Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column - July 30, 2021

Dear Reader,

It's amazing how quickly time goes by. My grandson Paul is 14 now and working his first job this summer. Looking back, and reading through one of my writing journals yesterday, I discovered this story...

Once upon a time a grandma and her grandson were in the kitchen baking cookies. The grandson was in the baking zone; measuring and leveling flour and sugars, cracking eggs with ease--no shells in the batter. The grandson knew the recipe by heart, because he'd been baking with Grandma every week for the past year. Whenever Grandma would try to lend a hand, he'd remind her, "No, no Grandma, I know how to do that." And he did.

Yes, my grandson Paul, was moving about in the kitchen, like a 4-year-old professional baker. My only job was to slide the cookie sheets into the oven and take them out when the kitchen timer dinged. "The oven's too dangerous for a little boy," I told Paul when he asked if he could help me, "It's too hot and you might get burned."

I bake one cookie sheet at a time, putting one in the oven, then taking one out and setting it on top of the stove to cool. But in the midst of my usual baking routine, when I took another look at the cookies I'd just taken out of the oven, I decided they needed to bake for another minute or two. So I grabbed the cookie sheet (that had just come straight out of the oven), but the potholder wasn't covering my hand. Every kitchen's First Aid Kit should include bags of ice.

"Does your hand hurt, Grandma?"

"Yes, Paul, it hurts very bad, but it will be alright. Even Grandma makes mistakes in the kitchen."

"I can make you feel better Grandma, I'll read you a story."

And so he did. My grandson opened the book, Stone Soup and began to read, which meant he turned the pages and told me the story. Paul didn't read yet, but surprisingly page-after-page, he recited the story of Stone Soup almost word-for-word. I guess I'd read the book to him so many times that he'd memorized the story. "The two travelers knocked on the door, Grandma." and he continued. "A young boy answered the door. His chocolate brown eyes were sweet."

"Please, one of the hungry people said. Do you have any food? Will you share?"

"No food here." My grandson shook his head.

"Does anyone have a big black pot? We'll make a soup with a magical ingredient."

"It would be better if we had a carrot."

"Grandma--everybody brought something, even broccoli, my favorite. The people brought tables and cheese and they shared."

Yes, in the story of Stone Soup the townspeople learn that when you share, magical things do indeed happen. And yesterday, as my grandson was 'reading' to me, the magic occurred again. My hand still hurt, but the love and concern my grandson shared, reminded me (even in the midst of my pain), that I was loved.

Sharing a little bit of yourself with someone else--it's amazing what that magical ingredient can do. Looking back, yesterday was a "real good day". A wonderful day filled with love, that I'll always remember.

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win.

This month's Penguin Classics book is The Transit of Venus, by Shirley Hazzard. I have a copy of the book to share with a lucky reader, so start reading and enter for your chance to win.

Dear Reader Column - July 29, 2021

Dear Reader,

The "ants" and readers wrote my column again today. Readers' stories filled my inbox about last Friday's cake/ant column. It's always fun to hear from you. Thanks for writing.

"Suzanne, your latest email brought back an old memory. When I was in my twenties we moved to a new city (which shall remain nameless), and joined a bridge group in hopes of meeting some new folks. It turns out that everyone in the group was quite a bit older, and when it was your turn to host you made a complete lunch. I can't remember what I made when it was my turn, other than the dessert. It was a crust, a cheesecake layer, then a cinnamon apple layer, and then some sliced almonds. I had made it before, so I knew it was delish, but as I was sprinkling on the almond layer I noticed, much to my horror, that little black bugs came out with the almonds! Really fast little black bugs, who proceeded to zip about and try to make their way into the apple layer and beyond. What's a woman to do when elegant older ladies are expected for lunch? I took off as many bugs as I could reach and threw the dessert into the oven. I don't know if the bugs went up in smoke or changed color but, when I cut the dessert they were nowhere to be seen. Catastrophe averted. Lunch was genteel, the ladies were lovely and I stayed in the group until we moved." -- Linda F.

"Hi Suzanne, I've been enjoying your daily emails for more than a year, but your story about the birthday cake ants prompted me to write to you for the first time. My mother had one sister, my Aunt Helen, who owned a summer house on a lake. We visited her there a few times each summer, and usually ate outside on her picnic tables, in the woods surrounding her house. One year when I was about 10 years old, I went into the kitchen to help take the dessert out to the family. My mom opened her container with the baking dish of brownies she had brought, and as happened with you, found tiny ants inside. Aunt Helen, much more used to living the outdoors life, said, 'No problem, they don't eat much,' and brushed the ants off the brownies before cutting them. I was sworn to secrecy as the rest of the family enjoyed their dessert, but as I recall, my mom and I said we were too full to have any brownies. Thanks for your daily cheer and inspiration, and for reminding me of a long ago family memory." -- Janet D.

And finally, Kathy C. wrote,

"I'm with you. I probably wouldn't eat a birthday cake if I knew ants had crawled on it. And while the insect lollipops (your giveaway) looked interesting, I'm not eating those either. So I'll skip the drawing, this time, even though I enter most."

(Suzanne replies) Kathy, not everyone felt the same way about the bug lollipop giveaway, some readers were braver than you and me. (I'm with you, I wouldn't try them either). But we did have hundreds of entries, and the winner is....Leah H.

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)
MAFIA KING by Rachel Van Dyken

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

This month's Penguin Classics book is The Transit of Venus, by Shirley Hazzard. I have a copy of the book to share with a lucky reader, so start reading and enter for your chance to win.

Dear Reader Column - July 28, 2021

Dear Reader,

The "ants" and readers wrote my column again today. Readers' stories filled my inbox about last Friday's cake/ant column. It's always fun to hear from you. Thanks for writing.

"Suzanne, the story of the ants on the birthday cake you made was so funny. I am sure the kids and parents that come to my story times, [at the library] would have said they would have no problem eating your chocolate cake. Last week's storytime, during our summer reading program was bug themed. I had a worm farm, an ant farm and a rolly-polly farm for the kids to look at. We also pulled out a large earthworm and put it on a plate for the kids to look at while I read a book about worms. Then the fun began. I asked the kids if they were hungry and wanted a  snack. Almost all the kids raised their hands but when I uncovered the snack, all kids changed their minds. What they saw on the plate were flavored crickets. The whole crickets were flavored with sour cream and onion, cheese and bacon and salt and vinegar. None of the kids wanted to try until I ate one, then a few of the kids and a few parents tried them, too. They said the crickets tasted like sunflower seeds, shell and all. I then showed them I had baked chocolate chip cookies with one secret ingredient. I used flour that was infused with crickets (you can buy this flour from Amazon). By the end of the program all the whole crickets were gone and everyone had eaten a cookie--even all the parents. This was one of my all-time favorite storytimes. This was a storytime that the kids as well as parents won't forget." -- Sheri M., Wilson County Public Library Assistant

"I am so sorry about the ants! I was making bread last weekend and it had honey in it. I buy a big jug of raw, local honey and it costs a pretty penny. I poured it into my measuring cup and...what's this? Ants! My honey jug had quite a few ants floating around...all drowned in the golden goo! Well they got what they deserved for being gluttonous! I fished the ants out and went on with my bread making. Of course everyone ate the bread. My husband was the only one I told about the ants, but I don't think anyone else would have cared. I'm glad your family ate your cake anyway. Plus it makes for a great story. Thanks for sharing Suzanne. It is always a pleasure to read with you! Take Care!" -- Jennifer G.

"I loved your ants on the birthday cake story. It immediately brought my beloved Grandpa Gillies to mind. About 60 years ago my grandparents moved from Nebraska to Sebring, FL. At a later date when Grandpa was visiting, he was telling us what he had observed since moving 'down there' and it had to do with ants. According to Grandpa, during the first year people lived in Florida when they found ants in the sugar, they threw the sugar away. The second and third years of living there, when they found ants in the sugar they filtered the ants out and used the sugar. But after living in Florida for more than three years, when ants were found in the sugar, the ants had to look out for themselves. Good luck with cakes in your Grandma Hale's cake carrier in future, and thank you for sharing this story." -- Judie H.

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win.

This month's Penguin Classics book is The Transit of Venus, by Shirley Hazzard. I have a copy of the book to share with a lucky reader, so start reading and enter for your chance to win.

Dear Reader Column - July 27, 2021

Dear Reader,

Lindsay Cameron, today's guest author, worked as a corporate lawyer for many years in Vancouver and New York City, before leaving the law behind to write books. Her first novel, Biglaw, was published in 2015. Just One Look is her suspense debut and has received a starred review from Booklist calling it "a highly entertaining narrative that positively sparkles with wit and insight." Lindsay lives in New York City where she is currently at work on her next book.

Please welcome Lindsay Cameron to our book club. Authors enjoy hearing from readers, [email protected]

 

Remote Learning Injuries

Summer is here and I think all parents deserve a shiny participation trophy for making it through the school year. We juggled portals, passwords, and synchronous/asynchronous schedules. And if you managed to navigate remote learning without breaking a bone, then you're one up on me.

I thought I had the whole remote learning thing down. But, as with all parts of parenting, that only meant it was time to level up. Enter, standardized testing while in quarantine. 

The school emailed step-by-step instructions on how students will complete these tests from home. "Ensure there are no papers on your child's desk! Keep your camera on so the proctor can see your child!" Unfortunately, they didn't include guidance on what to do when you're trying to write and you hear a desperate shriek coming from your sixth grader's bedroom when he's  ten minutes into the reading comprehension portion of the time-sensitive test. A test that, once started, cannot be retaken. "MOM, MY TEST IS FROZEN BUT THE TIMER IS STILL RUNNING!"

I could've used some professional advice, perhaps a whole chapter in a parenting book on the importance of remaining calm, because what I ended up doing was leaping up from the couch as if I'd been electrocuted, banging my foot against the bottom rail of the coffee table, and crawling on all fours to my son's bedroom while wailing "I think I broke a bone," much to the horror of my sure to be traumatized twelve-year-old.

Thankfully, he had the foresight to turn his camera off so his whole class didn't have to witness the drama unfolding over Zoom, but the proctor would soon require him to turn it back on. I hammered my fingers against the keyboard while watching the timer tick down, feeling like I was trying to disarm a bomb before it exploded. After a hard restart, his test magically reappeared on the screen, unfrozen. He turned the camera on, and I dropped to the floor and rolled my damaged body back across the threshold of his bedroom.

He lost seven minutes of time, and I broke two toes.

I've been told that a remote learning horror story is now a parenting rite of passage, like your first sleepless night or first trip to the ER, so I will hold my head high and limp on my broken toes with honor.

I'm always happy to receive emails from readers, so I hope to hear from you!

-- Lindsay Cameron
[email protected]

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win.

This month's Penguin Classics book is The Transit of Venus, by Shirley Hazzard. I have a copy of the book to share with a lucky reader, so start reading and enter for your chance to win.

Dear Reader Column - July 26, 2021

Dear Reader,

I'm not signed up for an official volunteer opportunity right now, and lately I've been chastising myself about it. My very first volunteer job, when my husband and I first moved to Sarasota, was assisting homeless people who wanted to get their clothes washed while they showered. When I decided to leave that position I felt okay with that choice for a while, reminding myself that everyone needs a break now and then. But four months down the road, I started feeling guilty, telling myself that "I used to volunteer ..."  but that wasn't soothing my conscience any more. So why wasn't I volunteering and doing my share to help others?

The first excuse that came to mind was, 'I don't really have any extra time.' My immediate retort, 'But isn't that what most people say? If you really want to do something Suzanne, you can make the time. It's all about choices.' And that's true. But when I took an inventory of how I spend my time, I realized the needs of my family have changed, at least for now. So I've decided to volunteer in my own backyard. I'm trying to be the best wife, mom and grandmother I can, and that means spending quality time with my grandchildren, continuing to be Mom to my grown children, taking their calls when they need someone to listen, working on fun projects with my husband, taking care of our rescued cats, and devoting a little more time to myself, too. Because if I'm a happier, more well-adjusted person, then I'll have more good stuff to share with other people.

* Sharing the good stuff, that's what I was doing when I baked a cake for a family birthday party. Everyone came--even unwanted guests. To read the original column and enter my unique (enter-if-you-dare) giveaway, go to: https://tinyurl.com/EIYDgiveaway

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

AUTHORBUZZ: Discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win.

MAFIA KING (Fiction) by Rachel Van Dyken

I'm so excited to bring you back to the Mafia Royals series where loyalty reigns supreme! Tank De Lange has to make a choice, stay with the FBI or join the enemy. It should be an easy decision except one gorgeous woman stands in the way, Kartini Abandonato. He hates her as much as he loves her. He finally faces the truth of his future, if he doesn't save her, she dies and takes his heart right along with her. Don't forget I'm giving away five free copies, click on the link to Authorbuzz and the book jacket to enter or email: [email protected] to win!

Go to: AUTHORBUZZ click on MAFIA KING to read more and to email author Rachel Van Dyken, you'll get a reply.

This month's Penguin Classics book is The Transit of Venus, by Shirley Hazzard. I have a copy of the book to share with a lucky reader, so start reading and enter for your chance to win.

Dear Reader Column - July 23, 2021

Dear Reader,

The family birthday party, celebrating my husband and our son's birthdays (they're three days apart), was scheduled for 1 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon. The night before, I made their favorite cake, frosted it, and added some colorful sprinkles for decoration. I lovingly stored it in my Grandma Hale's, now-vintage aluminum cake carrier, with black side-slides that snap securely to keep the cake fresh. The keepsake-carrier even has "HALE" on the bottom of it. (Almost every dish in Grandma's kitchen had HALE written on the bottom, because she was constantly cooking casseroles and baking cakes to take to friends, and she wanted to make sure the dish was returned.)

I've hosted all of our family birthday parties over the years, and I guess I finally found the groove, because Sunday morning everything was ready to go, so I went outside and lounged for a bit. An hour before the party, I decided it was time to get the food organized, including deciding where I wanted to display the cake. I lifted the lid, Oh my gosh the chocolate smells so good. But then, OH MY GOSH! What is moving around the edge of the cake? Ants! Hundreds of ants. Armies of ants--on my cake! How they crawled through the seal on Grandma's cake carrier, I don't know, but I think I actually let out a scream! My husband came running, I kept repeating, "Ants, ants, look at the ants! You're going to have to go to the supermarket and buy a cake. Hopefully they have something that looks good. I'm sure they'll have something minus ants."

"Oh, there are only a few hundred ants, Suzanne, but they won't hurt anything." My husband lifted the base of the cake carrier, "Here. I'll get them all off. No problem."

At first I thought he was making a joke. He wasn't. "You've got to be kidding me. I'm not serving a cake that had ants crawling around on it." I was still in a daze, trying to take in what had happened, but then in the background I could hear my husband, calling family members, who were coming to the party, and taking a poll. "Would you eat a chocolate birthday cake if it had at one time, ants crawling on it--but now they're all gone?"

The family poll agreed with my husband. (Unbelievable!) Everyone ate cake at the party, except me.

I still don't know how the ants made into Grandma Hale's cake carrier...maybe the ants were having their own birthday party for one of their buddies. "Hey guys, we don't have to bake George a birthday cake. That Beecher woman just made a two layer chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. And I heard she bakes from scratch, so let's move the party to her house.”

Well, I do bake a pretty tasty cake and I can just imagine the scout ants sending back the message: 'Good Chocolate Cake, come and get it!' (So I guess in a way, it's a compliment?)

If the thought of ants crawling on your food does not bother you, then I have the perfect giveaway for you. Insect Sucker Lollipops, a pack of 4--Scorpion, Ants, Cricket, and a Worm. Enter if you dare, click here.

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

This month's Penguin Classics book is The Transit of Venus, by Shirley Hazzard. I have a copy of the book to share with a lucky reader, so start reading and enter for your chance to win.

Dear Reader Column - July 22, 2021

Dear Reader,

I think one of my ancestors must have coined the phrase, "I'm sick to my stomach over it." Because my relatives 'were' and 'are' always sick to their stomachs. Whenever I had a stomach ache as a kid, my mother would always shrug it off as no big deal, "Oh, it's nothing Suzanne," she'd assure me, "you just have the Tindell Tummy. You get it from your father's side of the family." (Tindell was my maiden name.)

The famous Tindell Tummy does indeed run through our family tree, way back to the Civil War, when one of my relatives was sent home--relieved of his duties--because of his "stomach ailments." So I guess my mother was right, because it's true, I did inherit my own personal barometer for stress. Even though stress can start anywhere in my life, it always ends up in my stomach.

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

This month's Penguin Classics book is The Transit of Venus, by Shirley Hazzard. I have a copy of the book to share with a lucky reader, so start reading and enter for your chance to win.

Dear Reader Column - July 21, 2021

Dear Reader,

You make 'my' day when I hear from you.

Readers Respond...

"Dear Suzanne, I had to laugh at your toilet paper story. I think we've all been there and had to do that. You forgot the most important aspect, however--over or under? The definitive answer is OVER, from the man who knew best--Seth Wheeler, who received a patent in 1891 for the wrapping of a toilet paper roll. Who even knew they HAD toilet paper that long ago? Do you  think they sold it in 49-packs like Costco does today? Have a good day." -- Regards, Nancy B.

"Suzanne, Your calling in life is to share the moments which make your readers laugh... And doing it with TP stories is priceless! I was relating your column to my twin sister... Making a fancy V-fold on the end of the toilet paper roll reinforces her belief that the sheets on the roll should fall forward. But being a 'lefty,' it seems 'right' to me to have the sheets face backwards; thus, the paper hangs down against the wall, which would make the V-fold impossible. Yes, I know that most people subscribe to the 'over' method...well, most people are 'righties.' So, when I am in my sister's house, I turn the TP backward...then she turns it forward when at my house. It's a righty-lefty thing...and a prank that makes us both laugh...which happens often as we live only minutes away from each other." -- Fondly, Lee R.

"Suzanne, Reading today's column struck a note with me. We have 2 TP dispensers in the bathroom off of our bedroom. At one time, my husband and I preferred different brands of TP and to resolve this problem, he installed a second dispenser. I hadn't thought that eventually we would use the same brand of paper and that it would be rare for both dispensers to be empty at the same time. At least, we don't have the problem of running out of paper when it's needed. I always enjoy your columns, the responses and insight into new novels." -- Donna 

"Suzanne, Your column this morning brought back a memory from the pandemic. It made me smile--and I hope it will do the same for you: During the beginning of the pandemic, there was a sudden shortage of toilet paper. After a week or ten days of that particular 'crisis,' I got a phone call. It was from the young twenty-something couple whom I'd met when we adopted the dog that they had fostered for a rescue society. They were very nice, lived in a small apartment nearby, and were also young and far from home and family. We'd become friendly over the months since the adoption. The young woman called and said, 'Barb, this is an unusual question, but do you have a couple of extra rolls of toilet paper we can have?' I told her that yes, I did. She then said, 'I hope it makes you feel good that you're the "adult" whom we knew best and that we could call in a crisis!' And yes, she made me smile--and yes, that did feel good. Smiles and memories.” --  Barb R.

The winner of the TP giveaway is: Pippa R.

The winners of Monday's Big Feet giveaway are: Beverly B. and Carole F.

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

This month's Penguin Classics book is The Transit of Venus, by Shirley Hazzard. I have a copy of the book to share with a lucky reader, so start reading and enter for your chance to win.

Dear Reader Column - July 20, 2021

Dear Reader,

S.C. Perkins, today's guest author, is a fifth-generation Texan who grew up hearing fascinating stories of her ancestry and eating lots of great Tex-Mex. Her first book, Murder Once Removed, was the winner of the 2017 Malice Domestic Best First Traditional Mystery competition, and an Agatha Award Nominee. S.C. resides in Houston and when she's not writing, you'll likely find her outside in the sun or on the beach.

Perkins’ new book is book three in the Ancestry Detective series, Fatal Family Ties.

Today's author would love to hear from you. And when you drop her a note, you'll automatically be entered in her giveaway, a hardback copy of Fatal Family Ties. Email: [email protected] (be sure to include your preferred shipping address.)  

My Favorite Autograph
by S.C. Perkins

Many years before I was published, I told one of my good friends and her mother that the one autograph I'd always wanted was that of my favorite mystery author, Dick Francis. I lamented  the fact that Mr. Francis, by then well into his eighties, had retired to the Cayman Islands. It was unlikely I would ever get his autograph.

Then my friend's mother told me that Dick Francis had a condo in the same complex as their vacation home in the Caymans, and they often saw him around town.

"Would you stalk him for me and get his autograph?" I joked.

I soon forgot about the conversation and the months passed. One day, however, my friend handed me an envelope. I was thrilled to discover it contained a photograph of Dick Francis, accompanied by a piece of letterhead. In the photo, he is standing on the beach in the Cayman Islands. It is signed, though his signature can barely be seen. The letterhead contains a note with only a few words--'Hi Stephanie! Good luck with your first novel. Dick Francis.'

It turns out that my friend's mother took my words to "stalk" Mr. Francis very much to heart. The next time she visited the Caymans, she hunted him down, told him about me, and sweetly insisted that he give her an autograph for me. Apparently, he said he would be delighted to, but he would give her one later. My friend's mother simply took this grand master of crime fiction by the arm and declared that was not good enough. She was going to take him back to his condo for a proper photo, and he would sign it. By all accounts, he amusedly--and possibly a bit bemusedly--gave in, and then did so again when my friend's mother decided he should write me a short note as well.

Although I never got to meet my literary hero in person before he passed in 2010, for a brief moment (and thanks to my friend's intrepid mother), he knew my name, that his books meant so much to me, and that I was hoping to be an author as well.

I have Dick Francis's photo and note framed, and he watches over me in my office. I look at his note often, too. I like to think his words did bring me that little extra bit of luck, and they continuously remind me to keep chasing--or perhaps stalking--my dreams.

-- S.C. Perkins  

Email S.C., [email protected], and welcome her to the book club. When you do, you'll be entered in the drawing for a copy of her new book, Fatal Family Ties.

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

This month's Penguin Classics book is The Transit of Venus, by Shirley Hazzard. I have a copy of the book to share with a lucky reader, so start reading and enter for your chance to win.

Dear Reader Column - July 19, 2021

Dear Reader,

I write my column one day in advance, so it's ready to send late at night and you can read it first thing in the morning. The topic for my most recent column was supposed to be simply, "What's going on in my mind." I like to be able to settle my mind before I write anything, but Friday--it was one of "those" days. Two people I know went into the hospital, business people I'm working on projects with all needed everything "yesterday." Phones ringing, people needing it "now," but all a girl can do, even in a crisis, is one thing at a time.

Actually I do well in a crisis, probably because I grew up in crisis. I know how to kick in and solve problems when other people are overwhelmed with the bad news. So even though  Friday was definitely one of "those" days, all those years of crisis training when I was growing up helped me make it through, and so did my handy green Big Feet. (Sometimes you just gotta laugh.) 

If you're wading through the messy problem muck today, I'm giving away two pairs of Big Feet, so be sure to enter. Your very own pair of Big Feet will lighten your problem load and bring a smile to your face. They worked for me. Click here to enter for your own pair.

Have a wonderful day and if you're still wading through one of "those" days, we can wade together, one problem at a time.

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

Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]

This month's Penguin Classics book is The Transit of Venus, by Shirley Hazzard. I have a copy of the book to share with a lucky reader, so start reading and enter for your chance to win.