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.
