Mental Illness Support Group discussion

Hello

I am new to the group, so this is a big ask. I wrote an autobiographical novel about my early life with mental illness around eight years ago, then buried it until last year, when i was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. I now have been diagnosed with seven separate personality disorders, including BPD, compulsive obsessive disorder, and schizotypal personality disorder.

As such, I can't really call my book, Deadweight - An autobiographical novel about Borderline Personality Disorder.

I am torn between having the novel act like a case study for the medical profession, whereby the plot development links with the development of my various illnesses, and a book for the general reader... to raise social empathy for mental illness sufferers

So, I came up with a new title and cover for the book, and a modified version of the old. I have also included two draft blurbs (open to modification), and an about the author.

Would you mind looking at them, and giving your opinion/preference? Who would I target? Would there be an interest?
I am often faced with the notion of the worthless nature of the book, written with good intent, even though it is the biggest seller of all my books at present.

Anyway, an advice you can give would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards

Nick Crutchley

PS. I can supply a sample copy for kindle if required.













BLURB 1

Did demons create the delusions?

Did delusions create the demons?


​Nick Crutchley descends into paranoia, hallucinations and delusions in this character portrait of a young adult with seven personality disorders.

After Nick adopts another personality to cope with his shifting reality, his mind fractures.

​Voices begin to whisper . . .



BLURB 2

Grief and simmering rage. Depression, anxiety and emptiness. Rapid mood swings and a fragile self-identity. All spiral into the deadweight, an inescapable shadow consuming a young adult’s heart.

Warring parents, a broken family and the sudden death of a loved one drive Nick Crutchley to seek meaning in religion, mysticism and the occult. His path leads him not to peace and happiness, but a delusionary world built on suppressed emotions and magical thinking. After Nick's reality shifts, he adopts another personality, and soon becomes lost in his new identity, substance abuse and fear.

How long can this young man evade the demons that hunt him?

How long before the deadweight fractures his mind, and allows whispers in from outside?



About the Author
Nick Crutchley, a teacher and conservationist, has been diagnosed with seven separate personality disorders, including Borderline (BPD), Scizotypal Personality Disorder (STPD), and Compulsive Obsessive Personality Disorder (OCPD). He wrote this autobiographical novel to help foster social empathy for sufferers of mental illness, and as a psychological case study for the medical profession.

As someone suffering from mental illness, I don't think it's our job to teach the medical profession, even if our "cases" are always useful to them to compare and study if they want to be able to help more people. But memoirs where people tell the readers what's it's been like and what it's still like for them is important both for other people suffering from mental illness (there was one book specifically I've read when I was a teenager that made me feel understood and less alone) and for others who don't know mental illness but are trying to support us.

For the title/cover and the blurb, I'd pick the second one in both cases.

Catherine wrote: "As someone suffering from mental illness, I don't think it's our job to teach the medical profession, even if our "cases" are always useful to them to compare and study if they want to be able to h..."

Thank you, Catherine.

I can very much agree, and would really like to know which book you read.

I thought the story might act as a useful tool for the medical profession, as it puts the reader in the mind of the sufferer.

I am now unsure whether DEADWEIGHT would benefit from a strapline.
A Memoir of Madness was used by Styron for Darkness Visible.

A Memoir of Seven Personality Disorders?

OR just Deadweight?

I actually have real problems with decision making, and your input has been much valued.

Nick wrote: "Catherine wrote: "As someone suffering from mental illness, I don't think it's our job to teach the medical profession, even if our "cases" are always useful to them to compare and study if they wa..."

It can be useful for the medical profession of course, but what I was trying to say is that you should write it (in my opinion) for all readers. If people from the medical profession decide to read it, it will be great, but when someone says that their book is useful for doctors, readers can assume that it's gonna be more a textbook than an autobiography, you know what I mean?

I like "Madness begins with a whisper" for the title. I understand, I have trouble making decisions as well.

Oh, I almost forgot: the book I was referring to is "Wasted" by Marya Hornbacher.

Catherine wrote: "Nick wrote: "Catherine wrote: "As someone suffering from mental illness, I don't think it's our job to teach the medical profession, even if our "cases" are always useful to them to compare and stu..."

Thanks again... i will check out Wasted.

Madness begins with a whisper does does sound good. With the profile image... maybe DEadweight: Madness begins with a whisper?

Nick wrote: "Catherine wrote: "Nick wrote: "Catherine wrote: "As someone suffering from mental illness, I don't think it's our job to teach the medical profession, even if our "cases" are always useful to them ..."

The first title does seem very important to you, so if you want to mix both titles, do it! It's your autobiography, it's important that the title resonates with you.

I cannot pick a title, because I don't know about the book. A book for the general public would be preferable to a book for medical professionals, because the general public would take the total view of seeing you as a human, whilst the medical professional will scrutinize and dissect line by line looking for errors in neurotic description and presentation of the case history.
Also, a book that is successful with the general public is more likely to be brought to the attention of a professional and to be read by that professional than a medical pathology book is. My psychologist, my psychiatrist and I are always swapping book recommendations (we are all book nerds, lol).
You won't know if there is an interest until you put some feelers out. Good luck!

Morgan wrote: "I cannot pick a title, because I don't know about the book. A book for the general public would be preferable to a book for medical professionals, because the general public would take the total vi..."

Thank you so much for your advice.

I love the new cover and title. Have you decided to publish it yet?

Shannara wrote: "I love the new cover and title. Have you decided to publish it yet?"

Yes, out on amazon in paperback and kindle at the moment. Thank you, by the way. The new cover is by a German gentlemen, Steffan Keller.

I have kindle copies available if you are interested. No commitment to leaving a review is needed. But after reading your about me page on your blog, the offer is there....

Nick

Nick wrote: "Shannara wrote: "I love the new cover and title. Have you decided to publish it yet?"

Yes, out on amazon in paperback and kindle at the moment. Thank you, by the way. The new cover is by a German ..."

I would love to read your book and review it!! I might not get to it until December though. If that’s okay, let me know and I’ll send you my email info.