Ghostly tome dedicated to late wife
By Beth Kramer ekramer@stmedianetwork.com November 3, 2011 6:48PM
Edwin (Ed) Bieda of Fox Lake recently published a book entitled "Why Me." | Rob Dicker~Sun-Times Media
Article Extras
Updated: January 3, 2012 1:43AM
Lifelong Lake County resident Edwin Bieda’s book started as a diversion from medical problems for himself and his late wife, Alice.
Her health was starting decline before her cancer diagnosis and Bieda was having trouble with his enlarged heart.
Before she died in 2010, Bieda had finished a manuscript consisting of autobiographical short stories. After she died, Bieda said he pursued publishing it as a distraction.
“I thought I’d do it for her,” Bieda said. “It’s all for her because she was with me when I completed it.”
Alice died of fourth-stage liver cancer on March 26, 2010.
His book, titled “Why Me,” was recently published through Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc.
“I’m very pleased with it. Everyone likes my cover — I designed the cover and all the illustrations,” Bieda said.
“Why Me” is Bieda’s first book. It consists of eight autobiographical short stories in 88 pages related to his experiences seeing ghosts.
Bieda, 64, said he has been seeing ghosts since he was young. He doesn’t hear them or speak with them.
That’s what his book’s title refers to: Why does he see ghosts? He has no explanation.
Bieda said he figures that when he dies, God will explain to him why he sees ghosts.
“There’s nothing in this book that says believe. You decide for yourself,” Bieda said.
Bieda wrote short pieces for himself and family over the years but said he never kept anything he wrote. He worked as a security officer for the state and said he did not consider himself a writer.
“I must have spent a good three months doing one chapter,” Bieda said.
He said he wasn’t sure he liked each sentence until he heard his wife read it aloud. He got her input throughout almost the entire writing process.
Bieda started writing the book in 2007 and finished in 2010. He had it printed as a manuscript to share with family.
After Alice passed away, he decided to try for publishing and found Dorrance Publishing. He got an offer to publish his book two weeks after he sent in his manuscript.
Bieda said “Why Me” will be his only book.
“I’m not planning to write another book. She (Alice) was the one who inspired me to go for it. She gave me that enthusiasm to do it — she was my instigator. That’s how we spent more than 40 years together,” Bieda said.
Comments Click here to view or make a comment