When Charise Jewell decided to leave her career as a robotics engineer to pursue writing fiction, the 40-year old mother of three had no idea that she was embarking on a real life story beyond her wildest imagination. Without warning, and while preparing to celebrate Mother’s Day 2017, she rapidly descended into a severe mania, was hospitalized, and was given a devastating diagnosis: bipolar 1 mood disorder. Over the following three years, Charise and her family would experience the ups and downs of not only her manic depression, but also of the mental health care system, and the way that society at large treats people with mental illness. Crazy: Memoir of a Mom Gone Mad is a captivating, heartbreaking and ultimately inspiring journey through the pain and beauty of sanity, and insanity. Reviews: “Charise Jewell is a brilliant writer who takes the reader behind her eyes to see and feel the terror—and the beauty—of living with mental illness. It does what the best memoirs do: comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. A true must-read!”
— Shannon Moroney, Bestselling Author of Through the Glass, Out of the Shadows, and Heal for Real “A vivid and deeply intimate account of her experience with bipolar disorder. While Jewell’s memoir confirmed my beliefs on systemic injustices experienced by those seeking treatment for mental illness, it also educated me on the beauty of family and resilience of humanity.”
— Joy Norstrom, Author of Out of Play and Flying the Nest “Should be required reading for doctors, nurses, counsellors, and educators. Beautifully crafted, Crazy is a spectacular read. With all the highs and lows of a great novel, it is fast-moving and spiced with humour and pathos. It is ultimately a very hopeful and reassuring book.”
— Moyra Irving, Author of Amelie Trott and the Earth Watchers “Charise Jewell is a beautiful storyteller. Her memoir, Crazy, flows like a compelling novel. She has delivered an insightful gift for family and friends of those living with bipolar. This is a must-read for people touched by this condition and for anyone who aspires to better understand.”
— Jacqueline Aubin About the Author: A voracious reader and aspiring writer since childhood, Charise Jewell was born in Germiston, South Africa and immigrated to Canada when she was seven years old. She holds an Honours B.Eng. in mechanical engineering from McGill University in Montreal, and worked as a robotics engineer for fifteen years before having children and becoming a writer. She proudly lives with bipolar disorder and educates for the fair and dignified treatment of the mentally ill. Charise lives in Toronto with her husband and three children. Visit her at charisejewell.com
| 
