Guest Post: Dee Crabtree, author of Promise Road

Dee Crabtree is here to talk about her new book, Promise Road.

On its surface, Promise Road appears to be a book about scandal, infidelity and betrayal.  On a deeper level, it’s about mental illness.  My purpose in writing this story was to shine a light on this tragic problem; a problem that is very prevalent in our society.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (nimh.nih.gov) an estimated one in four American adults suffers from a diagnosable mental disorder.  Some instances, such as minor mood disorders, are fairly benign and easily managed, while others, such as schizophrenia, can be complex and even dangerous.   

Emily, the main character of my book, was raised by two disturbed parents and she struggles to understand their behavior throughout her childhood.  She is painfully aware that her family is remarkably different from other families and she longs to know why.

As an adult, Emily develops a layman’s comprehension of mental illness and eventually realizes that both her mother and father are deeply afflicted.   While she learns to accept who her they are, she begins to question who is she is.  The mistakes she makes in life cause her to fear that she might suffer from the same ailments as her parents. 

A lot of people in our society grow-up in a situation that resembles Emily’s early years.  Unfortunately, unlike Emily, they may never develop the insight that might help ease the pain of their childhood.  My hope is that this book will enlighten readers and lead them to better understand their loved ones who may suffer from some form of mental illness.

SYNOPSIS

Insanity and infidelity in the Midwest

Columbus, Indiana was a quiet, pleasant place during the turbulent 1960s and 70s.  However, with a seriously sociopathic father and a bitter, narcissistic mother,  Emily Anne Taylor's life was anything but quiet and pleasant during those years.  She grew up in a broken, dysfunctional home and in an equally broken, dysfunctional culture.

As a grown woman, Emily is painfully aware that her parents' dubious choices and behaviors shaped her understanding of what constitutes normal behavior.  Countless unfortunate memories affect her deeply as she searches for love and happiness.  She questions her own sanity with every choice she makes. 

Just as Emily reluctantly begins a painful divorce, she becomes close friends, and then more, with a married man who appears to be her salvation - but is he truly her soul mate and the key to her happily-ever-after or is he just another insane choice?

Link to the author's website.