Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column 12-31-18

Dear Reader,

Happy New Year! This is my annual New Year's Eve column. Hopefully nothing strange happens to me this year that would top it!

My most memorable New Year's Eve was the year my dress fell apart. Well, actually it was shedding. We'd just moved to Florida and some new friends invited us to their New Year's Eve party. We didn't know anyone else at the party, but I made, without a doubt, a big first impression. I was wearing a brand new, black velvet dress--purchased just for the occasion (and it wasn't cheap)--but it started shedding. Everywhere I walked, I left a trail of huge, black fuzz clumps behind. The dress was literally falling apart from the inside out.

I wasn't aware of what was happening until I visited the bathroom. The floor had two huge, white rugs, so it instantly became apparent that I was leaving a trail. I was horrified. I picked up my "droppings" and headed back to the party.

When I walked back into the kitchen, I looked down at the floor and sure enough, there was my dress, all over it. No one else seemed to notice the trail that I'd left around the house. But like a run in your stocking, I was sure they were aware and not saying anything just to be kind.

My first thought was to walk around the kitchen--shuffling my shoe along the floor--so I could sweep up my black fuzz balls. But then I realized that as fast as I was rounding up those little buggers in front of me, I was leaving a new crop behind. My backup plan was to find a dimly lit spot and stay put. And I did, until we left.

I can only imagine what that couple must have thought the next day when they cleaned up from the party! Maybe they thought I'd brought a pet.

* Enter the Book-A-Day Giveaway, win random books from my bookshelf, click here.

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

Dear Reader Column 12-28-18

Dear Reader,

My gift to you this holiday season is the Book-A-Day Giveaway. I'm choosing winners every day, so feel free to enter every day.

Enter today's drawing to win a random book from my bookshelf, click here.

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

Happy Holidays,

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

Dear Reader Column 12-27-18

Dear Reader,

My gift to you this holiday season is the Book-A-Day Giveaway. I'm choosing winners every day, so feel free to enter every day.

Enter today's drawing to win a random book from my bookshelf, click here.

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

Happy Holidays,

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

Dear Reader Column 12-26-18

Dear Reader,

I'm on holiday this week celebrating with my family, but that doesn't mean I'm not thinking of you. Part of my getting ready for a new year is clearing off my bookshelves so I can start the new year fresh. So during the holidays I'm offering my Book-A-Day Giveaway. Feel free to enter every day.

Enter today's drawing to win a random book from my bookshelf, click here.

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

Dear Reader Column 12-25-18

Dear Reader,

 

Merry Christmas from everyone at the book clubs!

 

Andre, Amber, Bob, Brian, Sandra, Susan, and Valerie.

 

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

 

May you find peace this Christmas,

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

Dear Reader Column 12-24-18

Dear Reader,

A few years ago, I tried my hand at writing some holiday poetry for readers--an amusing version of 'Twas The Night Before Christmas, and now it's become a tradition at the book clubs.

Okay, I admit it's a bit hokey, but it's really kind of a catchy little number once you start reading it. There's a syncopated beat throughout, and if you throw in a little sing-song rhythm, you'll be smiling by the end.

'Twas The Night Before Christmas at the Book Clubs

'Twas the night before Christmas and in every house
All good book club readers were clicking their mouse.

They'd hung all their stockings, decorated their trees
And now it was time to sit down and see
What their email had brought them on this Christmas Eve.

A five-minute break to read a good book
Was just what they needed, but oh my--look...

When they opened their email, no read could be found.
"Oh no, we're afraid Suzanne went out of town.
Could she have forgotten to send us our read?
How could she do this in our time of need?"

The readers all panicked, they shivered in fright,
They pined for their emails and settled in for the night.

"Could we have misplaced them? Did we hit the wrong key?
Did it go in our deleted files?" Oh such misery.
And then in a flash, with a stroke of a key,
One by one, they discovered their Christmas Eve reads.

Their eyes how they twinkled, they laughed and they smiled
And they settled into their chairs to read for awhile.

Their hearts were delighted, they felt just like kids,
But it's still such a mystery where that email had hid.
Was it there all the time and they just didn't see?
Or did Santa step in and do a good deed?

Good boys and girls are on Santa's list
And good book club readers he vows never to miss.

It's been a long night, time to climb into bed,
So they shut down their computers and laid down their heads.

But in the quiet of night, before things came to an end,
They heard, "Thanks for reading with me, It's so good to read with friends."

Happy Holidays. I wish you peace and joy.

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

Dear Reader Column 12-21-18

AUTHORBUZZ: Click here to discover new books,
"meet" the authors and enter to win.

Dear Reader,

It's a one-bite cookie. Eat it guilt-free. Not to worry, after all how many calories could be in a one-bite cookie?

Chocolate Crackles is a favorite holiday cookie experience for my family. I make the dough ahead of time and refrigerate it for three hours. So it's an easy, fun activity when family or friends stop by. Simply take the dough out of the refrigerator, roll pieces of dough into little balls with your hands, dredge the chocolaty balls through powdered sugar, bake for 10 minutes and you have the makings of a holiday party activity.

They are really, really good one-bite cookies, but you might find yourself indulging in three or four chocolaty "bites."

CHOCOLATE CRACKLES

6 T butter
3 squares (3 ounces) unsweetened chocolate, melted
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp real vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
Confectioners' sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream the butter until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla. Add the melted chocolate and sugar and blend well. Stir together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add to the creamed mixture and blend well.

Refrigerate 3 hours, or until firm. Shape the dough into balls about one inch. Dredge each ball in confectioners' sugar (powdered sugar), coating thoroughly. Put on cookie sheet, two inches apart. Cookies may seem slightly underdone, but will firm up after cooking, when they cool.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes on a greased cookie sheet or use parchment paper.

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

Dear Reader Column 12-20-18

AUTHORBUZZ: Click here to discover new books,
"meet" the authors and enter to win.

Dear Reader,

There are angels all around us. Readers share their experiences this holiday season...

"One thing I like to do, especially around this time of year, is buy $15.00 worth of gas, pay with a $20.00 bill and tell the attendant that coffee or hot chocolate is on me...I love the look on their faces...no one thinks to tip the attendant, who is out there in the rain and snow helping others. Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy 2019!" -- Grace M.

"I believe with all my heart there are earth angels, sent here to help us in some situation, or perhaps throughout our lives. Some come and go when their work is done, but I have been lucky to have some in my life. Finances have been rough lately, as I have been helping someone in my family who is ill and unable to work. One day recently, I was looking for something in my purse and suddenly there was a $50 Visa gift card sitting in there. I had no idea where it came from, but it really came at a time when it was sorely needed. A couple of days ago, I was sitting in church and I saw a hand reach down and plop something into my purse from the row behind me. When I turned around, there stood a sweet friend I have known at church for a long time. It was another $50 Visa gift card. I realized she had placed the previous one there, too. She never said a word, just smiled. Another earth angel in my life!" -- Dorie F.

"Hello Suzanne, I have always loved the phrase, 'Start where you use what you have, do what you can.' I love to knit. Studies have shown that it is a form of meditation for many. Nothing makes me happier than choosing or receiving a new skein of yarn. I knit hats and scarves and donate them. I usually give all of them to our local food pantry. They put out a basket of them in their lobby and clients can come and take what they need. This year I am giving half to our state representative who will give them to the Veterans' Affairs Commissioner and they will go to our veterans and their families. Two friends also decided to help. Some afghans and more scarves have been added to my donations for both places. My yarns and knitting needles are like paints and brushes to a painter. Colors of yarn and knitting patterns come together on my needles and as I knit, I think of young and old recipients who will be warm this winter because of my hobby. It truly feels better to give than to receive. And my two friends who donate? 'A friend is a present you give yourself.' I am very lucky." -- Linda F.

If you've experienced "angel sightings" you can reach me at: [email protected]

* Congratulations to Suzanne W., the winner of the audiobook giveaway of Yondering by Louis L'Amour.

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

Happy Holidays,

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

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

(Fiction)
WOUND TIGHT by Lorelei James

(Fiction)
PLEASE ME by J. Kenner

(NonFiction)
AREAS OF FOG by William Dowd

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

Dear Reader Column 12-19-18

AUTHORBUZZ: Click here to discover new books,
"meet" the authors and enter to win.

Dear Reader,

Every ornament hanging on my Christmas tree tells a story and when I decorated my tree the other day, one-by-one, I remembered.

I remembered the day my son came home from kindergarten and hurried into the living room to put the Life Saver yarn doll on the Christmas tree. "Look Mom, see what I made." A miniature roll of Life Savers in the middle of yarn arms, legs, and long locks of golden hair. It's still holding up after all these years.

Three red rocking horses. I remember, my daughter begged me to buy them when she was seven years old, the year she asked me about Santa.

Oh my, here are the pink drum ornaments, remnants of an "almost" all-pink Christmas tree. We'd just moved into a brand new house and I wanted our Christmas tree decorations to match the light, warm colors of my new sofa, rug and drapes. So I didn't bother getting out any of our old favorite ornaments that year, because they just wouldn't do. Instead, I spent hours, actually days (I got a little obsessed) looking for light pink, dark pink and cream-colored ornaments and lights to make a perfectly color coordinated Christmas tree.

Yes, indeed the front of the tree was an all-pink masterpiece, but I forgot to decorate the backside. And plop! Over the tree went. Broken ornaments everywhere and the water from under the tree, filled with tree preservatives, spilled out onto the light gray carpeting. I was so angry at the tree and myself that I just let it lay in the middle of the living room floor for a couple of days, which of course set a water stain in the carpet.

My family thought I'd lost my mind, and I think that year I temporarily did. I gave the unscathed pink ornaments away (it was too embarrassing to keep them around), but I did keep two of the little pink drums. They're forever a humble reminder that I need to keep some balance in my life.

I'd forgotten all about it, but there it was tucked away in the bottom of the box of ornaments. I remember the day Mom gave it to me. She was so thrilled to find it--a clown popping up out of a wooden children's block with a "V" initial on the front of it. "V" for Virginia, my mother's name. My mother used to be a clown in her hometown parade in Cuba City, Wisconsin, and one year I did the parade with her and we even won a prize. Mom gave me the ornament the year before she died.

That stupid clown ornament--there it is waiting for me to hang it on the tree, but all I can do is cry and the crying turns into sobbing, my knees give way and soon I'm sitting on the floor in front of the Christmas tree--remembering another story, because every ornament on my tree tells a story. Stories happy and sad that I hope I'll never forget.

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

** AUTHORBUZZ **

AREAS OF FOG (NonFiction) by William Dowd

When I was struck with a serious bout of writer's block, I did what all New Englanders do when they have nothing to talk about: I talked about the weather. The result is Areas of Fog, a witty and poetic journey through one year of inner and outer weather. Full of humor and literary anecdotes, this fun, breezy read will delight fans of Billy Collins and Bill Bryson.

Go to: AUTHORBUZZ click on AREAS OF FOG to read more and to email author William Dowd, you'll get a reply.

 

Dear Reader Column 12-18-18

AUTHORBUZZ: Click here to discover new books,
"meet" the authors and enter to win.

Dear Reader,

Third time's a charm? (Maybe, we'll see.)

My husband and I are celebrating our 41st anniversary today.

"Hello Mom and Dad.Happy Anniversary!" Our son was calling.

"Well, thank you Brian. It's never too early to start celebrating. Our anniversary is on the 18th. Today is the 11th."

Our son quickly replied, "Well it only took me 41 years to call and wish you Happy Anniversary. Darn it, the app I put on my phone was supposed to alert me to call on your anniversary."

Three days later our phone rang in the morning, "Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!"

"Well, thank you--again! You know today is the 14th, but don't be shy, you can call again in another four days. I think being married 41 years calls for a three-time celebration?"

"Oh, geez, you've got to be kidding. This stupid app. Well, it only took me 42 years to at least remember--Happy Anniversary!"

"Yes, Dear, you remembered and we love you. But don't you mean 41?"

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

Celebrating!

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

** AUTHORBUZZ **

PLEASE ME (Fiction) by J. Kenner

Damien Stark. He is, by far, one of my most favorite characters to write. Brilliant, controlling, and hot, he's also desperately in love with his wife and the family they are building. A powerful billionaire, he'll go to any lengths to keep his family from being hurt. But what can a man like Damien do when the danger comes from his own dark past?

Go to: AUTHORBUZZ click on PLEASE ME to read more and to email author J. Kenner, you'll get a reply.