I am blessed this year as I’ve had many interested readers facebook, direct message me on twitter and email at info@leebicematheson.ca asking what my book is about. It is an important part of the Christmas season – buying loved ones something they’ll cherish. My memories of Christmas’ past, in particular, was watching the Charles Dicken’s novel turned into a television movie called A Christmas Carol. Others will know it as Scrooge. Ebenezer Scrooge was so hurt in his lifetime that his heart turned cold. It’s a great lesson for all of us to remain loving and adapt to changes in our lives, hopefully, without a lot of bitterness and resentment. Let’s face it, we all have struggles and challenges, don’t we? The differences between us is the fact that some choose to air their challenges while others suffer in silence. Studies show sharing our losses, struggles or challenges can help others in their own lives.  It opens up the lines of communication with family or friends. Wake Me Up Inside is a book about family relationships, ghosts, death, life, sadness, happiness and many other human emotions. The biggest compliment I’ve received from readers to date is: I loved your book! In fact, a friend of mine asked to borrow it and I told them, buy your own. It was a personal journey reading your book and one I cherish. This is not a marketing scheme, it is the truth. I am grateful readers have enjoyed the first book in the Paige Maddison series. It touches my heart. Thank you to all who have chosen to buy this book and share your thoughts with me. I am anticipating the release of book two in the series co-authored by J.R. Matheson, our son, and wonderfully talented writer. A beta reader described book two as: epic, moving, loved it, and experienced so many emotions. It is another page turner and roller coaster of a ride! Stay tuned…and happy shopping! Canadians can enter a chance to win a hardcover copy of Wake Me Up Inside on goodreads.com CONTEST HAS ENDED. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.

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

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I love November. It was my mother’s birthday month and mine! Mom’s was on the 19th and I was born the next day on the 20th. How great is that?! To be able to celebrate your birthday with your Mom each year was a blessing. I loved it! It made it more special because it wasn’t just about me. I loved helping her to celebrate her special day and mine. If you are celebrating a birthday this month, please do not let anyone make you feel like November’s a blah month. So far this November, we’ve had many sunny days and it’s been warmer than normal. I love it because it’s between two holidays – Thanksgiving (October in Canada) and Christmas. But don’t let us Scorpios fool you. For the younger ones in the crowd, we do not like Christmas gifts as birthday gifts. Remember it is a birthday, after all. I for one do not look for presents. This year my husband is whisking us away for two weeks in sunny Florida (very lucky am I) and I get to spend this birthday with my sister (who lives in our hometown of Sarnia). We will be in Florida at the same time. We will miss our sister who is unable to make it down from Toronto but know she will be with us in spirit. You will be missed! Our son Justin (co-author of book two in the Paige Maddison Series) is working very hard at university and you know we miss you! Time off for this hard-working writer, office manager, receptionist, maid, chief cook and bottle washer. Happy Birthday my fellow November babies. Enjoy your special day and do something you want to do with the people you love. The best part for me – our editor loves book two –it transitions well from book one – Wake Me Up Inside – and she said it’s epic! Nice note to go away on, don’t you agree?

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It’s live on BookLOADS interviewed by Dawn Husted. Please look for the interview to see what’s new for this author. It was so much fun! Thank you Dawn for having me on your blog.  It really is a treat for me. Just click on the links above to learn more about Dawn and her book released in August, 2013 entitled Safe. 

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Note to self: Do not read Wake Me Up Inside on Halloween. It will 100% guaranteed give you goosebumps and nightmares. I’m not kidding. Wait until November 2nd when the coast is all

Paige Maddison Series by Lee Bice-Matheson

clear. Enjoy your Halloween.

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Don’t let the rain get you down! Enjoy your Halloween. Here are photos of my husband, Kevin and I on Halloween. Quote by Lee Bice-Matheson:

Performing Reading of Wake Me Up Inside at the Orillia Opera House

Pictured with author Lee Bice-Matheson and ghostly tour guide Terri Rossiter

Orillia Youth Centre pumpkin carvers with author Lee Bice-Matheson

On this day, if it were me, I’d don a mask for all to see.

Ghostly Gatherings at the Orillia Opera House

Ghostly Gatherings at the Orillia Opera House

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Fun Filled Night with Orillia Youth Centre and local children

I love Halloween. Just ask our son and co-author of the Paige Maddison Series, J.R. Matheson. We annually bought one new decoration that began with friendly scarecrows that grew to five feet tall, a skeleton that we carefully positioned in the front yard and when it was destroyed by high winds, we took the remaining parts and buried them partially into the ground with a gravestone. Scary spiders hung in our front cedar trees caught in their cobwebs. Soon real spiders made it their home. From there, we moved inside collecting battery operated ghosts – one that moves up and down and has the most ghoulish laugh ever! Just ask our son’s friends. One in particular said our house was so scary she couldn’t stay long before they went out and trick or treated. That was the year that I thought okay, perhaps we have gone a bit overboard. Last year I was thrilled to host, with my husband Kevin, Ghostly Gatherings at the Orillia Opera House for the Orillia Youth Centre. We were lucky to have the students of Georgian College help to plan out the games and run them. The generosity of the owners of Brewery Bay will never be forgotten as they donated the most awesome food for everyone! Our tour guide of the event, Terri Rossiter did an excellent job of guiding the kids around the rumoured haunted house. Well done Terri! The Orillia Opera House has picked up the idea this year and are running a fun filled night for kids and their parents with stories being told. I wish them all the best. I hope Terri is the guide again this year. At Ghostly Gatherings, I read from my debut novel – Wake Me Up Inside – and the Kiwanis Club of Orillia generously donated a copy to each participant. This year, we are turning our attention to the young children in our neighbourhood who are just starting out in the Halloween adventure. We have toned down our decorations and they appear softer, not so scary. After all, it is about the new generation of children and it is their Halloween. It is a time for community and since so many people supported our son in his Halloween collection of candy, so will we in turn. I for one cannot wait to see the costumes and hear the laughter as children parade up and down the street for their chance at a little bit of independence and good old fashioned fun, as their parents trail happily behind. Happy Halloween to all. Thank you to all of the readers that support the Paige Maddison Series. Book Two in the Series will be out in 2014. Look for it!

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It is a well known fact in my family that my favourite weekend of the year is Thanksgiving. I love it because it’s not about gifts but spending time with family and friends, people that you love. Hiking, playing Scrabble, eating a fabulous turkey dinner are shared as we remember how lucky we are. I am grateful for my husband Kevin and our son Justin who I will be spending time with this weekend. Sadly, we will not be able to be with my two sisters and their families as we are spread out from Budapest to Calgary and Toronto to Sarnia, in between. To all of our family everywhere and friends Happy Thanksgiving! Let’s count our blessings. Montreal is a beautiful place to spend the holiday and we always hike Mount Royal. Justin says the foliage is the prettiest this year. Kevin and I are also grateful for those who come in for his care – you enrich our lives daily, our staff who are always supportive, and to all of the fans on Facebook and readers of Paige Maddison’s journey, I am grateful. Book Two is completed and off to the editors. Look for it in the Spring of 2014. I am also thankful for the community of friends on Twitter that #FF or #MM…each week and my LinkedIn supporters. Thank you for your support!

One of our favourite hiking trails in Orillia.

In the meantime, here is a book for those of you who would like to know more about the Canadian Thanksgiving called Thanksgiving Day in Canada, a children’s book, by Krys Val Lewicki. 🙂

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I am delighted to announce Megan of Oakville won a paperback copy of Wake Me Up Inside. Congratulations, Megan. I hope you enjoy the novella. I am currently completing the second book in the Paige Maddison Series with co-author JR Matheson. It was heart-warming to see how many entrants signed up for this. Thank you to all who entered.

First public reading of Wake Me Up Inside held in the teen section. I read for 35 minutes and no one left the room! Followed by many questions. It was this author’s dream come true 🙂 Thank you to all who attended.

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Philip Henry is the author of eight Irish horror novels and film maker recently working on Noirland. His eighth novel, The Dead Room, is a must read!  It is a haunted tale about a couple who buy an old country mansion – hopeful it will be their nest egg. Once renovated and remodelled surely the soothsayers, psychics, and ghost hunters will come and pay good money to search for the truth. Is there life after death? Do ghosts really exist and can they be caught on tape? I could not put this book down! It is an intriguing tale of a TV producer, Emma, and her journey with her questionable past that motivates her to help the newly married couple achieve their dreams. Emma arrives at the Bridge House aka Arcane Manor later joined by her crew. They live in the house for one week to uncover the truth of this ghostly mansion. Little did she know what awaits…

The Dead Room captivates the reader and makes you keep coming back to finish until the end. Henry has a unique writing style and carves out his characters with great attention to detail and passion. It’s amazing how this author writes tender scenes and relays the emotions of the female characters so eloquently. It truly is a touching story as well as a fascinating paranormal novel. Psychic, mediumship, paranormal, intrigue, love, loss, fear, anger, violence, happiness all in one book. I gave it 5 stars. Well Done, Philip Henry!

by author & film maker Philip Henry

http://www.philiphenry.com/ghosts.htm

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The year was 1980 when the first Friday the 13th movie debuted starring none other than Kevin Bacon, at least that’s how I remember it. This hunky guy had an unassuming role but his death on screen was unforgettable. An arrow was shoved through the back of his neck as he lay on a bed awaiting his girlfriend. I will never forget it. It was gruesome. Nor will I forget the 11 additional movies, some good, some not so good, all in the theme of Friday the 13th. I, for one, am not a superstitious person, never will be. (whoops never say never) In fact, I do not suffer from triskaidekaphobia or paraskevidekatriaphobia.

Grew up on these spooky films. Should I really admit this?

Many of my best moments career wise were on this very day. In one of my former jobs, I received an annual raise of 12%, 4 years in a row, two of which were on Friday the 13th. I also interviewed for a huge career game-changer on this day and was called within the hour that I got the job! For me, it’s all in the mind. It’s what you put your mind to, that’s what you believe in. Even if there is no actual concrete validation.  Be careful what you allow in to your mind and what you believe to be true. Did you know that while watching a movie your mind may feel like you are a part of it?  Afterwards, your memory actually can trick itself into thinking that what was on screen really happened to you. There is a ton of literature on this fact. Remember when watching some of these movies, say to yourself, this isn’t real, or is it? Question what’s on the screen. BTW, we once had the greatest black cat named Stevie. He brought us good luck while I was pregnant with our only son, Justin! Enjoy Friday the 13th, another beautiful day. 🙂

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