Living with Mental Illness and Surviving Suicide – One Mother’s Story
Leaving the Hall Light On
It is a story of strength and courage, creative genius and despair. In this well-written memoir, Madeline recounts the events that led to her son’s ultimate suicide. More importantly she shares her confusion, anger, hope and disappointment as she seeks answers and support. Readers gain an up close and personal introduction to this debilitating disease and its effect on a family. Leaving the Hall Light On gave me a deeper understanding of this particular type of mental illness. This first hand account offers depth and understanding in a way that text books cannot. It is an important book for all to read for that very reason.
Madeline Sharple shares pieces of her journey, as well as valuable information and insight into this debilitating disease. If you have someone in your life who suffers from mental illness, you will find compassionate understanding from this author. We long for understanding. We search for hope. By raising awareness and working together, perhaps we can find a cure or a satisfactory treatment. At the very least, greater understanding may help open our hearts in support of one another.
ABOUT MADELINE SHARPLES
Although Madeline Sharples worked for most of her professional life as a technical writer and editor, grant writer, and proposal manager, she fell in love with poetry and creative writing in grade school. She pursued her writing interests in high school through classes in journalism and writing for the high school newspaper. Madeline studied journalism in college. She did not, however, become a professional writer until later in life.
In addition to Leaving the Hall Light On, Madeline is also the author of Papa’s Shoes, and co-author of Blue-Collar Women: Trailblazing Women Take on Men-Only Jobs (New Horizon Press, 1994) a book about women in nontraditional professions and co-edited the poetry anthology, The Great American Poetry Show, Volumes 1 (Muse Media, 2004) and 2 (2010). Her poetry accompanies the work of photographer Paul Blieden in two books, The Emerging Goddess and Intimacy, and appears in print and online.
Madeline is now a full-time writer and is working on her next book, a novel, based in the 1920s. She and Bob, her husband of 40+ years, live in Manhattan Beach, California, a small beach community south of Los Angeles.
Connect with Madeline online:
Visit her website: http://madelinesharples.com/
On Facebook: Madeline Sharples
On Twitter: @madeline40
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Dorothy, I came to “meet” you on your site, as suggested by Shirley Showalter and Joan Rough. I’m glad I did.
Madeline, I will need to read your book. I have a son who struggles with mental illness. It may be hard to read parts of your book, because of this. By the same token, I’m sure I will learn from it.
Thank you, Saloma! I’m so glad you did! I hope you find comfort in Madeline’s book, at least in knowing you’re not alone.
Thank you so much for this post, Dorothy. This is a book I did not know about but will add to my “must have a look” list.