Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column 04-30-19

Dear Reader,

Today's guest author Valerie Bowman's books have received starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly, Booklist, and Kirkus. She's been an RT Reviewers' Choice nominee for Best First Historical Romance and Best Historical Romance Love and Laughter. Two of her books have been nominated for the Kirkus Prize for fiction.

Valerie grew up in Illinois with six sisters (she's number seven). After earning a degree in English with a minor in history at Smith College, she moved to Florida. Valerie now lives in Jacksonville with her family. When she's not writing, she keeps busy reading, traveling, and watching crazy reality TV. Find her on the web at www.ValerieBowmanBooks.com. Valerie's latest book is No Other Duke but You, the last in a series of Regency romance novels all inspired by famous plays.

Connect with Valerie at: http://www.valeriegbowman.com/connect/

Thanks Valerie for visiting the book club...

The Best Advice I Ever Got
Or...
The Time a St. Louis Rams' Football Player Told Me What to Do With My Life

Thanks to high school AP credits and some summer classes, I was able to graduate from college a semester early. I went back home to Illinois with a degree in English and history and no idea whatsoever about how to get a job.

When my older sister invited me to come live in her house in St. Louis, I jumped at the chance. I soon landed a job at a comedy club as a waitress. It sounded fun and was something to pay the bills while I looked for a full-time gig.

One night about four months into my stint, another waitress invited me out after work with a group of her friends. We ended up at a bar down by the river (the Mississippi, o' course), and it turned out some of her friends were members of the St. Louis Rams football team.

I was sitting alone drinking a Bud Light and staring into space, when one of the HUGE football players came walking over to me. He sat down and asked me how I was doing.

"You look sad," he said.

"I guess I am a little." I shrugged. "I'm not sure what I want to do with my life."

"What do you 'think' you want to do?" he asked.

I sighed. "Well, I've always wanted to move to Florida, become a writer, and get a dog."

At the time, all three of those things seemed like impossible goals for me. I had no money, no job, no home, and I certainly couldn't take on the responsibility of owning a dog.

The football player nodded. "You know what you should do?"

I moved to the edge of my seat and blinked at him. "What?"

"You should move to Florida, become a writer, and get a dog."

Of course I launched into a litany of reasons why that could not possibly happen.

The football player listened patiently to all of my excuses and then he stood and looked down at me. "Move to Florida, become a writer, get a dog."

I am happy to report that within two months of that fateful conversation, I moved to Jacksonville and got a job as a writer for a local newspaper. Two years later, after buying a house with a fenced yard, I brought home my first puppy.

I'm ashamed to say I don't remember the football player's name. But I'll be grateful to him forever for giving me that simple advice that changed my whole life. I should've named the dog after him.

-- Valerie Bowman
Connect with Valerie at: http://www.valeriegbowman.com/connect/

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

Dear Reader Column 04-29-19

Dear Reader,

It's Spring Cleaning at the book club. Dusting off the familiar benefits of reading at the club and book club reader Sharon S., writes about one of the best...

"Suzanne, I have been reading at the book club around 10 years. I love the non-guilty feeling of deleting a read if it is not a good fit. I have also passed along how to join the book club to many people." -- Sharon S.

Yes, if a book isn't a good match for you, there will be a new one the following week. Read guilt-free. I grew up with the message about books, that if I started a book I had to finish it, no matter if I liked it or not. Consequently I didn't experiment with different genres. It wasn't until I was in my late 20s that it dawned on me that I could set my own reading rules. So now I have...anything goes.

Sometimes our daily email goes astray. If you miss a daily read click on the Missing Read Link after my column.

Suggestions, complaints (a complaint is a gift) or compliments, email any time. I really do love to hear from readers.

And of course there are the giveaways, and today I have ten books to giveaway to readers. To enter the drawing, simply click here.

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

Dear Reader Column 04-26-19

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

Dear Reader,

I was in the middle of an important business telephone conversation and I knew that it was going to get out of control soon. I tried to "think" it away, but that wasn't working. "Tickle, tickle, cough, cough." I covered the microphone on my headset and grabbed the water bottle on my desk. But I was losing the battle and I knew I would soon be a goner.

The executive on the other end of the line was finishing up his sentence and he was going to expect me to respond. But I was afraid if I said anything, I'd start coughing and I wouldn't be able to stop.

In my mind, I was coaching myself, 'Okay, maybe if I speak softly and quickly, I can get a sentence out before I lose control...Whew, it worked. Yes, I'm safe.'

As the executive was continuing with another idea, I was praying, 'Please, oh please, wrap up your conversation.'

But nope, he pressed on telling me about yesterday's meeting and finally I couldn't hold it in any longer. Cough, COUGH, COUGH. Quickly, I hit the mute button on my headset--thank heavens for mute buttons--because I could still hear him, but he couldn't hear me coughing and sputtering on my end of the phone.

Cough, hack, hack, cough. I was expelling air with hurricane gusts at about 150 miles per hour. This mute feature was a life saver. How could this guy not hear me? I was dying here. As soon as I finish this coughing jag, I really need to write a thank you letter to the company that makes this headset. Why, this could be an entirely new product feature for them to list in their ads and product brochures. I can see it now: "Tickle in your throat? Our Muted-Cough feature to the rescue. Cough up a lung while you're making a sale and your customer will never be the wiser." Well, they may need to work on that slogan a tiny bit.

Finally--things have quieted down. I think I'm all better now and just in time.

"Well, what do you think Suzanne?"

"I think your idea sounds great Bill. Believe me, I couldn't have said it better."

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

Dear Reader Column 04-25-19

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

Dear Reader,

Questions from book club readers:

"Suzanne I have a question for your readers, if you ever run out of column ideas. Now that most libraries have gone electronic and don't use due date cards anymore, how do your readers keep track of when their library books are due? I stick Post-Its with the due date on the cover of each library book. Does anyone have a better suggestion? Thanks. Regards," -- Nancy B.

If you have a suggestion for Nancy, please do send it to me. Speaking of wondering if I ever run out of column ideas, Andrew was wondering about that, too.

"Suzanne. I'm impressed that you find something different to write about every day, especially since you've been writing for years. Have you ever worried that you'll run out of column ideas?" -- Andrew T.

Lucky for me Andrew, I'm an adventurous person who's not afraid to wander outside of my comfort zone (even though I feel afraid to take the first step sometimes). And over the years, it's become easier to share my feelings with readers and not be afraid of being judged, or if I am, to not care about it, because I respect other people's feelings. I am always jotting down notes for a column, because if I don't write down my thoughts about something, right at that 'what-just-happened,' or 'what I was thinking about' moment, I forget. So I have many, many scraps of paper with column ideas, and many notes-to-self on my phone, and many one liner ideas on my iPad and ideas for columns on my computer--you can see where this is going...

Sometimes when I sit down to write my daily column I remember jotting down a great idea somewhere, but it's a treasure hunt to find it. Now there's another column idea. Too many choices about where to store notes-to-self. Too many choices on the supermarket shelf: with low salt, with mushrooms added, added seasonings basil and oregano, petite peas or the regular size, with caffeine or no caffeine, sugarless or zero--I still don't understand what zero is all about, but then I don't drink soda. So you see how it happens. I'm standing in front of the canned vegetable shelves in the grocery store and after looking at the options for 10 minutes, I think to myself...

'I must not be the only one. This would make a good column.'

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

AUTHORBUZZ: With so many new books out every week, we promise this title deserves your attention:

(Fiction)
THE SUMMER COTTAGE by Viola Shipman

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

Dear Reader Column 04-25-19

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

Dear Reader,

Questions from book club readers:

"Suzanne I have a question for your readers, if you ever run out of column ideas. Now that most libraries have gone electronic and don't use due date cards anymore, how do your readers keep track of when their library books are due? I stick Post-Its with the due date on the cover of each library book. Does anyone have a better suggestion? Thanks. Regards," -- Nancy B.

If you have a suggestion for Nancy, please do send it to me. Speaking of wondering if I ever run out of column ideas, Andrew was wondering about that, too.

"Suzanne. I'm impressed that you find something different to write about every day, especially since you've been writing for years. Have you ever worried that you'll run out of column ideas?" -- Andrew T.

Lucky for me Andrew, I'm an adventurous person who's not afraid to wander outside of my comfort zone (even though I feel afraid to take the first step sometimes). And over the years, it's become easier to share my feelings with readers and not be afraid of being judged, or if I am, to not care about it, because I respect other people's feelings. I am always jotting down notes for a column, because if I don't write down my thoughts about something, right at that 'what-just-happened,' or 'what I was thinking about' moment, I forget. So I have many, many scraps of paper with column ideas, and many notes-to-self on my phone, and many one liner ideas on my iPad and ideas for columns on my computer--you can see where this is going...

Sometimes when I sit down to write my daily column I remember jotting down a great idea somewhere, but it's a treasure hunt to find it. Now there's another column idea. Too many choices about where to store notes-to-self. Too many choices on the supermarket shelf: with low salt, with mushrooms added, added seasonings basil and oregano, petite peas or the regular size, with caffeine or no caffeine, sugarless or zero--I still don't understand what zero is all about, but then I don't drink soda. So you see how it happens. I'm standing in front of the canned vegetable shelves in the grocery store and after looking at the options for 10 minutes, I think to myself...

'I must not be the only one. This would make a good column.'

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

AUTHORBUZZ: With so many new books out every week, we promise this title deserves your attention:

(Fiction)
THE SUMMER COTTAGE by Viola Shipman

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

Dear Reader Column 04-24-19

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

Dear Reader

I like to look back before I carry on. Moving quickly from one experience to the next, I miss out on savoring the good stuff in life, the moments that make me smile every time I think about them. So I'm looking back to our family's traditional Easter celebration at my house. Three of my grandchildren Hadley, James and Paul, who's 12 years old (he's the one I was concerned about this year), came to Grandma's for the big egg hunt. Would Paul feel he was too old to look for the eggs "the Bunny" had hidden around our yard? I wrote about my concern before Easter and a reader gave me a great idea. After the kids found their eggs and their Easter baskets filled with treats, the kids hid eggs for the adults to find. But the grownups were a tricky bunch. The kids' dad turned on his phone's video camera, rested it up in the window sill so he could record where the kids were hiding eggs. But the apple(s) don't fall far from the tree, my grandkids spotted the phone and quickly deleted the recording.

Hiding eggs for the adults, it's definitely a tradition that will go forward in our family. Traditions are important to me, but they're not all set in stone, I've changed some along the way. My grandmother and mother used to cook a big home cooked spread for Easter dinner. The past two years I've ordered a Chinese buffet. No cooking gives "the big, fluffy Bunny" more time to concentrate on the fun stuff--like a sack race. It was a first for us this year, but it was so much fun, we'll be doing it again next year. The grandkids and their dad jumped into the big sacks and hop, hop, hop, the race was on. Yes, I have photos, click here.

Those past holiday family memories that I carry with me in my heart, they seem to have stayed with my kids, now that they're all grown with families of their own. My daughter, who lives far away from Sarasota sent me a note in this year's Easter card:

"Mom, I always loved Easter. See the old picture of me in my Easter bonnet? You used to have us all gussied up for church, all of us kids looking dynamite, hats, gloves and all. I remember a lot of nice family Easter times, thank you Mom. I don't think you can even comprehend how deeply I love you. I think you're brilliant, a cheerful giver. You're funny and interesting with a wonderful sense of humor. It's so evident how big your heart is. Happy Easter Mom, I love you."

Every year there's another new Easter memory to carry with me in my heart.

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

Dear Reader Column 04-23-19

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

Dear Reader,

Today's guest author, Carolyn Miller, lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. Carolyn is a longtime lover of romance, especially that of Jane Austen and the Georgette Heyer's Regency era. Her latest historical novel, A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh, delves into fossil-hunting in Regency England, and explores questions of science and faith, as well as providing the swoon worthy romance, Carolyn's readers know to expect. 

Please email and welcome author Carolyn Miller to our book clubs. You can reach her at: [email protected]

Carolyn writes...

Here in my little corner of Australia we've been enjoying crisp, cool nights and the turning of leaves as we head into Autumn (my favorite time of year). Most Australian forests involve eucalyptus trees, with their varying shades of grey-green, sometimes almost blue-green leaves, and fresh, honey-minty-pine scent. But where I live, our higher altitude and English settler history means we have a number of beautiful European and North American trees that glory in this climate, with leaves that turn gold, amber, russet and crimson red.

I love watching the color transform what might be an otherwise rather ordinary tree into a beacon of beauty. It requires patience, waiting for the right season for a tree to fully come into its own. I think it's important to take time to notice such things, to appreciate the beauty found in nature before the season changes.

Have you heard of forest bathing? Shinrin-yoku is a Japanese form of nature therapy where individuals are encouraged to spend time outdoors (such as walks through forests) in an attempt to reduce their levels of anger, depression or anxiety. Spending time in nature, away from the normal distractions of the daily grind, helps stimulate the five senses, helps clear the mind, and according to some scientific studies, sees reduced activity in the portion of the brain that repeatedly dwells on issues, thus leading to a greater sense of peace.

Last year I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit some of the tall trees in California and British Columbia. My husband is a horticulturalist and insisted we stop to spend time with these forest giants. I'm so glad we did. Trees over 250 feet high and 30 feet in diameter (and quite possibly thousands of years old!) are truly awe-inspiring. Sound is muted in these forests. There may be a gentle rustling of leaves, but the general hush encourages a sense of peace--and the emergence of forest creatures. (And for this Aussie author, seeing Bambi-like deer frolicking in the forest was pretty special--probably akin to an American seeing kangaroos bounding along Australia's red desert plains)

Taking time to be still, to drink in nature's different scents and sounds and sights, to really notice what's going on in nature is so important for us physically, emotionally, and mentally. We may not have a forest of giant sequoias to walk through, but stopping to appreciate a rose's delicately crafted petals and luscious scent can help create that sense of peace-filled satisfaction that's equal to finishing a good book.

-- Carolyn Miller

Email Carolyn and welcome her to the book club. Where in nature do you find peace? email [email protected]

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

Dear Reader Column 04-22-19

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

Dear Reader,

This year we're celebrating 20 years at the book club!

Book club reader Judy S. writes about her daily book club email...

"It's the first thing I read each morning. My favorite stories are the simple ones where Suzanne writes about herself, her family, her vulnerabilities. They are so beautiful, touching and human. To be able to wear your heart on your sleeve is a gift and creates such a wonderful connection with others...it reminds me to be more open with others and to let people in...a good life lesson."

One of readers' favorite columns from the past 20 years...

The minister was in the middle of his Sunday sermon and when he mentioned "Robert's Rules of Order"--that did it. Words in my mind started coming at me fast and furiously, one after another. I couldn't stop them. Pretty soon the words were forming sentences, and the sentences were lining up like jets on the tarmac waiting their turn for take off. I had to get this stuff out of my mind. I didn't have any choice. I had to write a column then and there.

I always carry a notebook with me, but I was nervous about getting it out because my son and daughter-in-law, who are usually sitting in the pew next to me, said that the last time I received so-called "divine writing inspiration," I was oblivious to the commotion I created. You see sometimes when I write, the ideas come so quickly and I'm so completely engrossed in the words, that I'm oblivious to what's going on around me. Apparently, the single sheet of paper and the stubby pencil that I was using that particular day were crinkling and making so much noise that people were turning around and staring at me. I do remember my son giving me the evil-eye to stop, but I thought he was just passing judgment on whether or not I should be writing a column in the midst of a church service.

So this time I gently and quietly (shhh...) pulled my notebook out of my purse, softly clicked the end of the pen and when I started writing, I listened--spot-checking for sound effects--heard none, and it was my turn for take-off.

By the time the minister finished his story, I'd finished mine too, and I discretely put away my tools. But in the middle of the following prayer, two more thoughts that were the perfect finishing touch for my story, were begging to be written down--I couldn't resist. I mean, who would know? Every dutiful praying person should have his eyes closed and head bowed, right? Anyone who didn't--who would see me writing--well, it was kind of like getting caught doing something you shouldn't by someone else doing the same thing. So, you're both in deep doo-doo and neither one of you will fess up. And "we" didn't.

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

** AUTHORBUZZ **

THE SUMMER COTTAGE (Fiction) by Viola Shipman

My new novel is inspired by childhood summers with my grandparents at their old waterfront cabin. Though short on luxuries (no indoor bathroom!), it was long on memories. My grandparents had one cottage rule--Be happy!--and taught me even the tiniest homes could feel like mansions if only filled with love. The Summer Cottage celebrates family memories and heirlooms like my previous novels The Charm Bracelet and The Recipe Box, reminding us playing by adult rules isn't always the best path to happiness. Like a cottage, this novel should be shared among generations and help you rediscover the magic of every sunset!

Go to: AUTHORBUZZ click on THE SUMMER COTTAGE to read more and to email author Viola Shipman, you'll get a reply.

 

Dear Reader Column 04-19-19

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

Dear Reader,

Angel food cupcakes topped with pink frosting and jelly beans are going to be my Easter dessert this year. Since I had never made the recipe before, I tried it this past weekend and the cupcakes were winners!

Angel Food Cupcakes

1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
12 egg whites from large eggs (enough for 1 1/2 cups)
1 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line cupcake pans with paper liners.

Place egg whites in a large mixing bowl and beat at high speed until egg whites are frothy, approximately one minute.

Add cream of tartar, salt and vanilla to egg whites. Mix at high speed until egg whites are almost stiff, approximately four minutes.

Add one cup of sugar, gradually, while mixing on low speed. Scrape bowl.

Mix flour and remaining 1/2 cup sugar together and spoon 1/4 of mixture over egg whites, folding gently between each addition.

Pour batter into cupcake liners until they are 2/3 full. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until tops are golden brown and cracks are very Dry.

Enjoy!

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

Dear Reader Column 04-18-19

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

Dear Reader,

(Suzanne is on vacation today. This is one of her favorite Easter holiday columns.)

My husband bought me fresh tulips last week. It wasn't a romantic purchase, more of a rescue. We were at the market and after we picked out some strawberries, we walked through the flower section and that's when I got a case of the "remember when" blues. Looking at the spring flowers made me think about my father and our Easter tradition.

Every year, the day before Easter, my father would walk down to the florist and when he came back home he was carrying two small white boxes. Inside one was an orchid corsage for my mother and in the other box, a pretty pink and white carnation corsage for me.

My father wasn't a sentimental man, far from it. He never said "I love you" but once a year, when the tulips and daffodils of spring were peeking up through the ground--signaling a change in season--briefly there'd be a change in my father, too. I'm not sure how or where my dad got the idea, but buying a corsage for my mom and me, it became an Easter tradition. "Look at what my dad bought me." I wore my corsage all day long, even after I came home from church and changed into my play clothes and I fell asleep with it on my pillow too.

When I was older and moved out on my own, my father stopped buying me an Easter corsage. I missed it. Not just the flowers, but the feelings I used to get every year when he'd hand me the box from the florist.

And now here I was standing in the middle of the market, tears in my eyes and my husband knew why. "I think you need some fresh flowers for Easter, Suzanne. Don't these tulips look like spring?" And he handed me a pink and yellow bouquet of tulips--a new beginning and a new tradition of love.

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

AUTHORBUZZ: With so many new books out every week, we promise this title deserves your attention:

(Fiction)
ASHES TO INK by Carrie Ann Ryan

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