Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column 4-16-14

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

Dear Reader,

Long time book club reader Yvette Fontenot, nominated her local library to be recognized during National Library Week. I think Yvette could be the public relations director for the library. She certainly sold me in her delightful nomination.

"The staff at the Causeway Branch of the St. Tammany Parish Library in Mandeville, Louisiana, is absolutely wonderful! They are always helpful when we are looking for something in particular. They are always ready with 'if you liked that, you will love this' suggestions. They have great programs for adults and children alike. And best of all: they always have a smile and a 'Hi, Ms. Fontenot' for me when I arrive.

Our parish (county) library system is amazing. Eleven outstanding libraries, including a beautiful new one in Madisonville that has a view that is just...ahhh. The Causeway Branch has been my home branch for years, ever since I first joined a book group and made some great friends. I have done and seen so much at my library: learned to quilt and knit, sampled yummy food and got new recipes at cooking demonstrations, played Scrabble, attended the Summer Reading Program with my daughter every year since she was born (and that's a whole other list of things we've done at the library), seen Jazz music being played by high school kids, and once, a man in a tuxedo played a twelve-string guitar for us, that had me looking around for the other instruments it sounded like he was playing. See what I mean? Amazing!

Please consider this my nomination for favorite librarian. I couldn't choose just one, so I am nominating them all. Good luck Causeway Branch librarians! Thank you for all that you do for the community. We really appreciate your hard work and friendly smiles."

A long-time fan, Yvette Fontenot

Congratulations to the staff at the Causeway Branch of the St. Tammany Parish Library in Mandeville, Louisiana. You'll be receiving a delectable gift courtesy of Dear Reader and all of us at the book club. Send us a photo, we'd love to share in the celebration.

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@EmailBookClub.com

Dear Reader Column 4-15-14

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

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

Dear Reader,

What a pleasure to introduce today's guest author, Lori Benton. Raised east of the Appalachian Mountains, Lori was surrounded by early American and family history going back three hundred years. Her novels transport readers to the eighteenth century, where she brings to life Colonial and early Federal periods of American history. When Lori isn't writing, she enjoys exploring beautiful Oregon with her husband of twenty-six years.

Lori is the author of Burning Sky and today she is giving three signed copies of her other book, The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn to lucky book club readers. Email Lori: lori_benton26@hotmail.com

Be sure to read about this week's National Library Week winner after today's guest column. Welcome to the book club, Lori Benton...


As of this month I've had two historical novels published, yet I've written novels for over twenty years, long enough to notice how certain themes keep rising to the surface of my storytelling--whether I intend them to or not. It's like they have a mind of their own. One of those themes is that of the Middle Ground.

Historically, the Middle Ground has been defined as the area represented by the states of Tennessee and Kentucky; the Ohio River area; the Lower Mississippi; the Great Lakes region. That's the shifting physical landscape of the Middle Ground during the decades of 18th century North American history, the setting of my recent novels. But I like to think of the Middle Ground in a broader sense--that redefining space wherever two cultures meet, whether it's a location on a map, the encounter of contrasting life-ways, or the meeting of two human hearts. When this Middle Ground experience is reflected in the inner landscape of a fictional character who chooses to cross that cultural line or is forced across it by circumstance, as a reader--or writer--I get the thrill of living that experience through the sensibilities of a person born to that time and place, while finding in them a common humanity, a place of connection from which to taste a slice of history. Our own Middle Ground, mine and the character's.

Which might beg the question: Why am I so passionate about the Middle Ground? I'm not sure I have an answer for that. There's nothing I can point to in my family history or upbringing to say, "This is what birthed it." I think sometimes our passions and interests choose us. Some themes choose the writer, not the other way around. Why this particular theme chose me I may never know, but it's one that has enriched my writing and reading life, and my perception of those who are "other" to me.

I'm willing to bet as a reader there are themes that resonate more strongly with you than others, too. Whether or not you know what birthed that interest, isn't it a thrill to find an author who speaks to that theme that tugs at your heartstrings? It's a connection that knows no barriers of age, race, distance, or time.

--Lori Benton


In celebration of National Library Week, one library associate nominates someone who inspires her...

"I'd like to nominate Julie Rekow. She is a part time library associate at the Beaches Branch of the Jacksonville Public Library.

She was instrumental in our branch having it's very first Comic Con last year. It was such a success, we are preparing for our second one for May 3, 2014. It promises to be bigger and better. She started The Flamingo Book Club, which has been very successful and fun. She has inspired me to "take chances" and as a result, I am spearheading an Open House at our branch (our very first)! Julie is an inspiration!"

--Terry Welch/Beaches Branch Library/Neptune Beach, FL

Julie, your celebration gift is on the way.

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@EmailBookClub.com

Dear Reader Column 4-14-14

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

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

Dear Reader,

Drum roll please...this is National Library Week and I'd personally like to thank all of the folks who work so hard to make libraries everywhere resourceful, relaxing and remarkable places to visit. Over the past week I asked readers to send me an email nominating their favorite librarian, or any staff person who works at their library, and if I used their email in my column, I would send the nominee a gift in honor of National Library Week. I'm pleased to say that my mailbox was overflowing with beautiful stories and nominations for not only public librarians, but also school, and even Bookmobile librarians.

Librarians love to be of service to help us find a book that's going to grab us from the first page, and they dig-in and roll up their sleeves when we need to find information in a hurry. And from reading the emails I've received this past week, no doubt about it, librarians have big hearts, are good neighbors, and caring friends to the people they serve in their communities.

This week I'll feature one of the nominations I received, and the librarian who was nominated will receive a tasty treat from me as a thank you from all of us at the book club. Today's nomination was submitted by Marilyn Fetter.

"I want to nominate Robin, the head librarian at the Main St. Branch in Huntington Beach, California. Robin is knowledgeable and engaging, offering up recommendations and book advice. But she is so much more! She is caring and will always go the extra mile to help everyone. For just one example, after finding a visitor's purse and cell phone, she tracked them down in Los Angeles and waited until the woman and her family drove back and got them. The woman and family were on their way home to Michigan with plane tickets in purse [she had left behind]. What a relief for her!

Robin is definitely an asset to our small local area and exemplifies high values, integrity, as well as encouragement for a literate community. She deserves recognition!"--Marilyn Fetter

Congratulations to Robin at the Main St. Branch Library in Huntington Beach, California. Robin, your gift is on the way. Please do send us a photo. We'd love to share in your celebration.

* If you would like to thank someone at your library, write a note and drop it off at your library, or send your note in an email to me, and I'll see that it's forwarded to your library.

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@EmailBookClub.com

Dear Reader Column 4-11-14

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

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

Dear Reader,

I can't afford to buy anything anymore. Not because of the price tag, but because I don't have time to deal with things that don't work, or stuff that's already broken when I take it out of the package...or the dried out, stringy oranges I bought the other day at the market. (What are the odds? Twelve out of twelve, not a good one in the bunch.) I try to do my share to boost the economy, but it's become disappointing and irritating, how many times I buy something and there's an issue with it. The problem has gotten so bad that now I have three to-do lists: one for work, one for chores around the house, and one for returns to the store.

My morning newspaper has been at the top of my return/complaint list for three weeks straight. When it rains and when I irrigate my lawn and flower gardens twice a week (I live in Florida), my morning paper is soaked when I take it out of the plastic bag. Now I'm a troubleshooter at heart, so I don't immediately get bent out of shape when a problem shows up. It's a challenge to figure out why things went wrong, and it's fun to analyze why things go so smoothly sometimes, too. So after carefully separating the pages of this morning's soggy newspaper and hanging them up to dry on the kitchen counter, the copy machine, over the bathtub, and on top of the dryer, I decided to investigate why the plastic bag isn't doing its job.

Conducting my own scientific experiment, I filled the plastic bag, the carrier puts my newspaper in with water and held it up--thankfully over the sink. Because the bag leaked, there were 20 miniature waterfalls surrounding the bag and I videotaped it, so I would have evidence to prove my case to the customer service department when I called the paper.

Calling a company to try to solve a problem is my last resort these days, because I have to wait on hold for so long to tell them about my problem, by the time someone answers the phone I have two problems: a soggy newspaper and my 15 minute wait on hold. Ah, it's the little things that drive a person crazy.

I had bought a $3.99 thingamajig at the hardware store to fix my "new" coffee machine (it was missing a thingamajig when I took it out of the box). But when I opened the thingamajig it was missing a piece. So I taped the package back together, found the receipt and drove 35 minutes back to the hardware store to do a return. Stood in line five minutes, then another six minutes for the cashier to call a manager to handle the return. Only to discover that since my husband made the purchase on his credit card, a credit can only be issued back to his card--which I didn't have with me.

Yes, it's true, sometimes I can't afford to buy anything any more, and sometimes I can't even afford to return anything either. So I handed the thingamajig back to the cashier and politely announced, "You can keep it, I can't afford to get a credit. It's my gift to your store."

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@EmailBookClub.com

Dear Reader Column 4-10-14

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

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

Dear Reader,

The best part of my day is reading emails from book club readers. I think the best part of the day for the staff, at your local library, just might be the same thing.

Nominate "your favorite" librarian or staff assistant to receive a special gift celebrating National Library Week (April 13-19).

Your email makes a difference in a librarian's day.

"Suzanne, how sweet [to remember National Library Week]. As someone who has worked in a library for twenty years it is always nice to hear kind words. You make us feel appreciated!"

Karen Kiley, Library Assistant/Cary Community Library

Email your nominations to me: Suzanne@EmailBookclub.com And be sure to send a copy to your local library, too, so they know how special you think they are. If I use your email during National Library Week, "your favorite" will receive a special gift from me.

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@EmailBookClub.com

AUTHORBUZZ: With so many new books out every week, we promise these titles deserve your attention:

(Fiction)
WHAT FOLLOWS AFTER by Dan Walsh

(Fiction)
FOR SUCH A TIME by Kate Breslin

(Fiction)
PERSECUTED by Robin Parrish

(Thriller)
COLLECTOR OF DYING BREATHS by MJ Rose

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

Dear Reader Column 04-09-14

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


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

Dear Reader,

Today's guest novelist and actress, Shari Shattuck, has published six novels and appeared in over 200 stage, film and TV productions. Scream at the Devil, her forthcoming film, is in post production and is due shortly for release.

Discover Shari's dream as a child and enter her book giveaway at the end of today's guest column.

Welcome to the book club, Shari Shattuck...

My daughters were going through an old scrapbook and they found a 1st grade crayon illustration I'd drawn of a princess wearing a crown and the words, "When I grow up, I'm going to be a princess. I'll come out on the stage and everyone will clap." As a projected occupation, princess is iffy, but at the same age, I began writing stories.

Sadly, I did not become royalty, but I did become an actress and a writer. I've had my share of disappointments and successes, but along the way, I learned that connecting with others brings me the greatest joy.

Now, at 53, I was asked to appear as the Disney Queen in a book video. I had only one question, "Is she evil?" The answer was yes, so I jumped at it. (I've always had a thing for the evil queens, I think it's the capes.)

We shot at a studio in Venice beach, right on the boardwalk. When I was in full costume and makeup, replete with crown, gown and jewels, we walked out to the ocean to take a few still photos in front of a glorious sunset. In the crowd of people biking and skating past, I saw a little girl on a scooter alive with delight. I love to watch happy children, and as I was smiling at her, she spotted me. She stopped in mid-glide, and stared at this apparition wearing a shimmering dress, a diamond tiara, with a pink and gold sunset wrapped around her shoulders. There was a joyful expression on her face as if thinking, 'It's all true!' I waved my wand, winked at her, and went back to work.

And it hit me--for that one precious, magic moment, to that one little girl--I finally got to be a princess. And as I thought about it, I realized that when I perform on stage people do clap. I have a book coming out that I loved writing. My life isn't all roses, but, with lots of work and many missteps, so many of my wishes have come true. The glimpse of that little girl's face was an exclamation mark.

My wish for today is to connect with you. My delightful publisher Putnam Books is giving away five copies of Invisible Ellen. Winners will be chosen randomly from those who email me at sharishattuckauthor@gmail.com Please share with me what you dreamed about as a child. I hope you win a copy of my book, but mostly, I'd love to hear from you, and if we share a smile, I'll believe, like the little girl I once was, that the magic is real.--Shari Shattuck

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: PERSECUTED (Fiction) by Robin Parrish

When a group of corrupt politicians targets him for opposing reforms in freedom of speech, evangelist John Luther vows to expose the truth--or die trying. A novelization of the Daniel Lusko film opening nationwide on May 9, 2014.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on PERSECUTED to read more and to email author Robin Parrish, you'll get a reply.

Dear Reader Column 04-08-14

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


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

Dear Reader,

The Popsicle box of 24 gives it top billing, first in the line up of flavors..."Orange, Cherry, Grape," but that's not the order at my house. Who eats orange Popsicles? I sure don't!

I couldn't even persuade my grandson, at the tender young age of 2-1/2, to eat the orange dregs piled up in my freezer. Even he knows what tastes good, so why doesn't the Popsicle company? Buying the 24 economy size box of Popsicles may be the best bargain (actually it's the only size the grocery stores around me sell), but it's a financial disaster for me, because six are cherry, six are grape--and 12 are orange!

I got hooked on Popsicles a few years ago during a six-week recovery from surgery; two Popsicles in the morning and two in the afternoon, a total of four every day--and not one of them orange. Forty-two days of eating Popsicles and since there were only 12 edible ones in a box; six cherry and six grape, eventually there were 168 orange Popsicles stacked up in my freezer. I considered recycling and passing them on to an orange loving friend. But after a quick phone survey, not one of my friends liked orange Popsicles either. (Actually most of my friends hadn't eaten a Popsicle since they were ten--but everyone immediately responded, "Yuck!" when I mentioned orange.)

I'm usually the odd person out when it comes to being in the "popular consumer group." The nail polish I like gets canceled, the television shows I find entertaining get cut after the pilot, so until I checked on the Internet to see what other folks had to say about orange Popsicles, I figured I was odd girl out on my Popsicle tastes, too. But I'm not alone, "Just Say NO to orange Popsicles" seems to be the consensus.

"Satisfaction Guaranteed!" is what the message on the Popsicle box says: "If you're not satisfied with the quality of this product or have any questions or comments...send the reason for your dissatisfaction along with the entire side panel of the box and a prompt adjustment of equal value will be made." So, I'm taking Popsicle at their word. I've packaged up the entire side panel from my box along with my "dissatisfaction"--168 orange Popsicles (in plastic zip bags) and I'm requesting we do an exchange: "Please send 84 cherry and 84 grape, thank you very kindly."

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: FOR SUCH A TIME (Fiction) by Kate Breslin

I'm passionate about history and creating edgy, complex heroes. Meet Aric von Schmidt, SS-Nazi colonel in charge of a WWII camp filled with Jews bound for Auschwitz. A career soldier, will he risk all for love or choose duty? And what sacrifice is my Jewish heroine, Hadassah, willing to make to save her people?

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on FOR SUCH A TIME to find out more about the book and the author, Kate Breslin. Send her an email, she'd love to hear from you.

Dear Reader Column 04-07-14

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


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

Dear Reader,

Everybody has a nasty habit. What's yours?

Think about it right now--before I tell you about mine--and then you might refrain from saying, "Oh gross...how can she do that?" Maybe you'll go a littler easier on me.

I occasionally do something that I told my kids for years not to do. I drink out of the milk jug. Can't hide it because I've been caught. A couple of times my lipstick left a ring around the milk spout--"Middle of the Road Pink" to be precise--that's my shade.

Kids never really grow up. Whenever my youngest son (he's 35) comes over and is planning on raiding my refrigerator he always checks, "Mom, you're not still drinking out of the milk jug are you?" I assure him I gave up that disgusting habit long ago. Of course, I'm lying. I figure it's all in the family so no harm done.

I do have limits though; I control my habit sometimes. For example, when company's coming and I'm changing the sheets--I change the milk jug, too.

* Tell me about your favorite librarian or library staff member. Nominate "your favorite" or if everybody at your library is just so darn nice--nominate everybody--the entire library, to receive a special gift celebrating National Library Week (April 13-19). Email me: Suzanne@Emailbookclub.com

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: WHAT FOLLOWS AFTER (Fiction) by Dan Walsh

From the outside Kevin Harrison's life looks perfect, but it's falling apart. Just as he thinks he's lost everything, a crisis forces him to confront what matters most. In this emotional story, readers go on a journey to rediscover the things that really matter in life--love, truth, and family.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on WHAT FOLLOWS AFTER to read more and to email author Dan Walsh, you'll get a reply.

Dear Reader Column 04-04-14

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


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

Dear Reader,

The neighbors left him behind eight years ago when they moved, which wasn't a good thing, but when he started coming to our doorstep, my husband and I fell in love with him--and a sweet, noble, gray, long-haired Papa became our cat--and that was a beautiful thing.

Papa was used to living outdoors, not surprising, we live in warm and sunny Florida. Sometimes when my husband and I would walk around the block in our neighborhood, Papa would see us and run alongside us in the grass. Papa wanted to live outside, but when the sun went down, every night I'd start looking through the long window in our side porch door, and soon I'd see Papa's face through the glass, and hear his sweet little whimper, "I'm here, open the door."

Papa would race into the house and head straight for the kitchen. A bowl of dry food was on the floor, but Papa would sit tall and give me the, "Where's the canned turkey and gravy?" look. He'd eat a little turkey and gravy and then he wanted me to pick him up, give him a good rub, and "Burp!" Every time, without fail, Papa would let out a huge burp--and then it was time to eat some more. He'd hang around for some brushing, more rubbing, a feisty roll in a little cat nip, and a couple of hours later he was ready to head back outdoors. "Come back tomorrow Papa." It was our routine until yesterday.

It was such a shock when I walked outside to pick up our morning paper. I saw a cat on the other side of the street laying still on the side of the road, and instantly I knew it was Papa. I called out for my husband and he ran to Papa's side. The accident must have just happened. His body and fur still felt like Papa. Thankfully, he died instantly. My husband was crying as he carried Papa back to our house. I've never seen my husband cry for so long. He just kept repeating, "Papa, Papa," while he dug a grave in our back yard. I wrapped Papa in one of my favorite aprons, and when my husband was digging the grave he found one of our grandkids' super hero figures in the dirt, and right away my husband said he was going to bury the super hero with Papa to keep him safe. I know it sounds crazy, but it was a comforting thought, and we did.

I felt a little calmer mid-day, but then when the sun went down I started checking the door just like I always do. I know Papa was "just a cat" (as a lot of people think), but my husband and I are so sad to have lost such a good friend. I've decided to just let myself cry, settle in and cry some more. I think I was in shock seeing Papa in the road, and unfortunately I keep replaying the scene over and over again in my mind. But I'm working hard to replace that thought with the loving times my husband and I spent...with our dear Papa.

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: THE IDEA OF HIM (Fiction) by Holly Peterson

A romance and social satire rolled into one, about falling in love with the idea of someone rather than the person themselves. Once we are in the relationship and suddenly wake up to the reality across the table--what do we do next? What about being alone is so terrifying to both men and women alike that they'd rather stay with the wrong person? Jam-packed with cliff-hangers and will keep you guessing until the final page.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on THE IDEA OF HIM to read more and to email author Holly Peterson, you'll get a reply.

Dear Reader Column 04-03-14

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


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

Dear Reader,

Do you have a favorite?

Do they always seem to know just what you want?

Do they wave and say hello when you walk in the door?

Tell me about your favorite librarian. Nominate "your favorite" to receive a special gift, or if everybody at your library is just so darn nice--nominate everybody--the entire library, to receive a special gift celebrating National Library Week (April 13-19).

Email your nominations to me: Suzanne@EmailBookclub.com And be sure to send a copy to your local library, too, so they know how special you think they are. If I use your email during National Library Week, your favorite librarian will receive a special gift from me. I'm looking forward to reading about your "favorite."

* It's so much fun to give away things, congratulations to the winners of A Teaspoon of Earth and Sea by Guest Columnist Dina Nayeri: Marjorie G., Judy K., Pat H., Josephine K. and Sandy H.

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: With so many new books out every week, we promise these titles deserve your attention:

(Fiction)
CONFESSIONS OF A ROYAL BRIDEGROOM by Vanessa Kelly

(Fiction)
WAKING THE DEAD by Heather Graham

(NonFiction)
GETTING WAISTED by Monica Parker

(Fiction)
THE IDEA OF HIM by Holly Peterson

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