Hey First name / y'all,

 

I hope this finds you with your feet up somewhere shady, because it is hotter than blue blazes here in Greenville. The kind of hot where the sidewalk feels soft under your shoes and the dog won't even chase the mail carrier anymore. If you're anywhere south of the sweet tea line this week, you know exactly what I mean.

 

I'm taking a little breather myself right now since HARD CANDY CHRISTMAS is currently with my very capable editors. In just a few days, I'll be back at my desk polishing the manuscript, but in the meantime, I'm using this pause to catch up on a few things that a book deadline always shoves to the back burner--like email, exercise, and every single other thing except the book. I'm really excited about this one, and I just can't wait to get it in your hands. I've missed Liz and Nate and their whole gang.

 

Over on Facebook, the Lowcountry Book Club is spending the whole month celebrating my friend and fellow "Southern Susan" Susan Beckham Zurenda's new release. Susie is a wonderful co-host for our monthly book chats, and it's always such fun to read and feature her work. If you're not in the group yet, come on over and join the discussion by clicking here or on the button below. Our August conversation happens on Thursday, August 27, and we'd love to have you!

 

The other fun thing I'm working on is a special surprise for next month's newsletter. So mark your calendar for the third week of September, because I've got a little something exclusively for newsletter subscribers. I'm not ready to spill the details just yet, but I don't want you to miss it. Stay on the lookout for September's installment. All will be revealed… 

 

And because nobody wants to stand over a hot stove in this weather, this month's recipe is Liz Talbot's Favorite Tomato Sandwich, a classic Southern treat guaranteed to keep the kitchen cool even when the thermometer isn't cooperating. I left the link to the full recipe below, as always. And yes, of course, I know none of y'all need a recipe for a tomato sandwich. It's really just a bit of fun. I do love a tomato sandwich…

1. Be a member of the Lowcountry Book Club on Facebook.

2. Be a subscriber to my newsletter. (If you're reading this, you're all set!)

3. Join the discussion by posting your review, thoughts, or questions in the group during the month OR comment on someone else's post or the author interview post during the month.

 

The door prize drawing takes place on the last day of each month. Prizes must be claimed within one week.

Last month I handed y’all a trifle that takes two days and dirties every bowl in the kitchen. This month it’s ninety-six degrees, I am not turning on the oven for love nor money, and it’s peak tomato season.

So here is Liz Talbot’s tomato sandwich. Four ingredients. No cooking. Some folks recommend eating a tomato sandwich standing over the sink, but I like to sit down with some Cape Cod Wavy potato chips and a tall glass of iced tea.

 

Liz and I will happily ask a restaurant chef to tweak a dish six ways to Sunday—no corn, avocado instead, extra cheese, salsa on the side—but in my Southern-born-and-bred opinion, this recipe—which is by no means my original recipe—cannot be improved upon. Soft white bread. Duke’s, edge to edge, both slices. Thick slices of tomato. Salt and a generous sprinkle of pepper. That is the whole thing, and every Southerner reading this already has an opinion about it.

 

There are way fancier tomato sandwiches to be had. In Travelers Rest, the small, northern Greenville County town we live next to, every year there’s a Tomato Sandwich Taste-Off at the farmers’ market, and tickets generally sell out early. I have enjoyed all kinds of delicious tomato sandwiches.

 

I’ll own up to one bit of local pride. Duke’s got its start right here in Greenville in 1917, when a woman named Eugenia Duke sold sandwiches to soldiers at Camp Sevier for a dime apiece. She built an empire out of a sandwich, and her mayo is iconic.

Penney, please email MaryAnn at maryann@susanmboyer.com to claim your choice of drinkware from my store!

 

For a chance to win your choice of drinkware in next month's newsletter, click the I WANT TO WIN!! button below.

All books are available in print, eBook, and audio formats.

Is this email not what you want? I never want to send too many emails, so please feel free to unsubscribe or update your preferences.