Archives for November 2012

I would like to thank, once again, Jesse Barton from Divine Designs, Orillia, for repairing my ‘hacked’ website.  Not sure why this is happening to so many people, and so often, but there are skilled professionals to help solve the problem!  You know, the good guys!  I have a backlog of over 100 comments and as I sit and read them, tears come to my eyes.  So many people have had similar situations, experiences, and want to spread the love and compassion around the world, as I do.  Do I share my experiences to get sympathy. NOT!  I share in order to start a conversation, especially for those individuals who remain stuck.  We have to pick ourselves up and move on, but not without our cherished memories.  I write about ghosts and spirits as a way of honouring those whom I love, who have passed away.  I hope this website helps those of you who are in need of some compassion, understanding, and love to carry on.  Onwards and upwards.  It’s time I got back to writing Book Two instead of all of the frivolity I’ve enjoyed in the past couple of weeks.  Thank you for stopping by and sharing your feedback.  Best of luck, to all. 🙂

http://bookclubreading.com/author-interview-lee-bice-matheson/  I am happy to present my latest author interview.  The more attention Paige Maddison gets, the better! 🙂 Hope you enjoy it.

In defense of self published authors: the next time you decide to enter your latest  self-published, in print, book in a contest and it says ‘self published work is ineligible’ or you meet with a potential bookstore owner and they ask as they roll their eyes ‘Is it self published?’ remember this fellow authors:  Norman Mailer, George Orwell, Alex Haley, John Grisham, Dr Seuss and many more classic authors were rejected by publishers. And Edgar Allan Poe, Rudyard Kipling, Zane Grey, Upton Sinclair, Mark Twain, Deepak Chopra all self published. Don’t allow people’s opinions to deter you from your path.  I sure don’t. The writing world has room for all of us, self published, or published. 🙂  I find a self published author has to develop a thicker skin and keep on asking different venues if they would like to display your book until you hit on the ‘right store with the right fit’.  After all, bookstores have to look out for themselves and their clientele, don’t they?  I expect that.  In a comic book store, I would expect more graphic novels, and in a conservative book store, I would expect more literary works.  It makes sense to me.  So give the owner the benefit of the doubt when you walk in and ask ‘Would you like to look at my book?’  Remember it is a hard market selling books.  Most people prefer the library to check it out, and return it.  And let’s not forget about the eReaders out there.  However, there are still many of us that like to ‘own’ the book and ‘feel it’ in our hands. After twenty months of pursuing three publishing houses, all interested in publishing my book but had monetary troubles, I decided to self publish and have never looked back.  To ensure Wake Me Up Inside was worth publishing, I sent it Fitzhenry and Whiteside for an opinion, only.  They highly encouraged me to continue the process of publication.  It is listed on this site under Reviews.  I have had the pleasure of meeting many honourable people through my self-published journey:  bookstore owners, third party buyers, librarians, teachers, and the list goes on, since I’ve released Wake Me Up Inside.  Most of all, for me as an author, it’s about the kids.  When you see their eyes light up and they run to you with money gripped in their hand announcing ‘I want to buy your book, and I’m going to read it!’ from a child that normally does not read books, is the best feeling in the world!  And when I hear from a reader that they loved it?!  Wow.  I will remain accessible.  That’s what the newly self published authors are.  Ready to communicate one on one with readers to see where their interests lie.  It is fascinating to talk to someone in the Filippines, then New Zealand and later that day in the U.K.  I love to hear what’s on people’s minds.  Don’t you?  Keep the faith and keep on writing.  Best, Lee.

We did it!  We survived a night in the ‘haunted’ Orillia Opera House on Halloween.  Thank you Terri Rossiter from the Opera House for the great tour!  We made our way through the theatres and back stage down to the basement where the old jail cells were and the famous elevator where the poor chap fell to his death on a Friday night and was not found until Monday morning.  I said a little prayer for him, though it seemed a little late.  There was one spot where I felt like running from the room as my skin crawled and that is where the main jail cells were in a rectangular room.  Ugh!  Photos are available on www.facebook.com/leebicematheson  Orillia Youth Centre staff Todd and Lindsay and volunteers did a great job overseeing the night and gathering the kids to come on out.  Thank you to all of the teens who came out on a rainy/snowy night for this event.  Without you, we wouldn’t have had it, nor had such a great time on Halloween.  Georgian College recreational students, post-graduate, organized all of the games and prizes – big job and well done by all.  Thank you so much!  Brewery Bay provided the sumptuous food from coconut shrimp and egg rolls to chicken wings and much more.  Awesome and thank you from all of us.  Apple Annie’s provided the fudge bags and Shoppers Drug Mart (Front St) provided the candy bags.  Thank you so much.  And Kiwanis of Orillia bought Wake Me Up Inside for each teen!  I had teens approach me after my ‘reading’ from the book and ask ‘when will I get the copy?’  They were eager and made me feel happy about writing it. 🙂  Thank you Kiwanis for donating it.  Adam Dagenais and his girlfriend, Brittany, joined us for the ‘haunted’ tour.  Thank you Adam for designing the poster for this event, but he also designed my book cover!  And I would really like to thank my husband, Dr Kevin, who always supports me in my new career and helped to sponsor this event with me.  🙂

Ghostly Gatherings was a success as each teen thanked us and said they enjoyed it through-out the night. Fantastic group of kids.

Thank you to all of the kids who turned out and made it such a special night for us all to be a part of.  We hope you enjoyed it. 🙂