Dear Reader,
Herman Martin, the 2017 First Place winner in my annual Write a DearReader Contest, wrote to me...
"Suzanne, this email is my way of thanking you for your kind words and inspiration. A couple of years ago [2017] I wrote a piece for your contest, this was before the pandemic. I did not think I had a chance. (It seemed all of my writings were rejected for one reason or another and I was not in a good frame of mind.) I have always told myself as long as someone reads what I write, then I'm okay. No matter if they like the piece or not. WRONG. I do care. Then you happened. You read my contest entry and book club readers read it too, and all I got back was praise and support. I am truly thankful for that.
Then 'it' happened. Corona. Pandemic. Fear. I was staying home not knowing if the sun would come out tomorrow. (Sorry Annie.) I was becoming bored and angry. What could I do?
The first answer that came to me...WRITE.
But when I thought about all the rejections, I did not want to. Then I reread what you had written about me in your introduction about my winning piece. And this is what I did. I wrote. I created. I published. And I want to tell you again. Thank you."
(Suzanne replies:) Herman, I really appreciate it that you let me know that winning the contest, and the words I wrote about you, have made such a difference in your writing experience.
To read Herman's winning entry and my introduction about him, click here.
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
[email protected]
KIDSBUZZ: Click here to discover new books, "meet" the authors and enter to win.
Rory is in sixth grade and he still can't say his r's, but that's just the beginning of his troubles. Nancy Tandon's THE WAY I SAY IT is "a touching story about friendship, feelings, and support" (Kirkus), ideal for for ages 10 and up. For a chance to win a free copies, to talk with the authors, and more, see http://www.authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz.
This month's Penguin Classics book is HOW THE GARCIA GIRLS LOST THEIR ACCENTS, by Julia Alvarez, with a foreword by Elizabeth Acevedo. I have a copy of the book to share with a lucky reader, so start reading and enter for your chance to win.
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