There are hundreds of good reasons ...

​For a long time, traditional publishers told my agent and me that "books for kids can't include suicide." Then the pandemic happened, and adults realized that young people DO struggle with mental health, and the only way we can help young people is by talking about mental health. For a million reasons, I was thrilled when I learned Lucy in Between would be published.

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I care because I know the importance of talking about mental illness and mental health. Starting in high school, I knew there was something in me that felt "not right," but it wasn't until I was in my 40s that I got the proper diagnosis--Bipolar Disorder 2. Gosh, what a relief that was!

Living with Bipolar Disorder 2 means that I have primarily struggled with major clinical depression, including suicidal ideation. I have also experienced a few brief episodes of hypomania, which means I don't want to sleep, I feel very creative. The problem? What I create doesn't make much sense. Worst of all, in these times of hypomania, I say dumb things, I think things are funny when they're not, and I hurt people's feelings. That is the opposite of what I would EVER want to do. 

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But I take medication that makes me feel how I am supposed to feel (kind, appropriately creative, and normal-funny). I also have a strict self-care regimen (sleep, exercise, and therapy) and a fabulous team of friends, family, and medical professionals. I am very lucky. I share my story with my colleagues and students, and I connect with people who also live with a mental health condition. There are a LOT of us out there, more than I ever realized!

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My BFF, Erica, once said that having a mental health condition is like having a superpower. I really do believe that. We who live with a mental health diagnosis are creative, passionate, empathetic, deep-feeling folks. And doesn't the world need more of that?