent me unique ideas. Hannah suggested baking a Cherpumple, and Michel guaranteed that making an elephant would be a memorable family experience.

The Cherpumple was inspired by the Turducken: a chicken stuffed inside a duck which is then stuffed inside a turkey. What's a Cherpumple? A pumpkin, apple and cherry pie, baked inside a yellow, white, and spice cake, then everything is iced with frosting to make yet another final cake.

How do you make an elephant? Michel Gallegos, wrote: "Suzanne, one of the projects my daughters and I did was with Rice Crispy treats. We made up a big batch of the treats and formed them into animals. But our biggest [creation] was a fourth grade homework project. Our entire family pitched in and we made an elephant (1 foot tall and 2 feet long) out of the Rice Crispy treats. I wish I still had the picture because it was quite a project!"

A big thank you to everyone who sent in baking ideas. I'll let you know what the kids decide, and we'll take pictures, too.

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
www.muffinsandmayhem.com

AUTHORBUZZ: COLOSSUS (Fiction) by David Blixt

This was supposed to be a huge epic with vast cast, spanning decades. But my lead wasn't having it. He demanded a simpler story. Because for Judah it is simple: He wants to protect his land from the Romans. He wants to marry the girl he's always loved. He wants his brother to live. That's it. So while this is the beginning of a very long journey, it starts simply. And horribly, as Judah is forced to choose. His brother, his love, or his country. What does he love most?

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on COLOSSUS to read more and to email author David Blixt, you'll get a reply.

    

Dear Reader Column 07-05-12

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 few book club reminders today:

1. If you get busy and get behind in reading your book club selections, or the book for the week isn't a good match for you--hit the delete key--guilt free. Keep the book clubs fun!

2. Do you have a question about writing? I answer readers' questions in my column. You can reach me at: [email protected] To see previous writing questions and answers, go to: http://tinyurl.com/WritingQ-A

3. It's fun, don't miss the opportunity to enter this year's Write a Dear Reader Contest, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/contest2012/ Please share the contest information with your Facebook friends.

4. Find my favorite recipes and recipes other readers have submitted, go to: http://tinyurl.com/SuzanneRecipes

5. Have fun today, read a good book, blow some bubbles or drop me a line. I love to hear from readers and I answer all my mail. You can reach me at: [email protected]

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
www.muffinsandmayhem.com

AUTHORBUZZ: NIGHT WATCH (Thriller) by Linda Fairstein

I'm delighted to tell you that Alex Cooper and Mike Chapman are back together again in NIGHT WATCH, the 14th in this NEW YORK TIMES bestselling series of crime novels.

Coop is vacationing in the South of France when she stumbles on a pile of human bones, and finds herself in the middle of a dangerous ride (quite literally) on the supposedly romantic Cote d'Azur.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on NIGHT WATCH to find out more about the book and the author, Linda Fairstein. Send her an email, she'd love to hear from you.

*Fun, free books and meet authors. Ask questions, they'll reply and read samples from their books. Visit AuthorBuzz at: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

(Fiction)
THE RELUCTANT MATCHMAKER by Shobhan Bantwal

(Fiction)
ALMOST AMISH by Kathryn Cushman

(Fiction)
THE WOMAN AT THE LIGHT by Joanna Brady

(Thriller)
NIGHT WATCH by Linda Fairstein

(Fiction)
COLOSSUS by David Blixt

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

    
 

Dear Reader Column 07-04-12

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,

I invite you to enter my 8th Annual Write a Dear Reader Contest! It was a lot of fun designing the web site for this year's contest, so even if you decide not to enter, you must go take a peek--I'm so delighted with the finished pages.

The contest is an even bigger event this year. Six hundred dollars in cash prizes, signed copies of my book Muffins and Mayhem: Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life, and the winning entries will be published in my column and at BookTrib.com.

What can you write about this year? Anything you want. Truth or make-believe, just simply write for fun. Grab a notebook, carry it with you and when an idea pops into your head, start writing.

Read all about it at: http://www.dearreader.com/contest2012/

And please tell your friends. Post the link on Facebook or tweet an invitation. If you'd like a widget to add to your own personal blog or Facebook page, let me know and I'll email one to you.

I can't wait to read your entry, so start writing, and who knows, I may be calling to tell you--you're a winner!

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

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

AUTHORBUZZ: THE WOMAN AT THE LIGHT (Fiction) by Joanna Brady

Imagine being pregnant on a deserted lighthouse island with three children. And then your husband vanishes.

That's what happens to Emily Lowry in THE WOMAN AT THE LIGHT, my historical novel set in the Florida Keys. Faced with tending the light, a desperate and exhausted Emily welcomes a handsome runaway slave to help her. A hurricane interrupts their idyllic existence, causing havoc in their lives.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on THE WOMAN AT THE LIGHT to read more and to email author Joanna Brady, you'll get a reply.