Nice to see Wake Me Up Inside listed in my alma mater! What a great nod to Paige Maddison. Thank you so much. http://www.alumnigazette.ca/issues/winter-2013/wake-me-up-inside-paige.html
Alumni Gazette: Western University’s Alumni Magazine, Winter 2013
January 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Two Writers at the Table
January 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment
2013 started off with one surprise after another. However, the most wonderful was the return of our son, Justin, to our home. Now, picture this! Two writers at the table and I think I am actually competing with how fast Justin’s typing, rather than the content of my blog. Could this actually be true? We are both writing books – I, a ghost story, and Justin, a horror novel. It’s like a write-off. This is a very unique position and one that I am proud and happy to be a part of. Best of luck Justin. May you always type faster than your Mother and have a bestseller long before me. We wish only the best for you. Now I’ll get back to writing my book, but had to share this very unique opportunity with the rest of the world. Happy New Year to all!
Announcing a New and Passionate Writer
January 16, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Check out Justin R Matheson’s new blog! He is going places in the writing community and is very passionate about science. JR is also writing his first horror novel due to be published Fall, 2013. Our best to you, our dear son, Justin. http://thebeautifulworldofscience.blogspot.ca/
Brummet’s Conscious Blog
January 11, 2013 by 2 Comments
Thank you Lillian for hosting the author Lee Bice-Matheson and her book Wake Me Up Inside on your blog. Truly appreciated. Check out Lillian’s blog at: http://www.consciousdiscussions.blogspot.ca/2013/01/world-of-writing-interview.html
BRUMMET CONSCIOUS BLOG INTERVIEW: Children’s Authors
When you started your book, did you plan on writing it as a series, or did it just grow into one? I knew from the beginning it was going to be at least a trilogy. I’ve had many readers write to me directly and say how happy they are it’s a trilogy, but wish it was a series. So I go back and forth on this.
What age group did you write for? Primarily young tweens/teens between the ages of 12-17 but I am surprised at how many people of all ages are reading Wake Me Up Inside.
Why did you write for this particular age group? I feel teens have a rough time figuring out their lives, how to act, who to trust, how to stand up for themselves. I remember it very well! It is not an easy time of life as one is pulling away from parents and trying to become more independent. Choosing new friends can be great or go terribly wrong, depending on shared morals and values. Peer pressure and bullying are rampant and I am pro anti-bullying. The teen heroine, Paige Maddison, does not allow anyone to bully her, for long!
Did you find it difficult to choose the right language, images and writing style for reaching this age group? I seemed to have a knack for writing teen lingo. Seriously though, I have my son and his friends to thank for that. Many teens congregated in our home and I could not help but overhear their conversations. I would also ask our son, Justin, for some of the teen slang and IM words. I feel I am a teen at heart.
How do you plan to promote this book (or series)? I had a book signing in my hometown of Sarnia. It was well attended – just shy of 100 people. From there, I have sold it to bookstores in Sarnia, London, Toronto and Orillia. I sponsored a Halloween party in a haunted house (with my husband) at the Orillia Opera House, on October 31st! 25 teens attended and received a free copy of my book, generously donated by the Kiwanis Club of Orillia. I also performed a reading at the Orillia Public Library and there were 25 people in attendance, the most they’ve had for this kind of event. I just received a glowing review on Allbooks Review International so I share all of this information on my website and facebook pages. And on blogs, like yours 🙂
Is there anything in your book that is based on a real life experience? Yes, I believe all writers have bits and pieces of themselves in their writing. Paige is a part of me,especially the fact that she does not let others mistreat her. She stands up for herself but does it from a place of love.
Why did you feel this book needed to be written? Wake Me Up Inside was written for both genders and it is an homage to those individuals that need to read an empowering, inspirational story to help them in their day to day challenges everyone experiences, at one time or another. Thank you, Lillian, for guest hosting me on Brummet’s Conscious Blog.
Allbook Review: Wake Me Up Inside
December 25, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Genre: Ghost Story
Title: Wake Me Up Inside
Author: Lee Bice-Matheson
Paige Maddison has been having nightmares ever since she learned her family would be moving. Ripped from everything she’s ever known in her hometown Toronto, her grandfather’s ailing health has forced Paige and her family to move to their enormous estate, O’Brien Manor.
As soon as Paige steps into the manor, her troubles begin. On a race against supernatural forces to finish solving a certain “mistery” before her grandfather runs out of time, Paige rallies the power of family, friendship and young love in her battle to save those she loves.
I found this book to be the epitome of a compelling mystery and ghost story that retains the delightful cleanliness of a short novel suited for any age group. Lee Bice-Matheson’s style of writing very effectively drags you in and keeps a reader on his or her toes until the very end. The most noticeable aspect of the whole novel may be Lee Bice-Mathesons’s choice to use Paige’s stream-of-consciousness to describe the scenes around her rather than the usual ominous third-person descriptions found in so many other stories. This lends the book a sort of endearing innocence while maintaining the level of suspense needed to bring the reader to a satisfying conclusion.
The first in a trilogy, Wake Me Up Inside introduces characters whom all demonstrate great potential for further development. I for one await the other two books with a fervor. This is highly recommended by Boyu Huang, Allbooks Review.
Thank you so much Boyu. You read it here first! This review is going up on Allbook Review website within this week. What a Christmas present this is to me! 🙂 Here is the official link: http://www.allbooksreviewint.com/ReviewShowcase.html
Happy Holidays Everyone!
December 21, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Reviewer from Philippines
December 6, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Now this is why an author goes to the trouble to write novels! I have had many reviews written and forwarded to me but this one touches my heart! The winner of the ‘What Are You Thankful For’ contest, Therese Ann Montebon, from the Philippines, read Wake Me Up Inside and wrote: The book was awesome . I can really understand it unlike others that I’ve read before . It really scared me. I’m imagining things especially how you described Conall! Can’t wait for it’s next book . (continuation of it ). Thanks a lot for the book . I’m starting to like ghost/horror stories. You have a wonderful start, for a first time writer like you. Thank you Therese Ann and I am so happy you enjoyed Paige Maddison’s journey! From a writer’s point of view, it can take years to write one book and the most important gift you can give an author, is to review the book, especially if you liked it. I love to hear from the readers of Wake Me Up Inside, anytime and I am asking you to also go online and review it on google, goodreads.com, kobo books, amazon, or any online venue you bought my book from. Thank you so much to all who have done so already. I truly appreciate it. 🙂 Book Two in the Paige Maddison series is almost finished and it has been an arduous, blood, sweat and tears experience – sometimes I’ve had to stop writing it because it scares even me! But it will shock the readers, I guarantee it. 🙂 Thank you for the Paige Maddison believers! Without you, I wouldn’t have the passion to continue Paige’s journey. I am lucky to have so many fans, already, in my short career and thank each and every one of you!
Gratitude
November 22, 2012 by Leave a Comment
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. 🙂
Author Interview of Lee Bice-Matheson
November 12, 2012 by Leave a Comment
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.
To Self Publish or Publish
November 9, 2012 by Leave a Comment
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.