WOOHOO! ME & HER: a Memoir of Madness featured in Al-Watan daily newspaper, one of the major news agencies in the Middle East, appearing on online as well.
London journalist, Monira Boarki contacted me via Linked-in wanting to know MORE about ME & HER: a Memoir of Madness and my recovery from bipolar disorder. Monira reviews novels, commercial and Indi-film. She has previously met and interviewed best-seller authors George RR Martin, Julie Otsuka , Judith Orloff, Lord Jeffrey Archer, Brian L.Weiss and Jodi Picoult.
Monira wanted to understand HOW I wrote ME & HER and the effect mental illness had on my life … Check out the interview…
MONIRA: Are there any parts of ME & HER that are not realistic?
Karen: “I wrote ME & HER in two points of view, revealing my encounters as I understood them. ME: normal point of view: mother, wife and teacher.ย HER: manic, healer to the living, telepathic to the dead and I was very mad.”
When I was HER, I experienced manic black dreams with voices commanding me to follow their instructions. During the day, I escaped into an altered state of reality. I connected with my psychologist in a psychic way, double guessing him.”
MONIRA: If you had to relive your life again, what part would you change?
Karen: “I would have loved to be diagnosed earlier. That way my family would be saved from the stress, trauma and anguish of witnessing my extreme manic behaviour.”
MONIRA: In ME & HER, you shared some painful moments with the world. Describe how it feels to re-live the story through writing?
Karen: “I became extremely stressed writing about traumatic events. At first I revealed those incidents in short flashbacks. When I was emotionally ready I disclosed my harassment, my mental breakdown, decline and disintegration in detail.”
MONIRA: I found ME & HER a crafted message of hope and inspiration for people all over the world. Whatโs your personal message to them?
Karen: “You can triumph over mental illness and reclaim your life. Empower yourself with pro-active coping skills and a wellness plan that counteracts your triggers.”
Learn how to manage your mental illness on a day-to-day basis.ย You can become happy and well-balanced again.”
MONIRA: Most writers feel a certain attachments to their books that they find it hard to find an ending. Since you are living the story, did you find it difficult to end the book?
Karen: “My written memoir and my personal journey progressed in a parallel way. I finished my story when I had fully recovered and developed a deep insight into my illness, offering practical advice to others challenged by bipolar disorder.”
Check out this Amazing interview in Arabic CLICK HERE
Where can you Buy ME & HER?
So when’s the Arabic version coming out?
Hey Graham, The Arabic version is OUT! Please click on the RED link on the BLOG above or click on the link below
http://alwatan.kuwait.tt/articledetails.aspx?Id=227359&YearQuarter=20124
Cheers, Karen ๐
wooohoo…go KT!
So your future book tour should include the UK and the Middle East. ๐
Hey thanks Stephanie, my options are open! Love the UK and the Middle East.
Would you believe my daughter is over in there now, after winning a holiday! … Karen ๐
Very impressive interview, Karen. I loved your honest replies to Monira’s direct and meaningful questions. Your answers were realistic and offered positive hope for recovery from Mental Illness. I am really thrilled knowing the fact that this insightful interview was even translated in Arabic and will reach out to help a lot more people in the Middle East. As we all know that Mental Illness doesn’t discriminate against race or gender and it is a world wide health concern growing at an alarming rate. Congratulations on a wonderful interview and just how far and wide “Me & Her” is impacting the lives of others!
Thanks Art for supporting newspaper interview. I was thrilled with Monira’s positive questions and how my story of Recovery will be broadcasted internationally. You’re right! Mental illness affects everyone over the world and I’m glad to play a part in the solution ๐