A friend of mine asked me, “What summer vacation did you and your family enjoy?” I looked away for a moment then replied, “Well, we really didn’t have a summer vacation. We’re writers.” (Remember our son, J.R. Matheson, is my coauthor.) I thought this answer conveyed my reasoning – though it may look like we have holidays, we work while we’re on holidays! When my friend stared blankly at me, it was only then that I realized just how much my world has changed since I first published Wake Me Up Inside in 2010. A writer never takes a vacation, seriously. We are always writing: whether it’s imagining a scene while hiking in a forest; taking a boat ride with friends and family and imagining what might be happening in that old haunted school along the waterway that people still whisper about; or while chatting at a summer garden party, studying the behaviour of people surrounding us and collecting some of their traits for a new character.
Our family used to vacation in Port Charlotte, Florida. Three years ago, Christmas, J.R. and I stayed in and wrote Destiny’s Gate while occasionally glancing out our lanai
This alligator is like the one that used to visit our small lake in Port Charlotte. This photo was taken at Gatorama, Palmdale, Florida.
to the small lake below, looking for our friend the local alligator, wondering when we’d get a sneak peek of him. And now that there are two books published and J.R. and I are writing book three, plus marketing the first two books…well let’s just say life becomes a bit more complicated. In the beginning, I knocked on doors to ask if a bookstore would host us, or another kind blogger, but eventually, if you work hard and write a book people are interested in, the change occurs – you are asked by others to do a book signing or blog post/interview. We are eternally grateful for each and every opportunity and never take one of them for granted. You can read about all of our events archived on this blog or on our events page. (I also work in my husband’s Chiropractic Clinic and help patients with their health care plans.)
Getting back to my ‘looked away’ remark in my first sentence, it wasn’t until I was asked this question that I realized my whole life has changed since I began writing the Paige Maddison Series. And lucky for me, I asked our son, J.R. Matheson, to join me along the way.
J.R. Matheson is entertaining and wonderful to work with at the book signings. One very proud Mom!
I am grateful for his partnership, his fellowship, his input, and his brilliant writing. J.R. has added so much more to the series. And he is the best son we could have ever imagined!! Next, let me mention my husband, Kevin, for his managerial support. He sets us up and breaks it down for us at each event we attend. And he is always with me when I approach a new contact for an instore book signing.
Here is our Manager, Kevin Matheson, husband and father. He supports us at each book signing and is pictured here reading to us from Arianna Huffington’s book. Great read Arianna!!
Little known fact: it was my husband who said I must start to write and share my stories with the world. Thank you, Kevin!! And this is not to mention my extended family
Here is my extended family that show up to our events when time permits. We are the Bice sisters and families. 🙂
who show up at events and offer their undivided attention and support. I am very grateful for my two sisters – Lynn, who helped to edit the first two books but recently informed me ‘Your series is too big for me now. You have to get a professional editor!”
Sisters Lynn, Lee, and Cindy pictured with J.R. Matheson at Chapters Square One.
And my sister Cindy for drawing the first sketch of the O’Brien Estate and has insisted a professional must draw the next sketch. How lucky am I to have these two sisters as my posse?! And thank you to our nieces and nephews for attending when time permits. But I must call out Katy.
Niece Katy is on the left with her mom Lynn, my sister, and J.R. and I.
She is one of my beta readers and always provides insightful advice. Thank you so much, Katy!!
I have often said writing is a calling. It’s not a choice. One day you may wake up and decide to take a writing course, put a pen to paper, or type on your computer. And soon, you too will look back and have the same question asked, “What summer holidays did you and your family enjoy?” And you’ll look away and may think to yourself, as I do, I enjoy each and every day of my life. When you enter into the world of writing and publishing, every day is an adventure, a gift. Being a writer makes life much more animated, more enjoyable, through the eye of the observer, and often times the active participant, and ultimately the active writer. Try it. It’s freeing.
While writing book three this summer, J.R. and I attended two book signings. I’ve written about the Chapters Barrie book signing and Chapters Square One. We are pleased to say both bookstores have asked us back for encore book signings. We have also been hosted on Cheryl Carpinello’s blog called Carpinello’s Writing Pages for the Kid Lit Blog Hop. I was approached on Twitter by Cheryl and it is an honour to be on this blog tour. Thank you so much, Cheryl! I will be writing more on this later.
It was a really busy summer and still is.
J.R. Matheson is now enrolled at the University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacology specializing in Addictions Research. Best to you, J.R.! J.R. is also writing book three of our series. What a son! 🙂 Love Mom xoxo
Remember, the first day of Fall is not until September 23rd. Enjoy the rest of your summer!! 🙂
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