Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column 06-16-15

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,

Grease, gravy, a pink butter cream frosting stain, these are all signals of a great cookbook. A dirty cookbook, one of my favorites is spiral bound, The Loring Family Cookbook. It's 30 years old, and it's one of the dirtiest books I own. A blue paper cover (now taped together), the first page of the book inside is blank, except for my handwritten table of contents directing me to the pages of my favorites in the cookbook. Turn to the next page and you can read "A Bit of Family Loring History 1917-1980."

"Miss Josephine M. Siepker and Matthew Loring were united in marriage June 19, 1917, at St. Andrew's Catholic Church, Tennyson, Wisconsin by Fr. Pape. Ten children came to bless this marriage. Seven girls and three boys." And the family history continues, ending in 1980 when the cookbook was assembled. "As of this writing, Mother and Dad Loring could have boasted of 45 grandchildren, 44 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great-grandchildren."

That's a huge family, which could explain why some of this family's favorite recipes include a few shortcuts, but they aren't short of flavor. In fact one of my favorites from the cookbook, on page 82, is an Orange Poppy Seed Cake. I've written a note at the top of the page, "Very Good" and for sure this page is one of the dirtiest in the book.

Give the recipe a try, and while the cake is baking, won't you look through your cookbooks and share some of your dirty little "secrets" with me? Are your favorite recipe pages as stained as mine?

When you email me one of your favorite "dirty" recipes, your name will automatically be entered in a drawing for a set of 4 cutting mats, like the ones I use in my kitchen. To enter, go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/giveaway.html

Orange Poppy Seed Cake (from The Loring Family Cookbook)

1 pkg. white cake mix
1 lg. pkg instant vanilla pudding
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup cooking oil
5 eggs
2 tablespoons poppy seeds
1 tablespoon almond extract

Mix all ingredients on low speed until blended, then on high speed for 5 minutes. Pour batter into greased Bundt pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Cool slightly before removing from pan.

Dust with powdered sugar or top with a glaze made with powdered sugar and orange juice. (Just mix some powdered sugar with orange juice until it's of a pourable, glaze consistency.)

To send your recipe and enter the drawing, go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/giveaway.html

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: THE LOVERS' TANGO (Fiction) by Mark Rubinstein

Bill Shaw, a crime novelist, was devoted to his wife, the beautiful actress Nora Reyes. So the revelation that his research for a novel has eerie parallels to the circumstances surrounding Nora's death is shocking. In the ensuing murder trial, fiction and fact coalesce, as the lines between fantasy and reality, guilt and innocence blur. A blend of suspense, tragedy, and romance that culminates in a poignant conclusion addressing devotion, commitment, and the question of what constitutes justice.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on THE LOVERS' TANGO to find out more about the book and the author, Mark Rubinstein. Send him an email, he'd love to hear from you.

Dear Reader Column 06-15-15

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 is the last day to enter this month's Chocolate Chip Cookie Giveaway. I'm ready to bake, so be sure to enter. Go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/Cookie-06-09-15.html

I truly think it's every man's dream to own a boat. It's the grown-up boy's version of a tree house, only it's on the water. He can fix it up, tinker with it, invite his friends over to hang out and as "real" boaters know...you can accomplish all this without ever leaving the dock.

Nineteen years ago when my husband and I were living in Wisconsin we decided to move to Florida and that's when he popped the question: "Honey, how would you like to live on a 62-foot sailboat?"  (Compared to what other options, was my first thought.) "We could rent a slip at the marina. There's a pool, restaurant, showers and even a laundromat. It would be great."

Well, I was speechless. After all, it's not every day that a girl gets an invitation to live on a boat (thank heavens). My husband was so excited about the idea and he had that won't-you-please-pretty-please look in his eyes--I just couldn't say no. So I agreed to live on a sailboat but for only one year. The more we talked about it, I have to admit, the more intrigued I was about the drastic lifestyle change. But I did have a couple of troubling concerns: One, how was I going to fit all of my clothes in those little compartments? Two, where would I put my treadmill?

They were short-lived problems, however, because the boat deal fell through and my husband decided to buy a tugboat instead. We did live on the water for a year, but it was in a cottage and we visited the tug boat frequently at the marina. It was the best possible outcome for me because I didn't have to make good on my promise, but to this day, you'd think that I did because my husband still gives me brownie points for agreeing to do it.

* Congratulations to the winners of my Bonus Book Giveaway. These lucky readers won a copy of A Flying Affair by Carla Stewart: Malee H., Susan R., Donna S., Christa O. and Chrissy F.

And congratulations to the winners of Living Without Worry, by Guest Author Dr. Timothy Lane: Nancy R., Linda J., Patricia C., Julia K. and Eileen H.

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: ONCE UPON A SUMMERTIME (Fiction) by Melody Carlson

As a young woman I traveled around the world--by myself. I suppose that's a big reason I love stories that 'take me away.'

My new novel features a boutique hotel in Soho and a hopeful young woman named Anna. Although life doesn't go quite as planned, Anna experiences a sweet taste of the Big Apple.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on ONCE UPON A SUMMERTIME to read more and to email author Melody Carlson, you'll get a reply.

Dear Reader Column 06-12-15

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 four book club readers have written my column for me. Thank you to Anna O., Suzanne D., Nancy A., and Jerry M. Reading your emails was the best part of my day. Thanks so much for writing.

"Ms. Beecher, you really lifted my spirits last week. It was a week where nothing was going smoothly or as planned. But on Thursday, I opened your e-mail and saw my name on the list of winners. As someone who can count on one hand how many times she has won something, I could not believe it was really me. When the package arrived, I could not keep a grin off my face. So thank-you for giving me a high point for last week, but also for your column in general. I look forward to your 'good morning' note, as I call it, when I open my e-mail. Reading it is a part of my morning ritual. Thank-you.--Anna O.

(Yes indeed, someone always wins. Be sure to enter my book giveaways, and this week's Chocolate Chip Cookie drawing. Go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/Cookie-06-09-15.html)

"I just want to let you know that I love your book club and look forward to it every day; and that is just after a week! Your little stories are wonderful; they make me feel like I'm talking to my mom and sisters. Thanks for making my day."--Suzanne D.

If you missed my column about meeting a skateboarding teen, go to: http://dearreader.typepad.com/dear/2015/06/dear-reader-column-06-08-15.html

"Suzanne, I couldn't help but respond to your column today (about the young man on the skateboard). It was delightful and I'm glad you extended yourself to the young man. What's more, I'm glad he didn't run away, afraid of strangers. I get so upset with the media when it comes to things like this. Yes, kids have to be careful of strangers. But the media has parents so paranoid about who might be lurking around every corner, they are afraid to leave their kids for even one minute outside alone.

When we were kids we used to pack a lunch, get on our bikes and ride for the whole morning. Then we'd find a vacant lot where we could picnic with our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. When we arrived home after our huge adventure, we felt so accomplished. What a shame that kids don't experience those things anymore."--Nancy A.

"Suzanne, your comments about the teenagers sure hit home. We see so much of the negative in young kids on TV and on the internet, that we miss the positive. But I really noticed this past week when I was unloading my car after my monthly grocery shopping. I didn't know what to think, when I saw two young boys walking up to me while I was unloading. Hearing so much negativity, I wondered what kind of mischief they were about to pull. I was totally taken back when the oldest of the two asked me if I needed help. I am a senior and I am not frail, but I am not afraid to accept help. Since I had felt energetic, I told him no thank you, but I was thankful for the offer. I was so grateful that I went up to their mother who was standing nearby. I told her that I wanted to congratulate her for raising such good and courteous boys. I walked away with a good feeling in my heart, and a tearful look on her face."--Jerry M.

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

Have a wonderful weekend,
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
Enter the Chocolate Chip Cookie giveaway:
http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/Cookie-06-09-15.html

AUTHORBUZZ: RAVAGED: An Eternal Guardians Novella (Fantasy) by Elisabeth Naughton

If you're new to my Eternal Guardians series, welcome! Each book in this series can be read as a stand alone story--I want new readers to be able to jump in at any time without being completely confused--but I will admit that every book is enhanced by reading the book that came before it. If you're a fan of steamy romance, soul mates, danger, menacing gods, redemption, sacrifice, and unending love, then this series is for you.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on RAVAGED to read more and to email author Elisabeth Naughton, you'll get a reply.

Dear Reader Column 06-11-15

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,

My apron is tied around my waist and I'm ready to bake some of my homemade chocolate chip cookies for readers. Paul, my 8-year-old grandson is visiting, and he's a baker, too. Been baking with Grandma since he was three, and now he can mix and bake the cookies without my help.

So Paul and I are ready to bake for you, but you have to enter the drawing. If your name is drawn, you'll be dunking and munching chocolate chip cookies in a few days. To see satisfied cookie winners (these pictures are the best ever), go to http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/Cookie-06-09-15.html You can enter the Chocolate Chip Cookie Giveaway, on that page, too.

The oven's preheating, enter right now.

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

Bakers,
Suzanne Beecher and her grandson, Paul
Suzanne@DearReader.com

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

(Fiction)
LOVE'S RESCUE by Christine Johnson

(Fiction)
THE MIDWIFE'S TALE by Delia Parr

(Fiction)
ACCIDENTS OF MARRIAGE by Randy Susan Meyers

(Fantasy)
RAVAGED: An Eternal Guardians Novella by Elisabeth Naughton

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

 

 

 

 

Dear Reader Column 06-10-15

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,

"When life gives you lemons, give them to Suzanne...

...who probably makes better lemonade than anyone in the entire world."

It's a quote from an email a business associate sent to me. My business friend told me I had a gift of looking for the positive in any situation, no matter how bad things appear to be. It's a compliment to be sure, and my friend would smile if he knew the reason for my outlook on life.

My talent of making "lemonade from lemons," comes from a mood disorder. It's been with me all of my life, and I decided years ago since no medicine was going to chase away the dark days, I would find a way to turn them into lemonade. The fear and anxiety that show up out of the blue, in a way they help keep me grounded now, because I'm so familiar with them. In fact, they've forged a part of my personality that I wouldn't want to lose. Working hard at finding my way, makes it easier for me to recognize the struggle in other people, and they see in me an invitation to simply be themselves.

Instead of being at war with the dark days, I've found acceptance, "Here it is again," I say out loud, and together we move on through the day. But I have laid down some ground rules. "You can be a pessimist," I tell this gloomy feeling, "but if you're going to hang around, I expect you to carry your own weight. Instead of bringing misery to every thought I have, you're going to have to add something positive to my life." And so we work together, pushing and pulling, blowing bubbles, baking cookies, and yes, feeling down some days, but in the end we make some mighty good lemonade.

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: ACCIDENTS OF MARRIAGE (Fiction) by Randy Susan Meyers

Maddy's husband is her greatest blessing and biggest curse. Brilliant and charming when he chooses, Ben becomes a raging bull when crossed--and Maddy never knows what will cross him. "Accidents of Marriage" examines the effect of a tragic accident on a family, exploring unintended consequences, traumatic injury and children lost in the shuffle. People Magazine chose this book as a weekly pick, writing that it "both surprises and fascinates."

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on ACCIDENTS OF MARRIAGE to read more and to email author Randy Susan Meyers, you'll get a reply.

Dear Reader Column 06-09-15

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,

Emma Kavanagh, today's guest author, is a former police and military psychologist. She specialized in training police officers and NATO personnel in the psychology of critical incidents, and the impact these incidents would have on their tactical capabilities. Emma is now a full-time author and mother to two young sons. After We Fall (Falling, UK) is her debut novel, and her second novel, Hidden, has just been released in the UK.

She is giving away 3 copies of After We Fall to book club readers. Be sure to enter the drawing. Someone always wins and it might as well be you. (Please include your shipping address in case your name is drawn.) Enter the drawing, welcome Emma to the book club, and oh yeah, be sure to ask her when she's going to get a proper job!

Email: emmakavanaghauthor@gmail.com

Welcome author Emma Kavanagh...

A Proper Job

You know the worst part about being an author? It's not the fact that I spend 98% of my working life alone (I have two small kids--I'm great with quiet time!). It's not the fact that I work really, really hard and rarely truly switch off. It's not the critiques and the pre-publication anxiety.

It's the question.

You know the one?

So, when are you going to get a proper job?

Do you have any idea how often I've been asked this? If I had a pound for every time someone had said this, I'd have...well, a number of pounds.

Being an author is strange in that, for many people, it simply doesn't seem to qualify as a job. I don't know if it's because I work from home or because I can entirely feasibly do my work in my pyjamas. It was worse when I was trying to get published. The general consensus then was that my determination to have this as a job was about as reasonable as me telling the world that I fully intended to be the first woman on Mars. But, once you get published, you would think that question would stop. Wouldn't you?

Sadly no.

Well...I have an answer.

Never.

That's when I'm going to get a proper job.

Because the job I have now means that I get to do what I love every single day. It means that I get to tell stories and not be called a pathological liar. It means that I get to craft words, create my own worlds, that I can day dream and call it work. It means that I get to hold the pages of my words in my hands. That I can walk into a bookstore and see my stories sitting there, beautiful and brave, on the shelf. That I can look at it and honestly say that I am spending every day doing a job that I have longed for since I was five years old.

So when am I going to get a proper job? Never ever ever.

--Emma Kavanagh

Email to enter and say hello: emmakavanaghauthor@gmail.com

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: THE MIDWIFE'S TALE (Fiction) by Delia Parr

I'm thrilled to introduce midwife Martha Cade to you. Through Martha, readers will share both the joys and the challenges of being a midwife in early nineteenth century America, when doctors were virtually supplanting midwives and threatened their very survival. The reappearance of Martha's first love only complicates her life even more. If you like stories that celebrate the sisterhood of women, this could be just the book for you.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on THE MIDWIFE'S TALE to find out more about the book and the author, Delia Parr. Send her an email, she'd love to hear from you.

Dear Reader Column 06-08-15

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,

Two blocks behind my home there's a cul-du-sac with a small plot of grass, restricted parking and a nice seawall. Eventually whenever I'm walking around my neighborhood, I end up sitting on the seawall watching the pelicans, looking for dolphins, and if it's low tide, investigating what's down below.

Yesterday when I was heading towards the seawall, I was thinking, 'Back in the day, when I was a kid, I used to ride my bicycle all over town exploring. Kids don't do that anymore and it's too bad.' And that's when I noticed a young man sitting on the edge of the seawall. I realized he was the boy who'd whizzed by me on a skateboard, two blocks back. His legs dangling down over the side of the seawall, he was looking out over the water.

'He's in my spot,' I thought. 'Should I stop, say hello, and do my usual look-see?'

I admit to mixed emotions when I think about saying hello and starting a casual conversation with a teenager, especially a boy.
What do I say?

"Too bad it's not low tide," I told him. "Yesterday when I was here, I saw a huge conch shell with something living inside of it." I pointed down into the water right below his feet. "I don't know what was in it, but it was a flat slimy-looking, dark brown animal--so big that its tail was peeking out of the end of the huge shell. I know it sounds strange, but when I was sitting there, like you are now, the 'thing' started slowly moving over towards me. It was fascinating. But no low tide today, so I can't see it, or maybe the animal moved on?"

The boy stood up, leaned over and looked down into the water. "Where was it?" he asked.

"Right there," I pointed, but neither of us could find it.

"But look, there's a crab carrying a shell on it's back," the boy said. I bent down to get a better look. "You've got good eyes," I told him.

"It must be my glasses," he said.

"I'm sure that helps," I agreed, "but I'm wearing glasses, too. I think it's your eyes, I'm a lot older than you are."

Friendly boy, coast is clear to strike up a conversation, I extended my hand, "Hi, I'm Suzanne, and I live just down the street on South Orange."

"Do you know where Yoders is?" he asked. "I live around there. It's about 20 or 30 minutes away--by skateboard. I just discovered this place a couple of days ago."

"Well, you've found a great spot. Do you like to fish?"

He loved to fish, adding he could carry a fishing pole while riding on his skateboard. So like any respectable fisherperson, I told him my fishing on the seawall stories--minus the ones that got away. I told him how my husband brings our grandsons down to fish, and when they're bitin' they reel-in catch after catch. "The fish seem to go for the shrimp the bait store sells." And I told him about the Thanksgiving when we had a family reunion at my home, how all fourteen of us came down to do some fishing.

Back and forth, we talked like two neighborhood friends. Hoping we'd see some pelicans diving for dinner, we looked out over the water, and waited. But we were either too early, or too late.

"It was nice to meet you," I told the young man as I turned to leave, "Hope to see you here again."

Continuing on my walk I was thinking about what a nice kid the boy seemed to be, and I realized that someday, years from now, this young man would be saying, "Back in the day, when I was a kid, I used to get on my skateboard and investigate the town. It's too bad kids don't do that anymore."

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: LOVE'S RESCUE (Fiction) by Christine Johnson

Have you ever fallen in love with a place? The vibrant colors and rich history of the Florida Keys have long captivated me. So too for the heroine of my new 1850-set romance. Four years away cannot dim her attachment to Key West and the man she loves, but returning against her father's wishes will jeopardize the very future she desires.

Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on LOVE'S RESCUE to read more and to email author Christine Johnson, you'll get a reply.

Dear Reader Column 06-05-15

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 live in Sarasota, Florida and a lot of senior citizens live here, too. We lovingly joke about them. For instance, if you see a car and it looks like nobody is sitting in the driver's seat, if you pull up alongside of it, you'll probably see a little old man or woman--shrunken with age--hunched down in the seat, with their neck extended upward so their eyes are just peering over the top the steering wheel.

And it's not unusual to see the right or left blinker on a car continually blinking, as it travels down the road. The older person in the blinking car most likely doesn't have any intention of changing lanes, or actually making a right or left-hand turn. Heck, they performed that maneuver five miles back. They're just having a "senior moment" and they've forgotten to turn off their blinker. (I never really understood the true meaning of defensive driving until I moved to Sarasota.)

My teasing aside, no doubt about it this is a great place for retired people to live. Parents childproof their houses, well we've kind of "senior-citizen-proofed" the city. We look out for the older generation and cut them some slack. The sales clerk didn't find it at all unusual when my father-in-law (82-years-old at the time), went into the furniture store, sat down in a chair he was thinking of buying, and fell asleep. The clerk let my father-in-law sleep for an hour, just long enough for a little "senior cat nap." Then she woke him and telephoned my husband to come pick up both him and the chair.

There's a lot of things for seniors to do in the city every day, but sometimes loneliness can still be one of the biggest problems. I attended a meeting and when it was finished, I could tell that an elderly woman sitting in my row, needed a ride home. So I inquired, and after one socially polite, "Oh, I wouldn't want to put you out" comment, she quickly accepted my offer for a ride.

The woman and I made casual, small talk conversation on the way to her house, which wasn't strange, after all we'd just met. But when we got to her house and it was time to say good-bye, for some reason I felt an overwhelming sense of urgency to give the woman a hug. I lightly put my arms around her and gave her a quick squeeze, but when I dropped my arms, hers tightened around me in a firm, please-don't-stop embrace. We stood in her driveway for what seemed like a very long time. When she released her grip, I could see she had tears in her eyes. "Thank you for the hug," she said, "my husband died eight months ago and I didn't realize until you hugged me, how much I miss the simple touch of another person."

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: AuthorBuzz authors are starting off the summer with a week of vacation, sipping lemonade and developing new story ideas. They will return next week.

Dear Reader Column 06-04-15

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,

There's always one house where all the kids in the neighborhood end up going to hang out. It feels comfortable. Take your shoes off, be yourself, if you're hungry just ask, and soon a sandwich and cookies will show up. When I was a kid, it was Mrs. Creswick's house, and since Mrs. Creswick knew I loved cottage cheese, cherry tomatoes and Diet Rite cola, her refrigerator was always stocked.

These days my house isn't the getting together place for kids--my children are all grown. But my home seems to be "the house" for every cat in the neighborhood. Even cat owners in my neighborhood, agree. One of my neighbors stopped by on Tuesday, to let me know she had to go out of town on business. "I'll be back Friday night. Newton (that's the name of her cat) has a cat door so he can go in-and-out of my house, and I'm leaving a huge pile of dry food out for him. But since this is his 'second home' (referring to my house) I thought I'd let you know I'll be gone."

My neighbor was right. Newton is one of the neighborhood "kids" who stops by my house at least once or twice a day. So, no problem. I asked Newton's "mom" to write down her cell, just in case, and I told her to let Newton know that he was welcome to sleep over if he wanted, until she returned.

Newton must have understood every word his owner said, because early the next morning, when I opened the door, Newton raced inside. He checked out every room (sniff, sniff, said hello to our other cats), then circled back to the kitchen to see what was for breakfast. And just like a kid, somebody's else's dry cat food tastes better than what his mom serves at home. Newton gobbled down breakfast, and has shown up for every meal since.

Yes, there's always a favorite house where kids feel it's their second home. My house wasn't 'the favorite' one when I was growing up, but I'm certainly enjoying being 'the favorite' one now.

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: AuthorBuzz authors are starting off the summer with a week of vacation, sipping lemonade and developing new story ideas. They will return next week.

Dear Reader Column 06-03-15

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,

Tamara Dietrich is today's guest author and her book, When All Is Lost has one of the most beautiful book covers I have seen in awhile. Take a look, and see if you agree. http://tamaradietrich.com/

I asked Tamara to tell us a little bit about herself...

I was born in Germany (to American parents) and raised in Maryland. I've wanted to be a writer ever since I first learned to read, and am lucky enough to be pursuing it as a journalist. But I've always wanted to write books, too. The Hummingbird's Cage is my first completed novel, but I now have one more under my belt and have just started on a third.

Historic homes are a passion, and my son and I live in southern Virginia in a little cottage that's older than the Republic! Pollard's Cottage was built between 1750 and 1780. Our family also includes a dog named Sam and three cats: Apple, Rae and Hickory.

I'd love to hear from readers--by all means write me at tamaradietrich.author@gmail.com. I promise to write back, and I have five copies of my new book, The Hummingbird's Cage to give away to readers. Please include your shipping address if you want to be in the drawing. You might be a winner. I'm more than happy to give away five books to DearReader club members.

Thank you for inviting me to write a guest column today...

Mother's Day

I was 44 years old when I became a mother. My son was 7.

Legally, it happened in a courtroom in Pskov, Russia, when a judge signed a document I couldn't read, giving me custody of a little boy sitting oblivious in a van outside. I was overjoyed. And stunned--suddenly I was responsible for a child's life.

What in blazes was I thinking?

The boy spoke no English, I no Russian. We weren't complete strangers--we'd spent 10 days together in my Arizona home the previous year, part of the lengthy international adoption process. Then he returned to a Russian orphanage. And in all that time we'd never connected beyond the most rudimentary Russian phrases I memorized for his visit.

"Are you hungry?" I'd ask. "Are you sleepy?"

I took him to the mall, to McDonald's, to the pool, to play dates. But I felt more tour guide than parent.

Still, when the 10 days were up and he had to return to Russia, I wept.

Nine months later I was in his country, speeding through the last of the adoption process, from Pskov to St. Petersburg to Moscow.

That's when this little boy became a wild child.

He would commit outrageous acts of daring--somersaulting again and again off the back of a hotel chair, leaping atop walls that dropped off to pavement far below. Once when we left a Moscow restaurant, he tore off at a gallop, clutching a red balloon, disappearing into the crowd. Catastrophe always seemed imminent.

Russian children love to hold hands with adults, even 7-year-old daredevils. But not mine. He wouldn't sit next to me. He barely looked at me. He wouldn't listen to me--he didn't have to, there was a language gap as wide as the Black Sea between us.

I flailed for a connection. A sign I was getting through.

At night in the hotel, I read him Goodnight, Moon, knowing he couldn't understand it. I tucked him in with the teddy bear I'd brought from America.

And he stared back with wary eyes. Sizing me up.

I didn't blame him. I was sizing me up, too.

Then early one morning, it happened.

Dawn was breaking through the hotel window when the door to my room cracked open. Bare feet padded on the floor and a slim little body climbed into bed and under the covers, cuddling next to me. He fell asleep clutching his teddy bear.

It wasn't the judge or the paperwork that decided it. It was that moment.

I was a mother.

--Tamara Dietrich
tamaradietrich.author@gmail.com

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: AuthorBuzz authors are starting off the summer with a week of vacation, sipping lemonade and developing new story ideas. They will return next week.