Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column -- April 30, 2021

Dear Reader,

I'm all about the little things in life. In fact, I feel one of my assignments here on earth is to do the little things. My husband has a hard time with that statement, because he doesn't quite understand what I mean, when I say "little things" and that's my fault. "Give me an example, give me an example," he says.

You know what happens when someone asks, "What's your favorite book or movie?" It can be difficult to come up with an answer on the spot. And maybe I have trouble sharing a list of examples of "little things" because what I remember most is the smile on someone's face, or the look in their eyes, when they experience one of life's little pleasures.

Or maybe it's because the little things in life--most people wouldn't even notice, if nobody did them. But when someone takes the time to do one of those little make-you-feel-good gems, people are "Oh, so happy they did!"

Little things--like the other day when a neighbor returned a pie tin of mine. She left it on my side porch when I wasn't home, and sitting in the pie tin was a box of beekeeper's soap. Just a little box of soap but I loved it!

I may not be able to give my husband a definition of "little things" because they don't consciously stay with me, but the feelings behind someone's thoughtful little gesture--those stay with me in my heart. And that's a big thing.

One of the little things that will make you smile, is when you're a winner in one of my giveaways:

Shelley C, is the winner of my Very Cool Shirt Giveaway.

Robin M, is the winner of my Smiling Bear Animal Cracker Giveaway.

Nancy R., Angie G., Linda P., Cathy S. and Beverly D. are the winners of Folklorn by Guest Author Angela Hur.

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

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

Dear Reader Column -- April 29, 2021

Dear Reader,

Be sure to enter this week's fun book club giveaway. Test your willpower. I'm giving away a huge animal cracker bear to a lucky reader. If you find you're losing control, you can come up with your own rationalizations--or borrow one of mine I listed in Tuesday's column. To enter the giveaway, click here.

I'm doing a little book club housekeeping today...

1. If a book isn't a good match for you, don't feel guilty about hitting the delete key. I feature a new book every Monday. Or before you hit that delete key, be sure to read my daily Dear Reader column. Who knows, you might win one of my book club giveaways, or be the lucky winner of two dozen of my homemade chocolate chip cookies. (The next cookie giveaway is coming up in a couple weeks.)

2. Missed receiving one of the daily reads? Email if you need assistance, or just click on "Start reading today's book in your browser," above my column, to access the day you missed. Don't be shy. I'm here to help if you need it.

3. If you won something at the book club and the item is missing from your mail, be sure to let me know. I'll track it down for you.

4. Questions or comments about the book club or my column? Please send me an email. I want to hear from readers. I love to read your emails.

"Suzanne, I was so surprised to open my mailbox a couple days ago. I WON!! Thank you for the book A Woman in the Mirror. I have started it, but had to put it down. It looks really interesting. I really appreciate the gift of the book. I have been on Dear Reader for a long time and I really enjoy reading your opening essay. I feel like we are long time friends. Also I have found a lot of great books to add to my to read list. I am never trying to decide what I want to do next. I have stacks of books waiting to take me away from home. Have a wonderful day. Later," -- Becky Y.

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 this title deserves your attention:

(Fiction) CAPTURED IN INK by Carrie Ann Ryan

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

Dear Reader Column -- April 28, 2021

Dear Reader,

The smiling bear was looking right at me, tempting me.

Sitting on my kitchen counter was a 1lb, 8 ounce smiling plastic bear, filled with animal crackers. I knew the rule. Never eat anything directly out of its container, grab a handful, put them in a dish and "Enjoy!" But instead, I grabbed that cute bear off the counter, snuggled it close to me, and the two of us sat down to watch a movie.

I told myself I was only going to eat six crackers: two bears, two giraffes and two rhinos. 'But after those were gone, and they tasted so good, and they're so small, I decided a few more wouldn't hurt, would it?'

I should have been a lawyer. I was amazed at the list of rationalizations I came up with about why it was okay for me to keep eating--and it wasn't my fault.

"Yes, Judge, the jury has come to a unanimous verdict, a resounding 'Not Guilty.' The manufacturer is at fault. Suzanne is not to blame. She couldn't help herself. Everyone knows if miniature zebras, giraffes and gazelles are easily available, and all it takes is two turns of the plastic bear's bright red lid, anyone would succumb to those circumstances."

Back and forth animal cracker negotiations continued, but after five days I found myself staring at a completely empty bear. I ate 360 animal crackers in five days! How did this happen?

That empty bear is still smiling at me every day, but now he's sitting on my desk as a reminder not to buy any more animal crackers. Because apparently I have no willpower and the bear will win every time.

Test your willpower. I'm giving away a huge animal cracker bear to a lucky reader. If you find you're losing control, you can come up with your own rationalizations--or borrow mine. To enter the giveaway, click here.

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

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

Dear Reader Column -- April 27, 2021

Dear Reader,

Today's guest author, Rachel Michelberg, lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from San Jose State University and has performed leading roles in musicals and opera. Crash: How I Became a Reluctant Caregiver is her first book.

Please email and welcome Rachel to the book club. Email: RachelMAuthor@gmail.com

We Will Rise

I have a sourdough starter chilling out in my fridge. Her name is Annette. Yup, I'm one of those--who jumped on the sourdough bandwagon. We're excellent fodder for late night comedians joking about Covid hobbies like wine drinking, competitive eating and Zoom ballet.

In the olden days--before the pandemic--I'd happily plunk down five or six bucks for a loaf of sourdough. It was probably baked that morning, and tasted perfectly fine. Then, in early April 2020, as the first surge of illness exploded around the globe, my voice student Annette offered me some sourdough starter.

I had a rough time at the start of the pandemic. Overnight, my environment felt unsafe, evoking anxiety-ridden memories of my world falling apart when my first husband David's plane crashed into a vineyard. I needed a diversion. I don't knit or make TikTok videos, and missed the crafting gene. And it was too early to plant my garden.

So I accepted my student's starter, willing myself to suss out the varied, intricate instructions around maintenance and feeding, stretching & folding vs. kneading, and which proofing vessel would produce the perfect loaf. I bought my first kitchen scale, learned to combine just the right amount of flour and water to keep Annette happy. I took a ridiculous amount of pleasure checking on the bubbly progress she made overnight.

Baking bread doesn't provide instant gratification. It's a three-day process, which was perfect for my state of mind. I could feel productive (yes I'm watching The Crown, but my bread is rising!) even though I couldn't go anywhere or make any plans. My family loved my new hobby, happily slathering still-warm slices with Irish butter, blackberry jam or avocado (I'm a Californian after all.)

Passing on starter to friends gives me a feeling of connection, offering a respite from my current isolation. As a cook and a foodie, it ties me to our epicurean history, from its origins in ancient Egypt to the Gold Rush to the current pandemic reality. I often write while my bread is in the stretch-and-fold phase, giving me an excuse to take a break. It's fun to watch the ingredients take shape from a gooey mass to a smooth, elastic moldable dough. Plus, homemade bread is a great gift. Trust me, no one has ever turned down a loaf of homemade sourdough.

In a pinch, I still buy bread occasionally. But then I'm denying myself the pleasure of the process. Now please excuse me, I have to go feed Annette.

-- Rachel Michelberg
Email: RachelMAuthor@gmail.com

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

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

Dear Reader Column -- April 26, 2021

Dear Reader,

I kept thinking I was reading the recipe wrong. The glossy colored photo showed the pudding at the bottom of the pie and the cake at the top. But when I read the directions for assembling the pie, before it went in the oven, the cake batter was on the bottom and the pudding was on the top. They should have called it the Magic Cake, instead of "Innkeeper Pie."

I was intrigued and yes, indeed, the cake was on the top of the pie, and the pudding on the bottom when it came out of the oven. And it's now the absolute favorite pie of my grandchildren, brother-in-law, and my husband. I make my own pie crust, but if you're in a hurry, you could buy a crust in the store.

INNKEEPER PIE

2/3 cup sugar
1/3 Hershey's cocoa
1 cup water
1/3 cup butter
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup shortening
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a pastry crust.

In a medium saucepan, stir together 2/3 cup sugar and cocoa, blend in the water. Over medium heat, bring to boiling, stirring occasionally. Boil and stir for 1 minute. Remove from heat, add butter and 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla, stirring until butter is melted. Set aside.

In a small bowl, stir together flour, 3/4 cup sugar, baking powder and salt, add shortening, milk and remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat on medium speed of electric mixer for 2 minutes. Add egg, beat 2 minutes. Spoon batter into prepared crust. Stir the chocolate mixture and gently pour over the batter. Sprinkle nuts over top. (I use walnuts.)

Bake 55 to 60 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the cake portion comes out clean. Cool slightly and serve warm with whipped cream.

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

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

CAPTURED IN INK by Carrie Ann Ryan

I've always wanted to write a book with a married couple who falls in love with another. Watching these three take the gentle and terrifying steps into an unconventional yet blissful relationship was worth every headache of planning the book. I hope you love their romance because, as always...Love is Love is Love is Love is Love. To win one of five copies, click on the link to Authorbuzz and the book jacket or email: 1001DarkNights@gmail.com

Go to: AUTHORBUZZ click on CAPTURED IN INK to read more and to email author Carrie Ann Ryan, you'll get a reply.

Dear Reader Column -- April 23, 2021

Dear Reader,

In a recent column, I wrote: "Everyone has a calling on this earth, a unique gift to share with others. So every morning I quietly listen and follow my heart for the day's assignment. Over the years, sometimes my assignments have challenged me to step outside of my comfort zone, because it's not what everyone else is doing. But I've always been rewarded with a tremendous amount of joy. And who knows, maybe these assignments are the main ingredient for my own happiness."

Book club reader Eileen T. wrote...

"Suzanne, your column today struck a chord with me. After my son's unexpected death at age 20, I marveled at how uniquely people responded to our grief. Knowing many people would be arriving from out-of-state, some brought canisters of coffee, paper goods or various beverages. Many brought salads and casseroles, and my best friends served them between calling hours, jamming themselves into my hot kitchen and deciding which items to offer, and staying late to clean up. Some sent flowers to the funeral home and some to our home, beautiful planters we could enjoy the rest of the summer. There were callers, card senders and emailers. A surprise to me was how many sent money--something I would have never thought of--but much needed since I took a month off work. My neighbor had his lawn guy do our lawn too, for the next month. Someone who I barely knew saved the funeral program, and sent me a card on [my son's] birthday the next spring. For the two weeks following his death, my friend put a big Rubbermaid chest on our porch, so people could leave their food offerings in it, without having to ring our doorbell if we weren't up to visitors.

What if everyone sent flowers or a card? My experience would have been so different. I relished how each person, doing what felt natural to them, helped me through all the facets of that hard time. Being true to ourselves is 'the' way to bless others. Thanks for the reminder. It's good to read your words each morning!" -- Eileen T.

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

P. S. There's still time to enter my Very Cool Shirt Giveaway. I'm not kidding, I'm giving the shirt off my back to a book club reader. To see a photo and enter the giveaway, click here.

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

KIDSBUZZ: Know kids 8-12 who are into science and adventure? Fans of Percy Jackson? Then ATLANTIS: THE ACCIDENTAL INVASION by Gregory Mone is a perfect next read. For a chance to win a free copy, talk with the author, and more, see KIDSBUZZ

Dear Reader Column -- April 22, 2021

Dear Reader,

It looked adorable on the brunette model online. It would be a different sort of look for me, which was fun, and immediately I envisioned what I would wear with it. Yes, I loved the shirt and so I bought it.

I was so excited when the package was delivered and I tried the shirt on right away. 'Hmm, this definitely is a different look for me.' I stood in front of the full length mirror for quite a while, sizing up this new look, going back and forth about whether I really liked it or not, but finally I convinced myself I needed to change-up my wardrobe a bit, and this shirt was the first step. (And even better, the shirt was 40% off.)

But the next day when I decided to wear it, no matter how many times I told myself the shirt looked adorable on me--it didn't. And unfortunately, after trying on every skirt in my closet, not one of them improved the look of the shirt.

So now I'm the owner of an "On Sale, No Return" very cool looking shirt that needs a good home. Would anyone out there like a new shirt?

It really is cute, as long as I'm not the person wearing it. (And remember, it's never really been worn. I only had it on long enough to try on 15 skirts.)

To see a photo and enter the Very Cool Shirt Giveaway--I'm not kidding, I'm giving the shirt off my back to a book club reader--click here.

Congratulations to the winners of Done Gone by guest author Marcia Talley: Janice D. and Mari R.

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)
FIERY GIRLS by Heather Wardell

(Fiction)
THE END OF THE OCEAN by Maja Lunde

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

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

Dear Reader Column -- April 21, 2021

Dear Reader,

(Suzanne is out today, so she's sharing one of her favorites.)

"You never forget my birthday. You're so good at remembering birthdays, I'm not."

My friend was delighted with the chocolate covered strawberries I'd sent for her birthday, but she was letting feelings of shame--that she doesn't remember friends' birthdays--steal her joy. "Devour another one of those chocolate covered beauties," I told her, "and joyfully savor each bite. Let go of the guilt. If everyone remembered other people's birthdays, then it wouldn't be special that I remember yours, would it?"

Everyone has a calling on this earth, things they're drawn to do because they feel like such a natural fit. Some of mine are baking chocolate chip cookies and handing them out to friends and strangers, turning on a bubble machine in front of my house, inviting friends to share a Thanksgiving dinner when it's not Thanksgiving, bringing along "brainstorming" hats (fancy hats with lace and pearls), for each person to wear in a casual meeting, displaying a wedding dress in my bathroom, writing a daily column about my personal feelings, the good stuff and the not so good, and remembering birthdays. Doing these things brings joy to my own life, and who knows, maybe they're the main ingredient for my own happiness.

But like my friend, occasionally when I'm on the receiving end of something special, I start thinking the same thoughts. 'I should be remembering to do this too.' But then I remind myself, if we all had the same, exact assignments for remembering to do little thoughtful things, then it would take away that special feeling, wouldn't it?

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

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

KIDSBUZZ: Know kids 8-12 who are into science and adventure? Fans of Percy Jackson? Then ATLANTIS: THE ACCIDENTAL INVASION by Gregory Mone is a perfect next read. For a chance to win a free copy, talk with the author, and more, see http://www.authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz

Dear Reader Column -- April 20, 2021

Dear Reader,

A note from today's guest author, Angela Hur...

My husband and I take turns being immigrant and native, moving back and forth between countries. We met in Sweden, had two kids in California, and brought them back with us to Stockholm, where we live now between the city and a forest. My novel Folklorn is about family, history, generational trauma, particle physics, storytelling and Korean myth--all told through a genre-blending, fantastical, gothic lens.

I have 5 copies of Folklorn to give away to readers. Simply email me at: libraryteam@workman.com to enter the giveaway.

It's such a pleasure to visit the book club...

My kid's only precocious before bedtime. Stalling, she'll ask, "When people invented clocks, how'd they know what time it was?" and "Are zebras white or black?" Another night: "Hundred years ago, when girls couldn't be scientists or wear pants, how'd things change?" She pays attention when it's a personal injustice, hypothetical or historical, so this was her takeaway when I'd explained how people can be wrong now or in the past, how things can become fairer now and in the future.

"Tell me again, Mama"--I'm already tense--"how Harabeoji didn't want you to marry Papa."

Glossing over the details, I tell her how her harabeoji (grandfather, in Korean) had initially wanted me to marry a Korean American, like myself, who understood both cultures. At least, a fellow American, but definitely not a European from the other side of the world. I don't tell her how Harabeoji got his friend to explain in more fluent English how he feared I'd be far away in a foreign country, never come home again, just as he'd never returned to Korea. My mother had her doubts too, reminding me how difficult it was to be an immigrant. I already understood because I was living in Stockholm at the time, feeling alien to myself, lost and diminished.

Instead, I say: "Harabeoji thought it'd be easier to marry someone from the same country. But he met Papa and knew he was the best person ever. Then you came into our lives and Harabeoji couldn't imagine a world without you." This is all true. "So even stubborn people can change their minds, be happier afterward. If enough people change their minds together--"

"Then girls can become scientists and wear pants."

I never expected that my daughter would want to hear this story multiple times and hoped she hadn't told my mother-in-law. But recently I realized, it's her Origin Myth--how she entered the world, how she's the explanation for why things are and should be.

Another oft-requested story: When she was a few days old, I'd cried on the phone because I was afraid my old car, after stalling a few times, wouldn't be safe for my new baby. My father told me not to cry, don't worry. Next day, he pooled money with my brother and bought a new Hyundai, driving it from L.A. to San Francisco. "Harabeoji put the keys in your baby hand."

My father died a couple of years ago in his office chair, with fresh print-out photos of his one-month-old grandson on his desk. I live in Stockholm again, as wife and mother. I tell my daughter that someday she can also tell stories of Harabeoji to her baby brother.

-- Angela Hur

Email libraryteam@workman.com to be entered in a drawing to win one of five copies of Folklorn.

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

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

THE END OF THE OCEAN (Fiction) by Maja Lunde

A captivating novel about a father, a daughter, and a journey that begins where the water ends. An evocative tale of the search for love and connection, this book is a profoundly moving father daughter story of survival. We're giving away FIVE copies of this incredible book, click here to enter.

Go to: AUTHORBUZZ click on THE END OF THE OCEAN to read more and to email author Maja Lunde, you'll get a reply.

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

Dear Reader Column -- April 19, 2021

Dear Reader,

I'm writing for direction today because I've been feeling a little unsure about where I'm going. Feeling lost, it's happened to me before and I've always been able to write my way out of it. So I'm not really afraid of the journey, the road's familiar. But eventually I'll have to take a new detour and slow down...way down...so I can listen to what my heart is trying to tell me.

There are always signs that let me know I haven't been listening, warning me I'm headed in the wrong direction. Pursuing my Daytimer for the week and wishing it was blank is one of them. Saying "Yes" when I really wanted to say "No." Instead of filling up the pages with commitments, I needed to schedule conversations with myself. "How are you doing Suzanne? Are you spending your time doing things that add joy to your life?"

The strange thing is, "Yes," no doubt about it, there are things I do everyday that add joy to my life, but they're repetitive things I do around the house and in my flower gardens, so I discount them. I guess I feel I should be doing bigger, more important things. What I don't seem to realize is that to other people, those things might sound like a boring life, but those little everyday doings, they never fail to make me smile and feel delightful joy.

And there it is, Suzanne. You're not unsure about where you're going. Actually, you're very fortunate, because you're already there. I think I'll head out to the gardens.

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

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com

P. S. Thank you all for your thoughtful "get better" wishes. I really appreciated reading your emails. I'm feeling much better now.

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

FIERY GIRLS (Fiction) by Heather Wardell

Rosie and Maria, two young immigrants who become friends during the 1909 garment workers' strike, are working at the Triangle Waist Company on March 25, 1911 when a discarded cigarette sets the factory ablaze. 146 people die that day and even those who survive will be changed forever. Carefully researched and full of great historic detail, this is the only novel that encompasses both the strike and the infamous fire. Click on the link to Authorbuzz and the book jacket to enter or email: winabook@heatherwardell.com for a chance to win 1 of 5 copies!

Go to: AUTHORBUZZ click on FIERY GIRLS to read more and to email author Heather Wardell, you'll get a reply.

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