Gum on My Shoe

The next part of the book proposal to be written is called About the Book. "Isn't it ALL about the book?" you might ask, and you'd be right, up to a point. But as we have been discovering, a book proposal has to cover rather more ground than "Hey this is a great book, sign us up!" There are sections covering the market (audience), our credentials as authors, other books already published, production details, promotion, brief chapter summaries and sample chapters... phew! In many ways, the About the Book section is a summary of all those parts, and then some... and it's important to get it right. I had my big pad of paper out earlier, and my best fountain pen, and did some scribbling... out of which, I believe, came some useful ideas which we will be looking to develop in the next few days. Wish us luck!

We’ve not provided any updates for a little while but rest assured, we are working away behind the scenes! The main focus at the moment continues to be putting together the book proposal for "Gum on My Shoe". That is taking longer than we (certainly Marty) originally imagined, mostly because we’ve never written one before and were a bit naïve as to what it entails. It’s challenging, but as we go through the process we are gaining a far better sense of where we want to go with the book, and who our main audience will be. Marty has been active on Twitter recently, and has met some great people over there. If you would like to follow us there, our Twitter handle is @GumOnMyShoeBook . We’d love to hear from you! We’ve also been blessed in finding some great people to provide words of endorsement, which should stand us in very good stead. Mighty thanks to those who have done so, or have said they might! The support and encouragement of you all means the world to us. We rea...

Introducing an occasional series of guest posts. Today, Chris Roberts shares her story and reveals what Gum on My Shoe means to her. I have Bipolar I, which includes the psychotic symptoms during the mania episodes. The psychotic symptoms include schizophrenia, paranoia, and delusions. I was first hospitalized when I was a little over 17 and a half, and off and on for over 30 yrs. There was no such diagnosis for Bipolar Disorder back then and it was thought that I suffered a drug overdose and would not come out of it. It wasn't until I was about 34 yrs. old that I was diagnosed. I'm almost 55 yrs. old now and have less severe manic episodes, but still suffer with mood swings and the intense emotions that go along with the disorder. I haven't had to be hospitalized in several years now. I take an anti-psychotic, mania meds, and an anti-depressant, to help not cure the disorder. I enjoy the Gum on My Shoe Facebook page , because it further educates people about wha...

I’d like to share my experience of the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course I completed last week, because it deserves to be far more widely known about than it is. I’d never heard of Mental Health First Aid until I attended an event organised by the "Time To Change" programme, but it sounded just what I was looking for and I registered on the first available course. I had to take time off work, and pay for the course myself, but I can honestly say it’s the best investment I’ve made in a long time. What is MHFA? "Mental Health First Aid is an educational course which teaches people how to identify, understand and help a person who may be developing a mental health problem. In the same way as we learn physical first aid, mental health first aid teaches you how to recognise those crucial warning signs of mental ill health." [MHFA England website] Four versions of the course are available in the UK. Lite (3 hours, £75) Standard (2 days, £300) Youth (2 days, ...

The darkness is coming by Bernadette Barnes have you ever heard the voice of the darkness as it whispers sweet entreaties in the night have you trembled at the fearful thought that there may be no retuning of the light down and down you slowly slip away into the ever widening gulf of the abyss caressed by the velvet hand of terror and anointed by the devil’s frigid kiss trapped in the web of sleeplessness longing for the pale pink light of dawn but somehow inky midnight clings and cloys as the waking nightmare goes on and on then when all trace of hope has vanished and your soul knows you will never survive a golden sun crests the distant horizon and you are shocked to find you are alive so you rise and set out to face the world but still the darkness speaks in dulcet tones keeping you trapped in its firm and icy grip as it deftly whimpers and softly moans then you know that this time will be lost to you though you may walk in the sunshine all day for you ...

Not everyone may be aware of the fact, but High Tide, Low Tide: The Caring Friend’s Guide to Bipolar Disorder is not Fran Houston’s first book. Inspired by Peaks Island’s rich history and conversations with those whom islanders lovingly refer to as old timers, Fran contacted many long time island residents, photographed and interviewed them, and collected their stories. Her sensitive portraits draw out the essence of individual personalities; the twinkle of an eye, a distant thought, dignity, joy and memory. In Fran’s own words, “My hope is to capture the heart, history, and humor of those that have resided here, weavng a rich tapestry of which we have been the beneficiaries.” A strictly limited number of copies of this landmark book are available direct from the author. Fran is very happy to sign copies, please ask when ordering. The price is $19.95 plus shipping, payable by check or PayPal. To order your copy please contact Fran by email ( fran_houston@hotmail.com ).

This is an exciting time for us, and we wanted to share some of that energy with you. Changes This Saturday, Fran is moving from her beloved Peaks Island to the mainland, specifically Portland, Maine. Finding an apartment and preparing for the move has been a struggle emotionally, and yet it has happened effortlessly, with great help from friends. Her new apartment is lovely and spacious, twice as big as the cottage. It will be quite a transformation from island girl to city girl, after ten years on Peaks, but Fran is up for the challenge. Portland is blessed with restaurants, arts, music, theater, and parks, and she will be able to visit Peaks Island as much as she likes. Writing and editing In recent weeks we have completed rewriting the Introduction, chapter 5 (renamed as "A hand to hold") and chapter 7 ("The S word"). The rewrite of chapter 2 ("The way of illness") is underway and on target to complete this week. Next up is a rewrite of chapte...