The foundation of my book is biographical of my mother and her family with their battles with schizophrenia and schizoid personalities. It describes the lives of two of her children and herself, and how the author navigated living with them with faith in God. This experience has strengthened me with emotional and spiritual vigor. The purpose of writing this is to encourage, enlighten, educate and intrigue readers with photos, poetry and history. All three are deceased and I know I will be with them in Heaven. It begins with the birth of my younger brother when I was seven and ends when I am sixty-eight when he passed away. I resolve to continue telling stories to share with others for their edification. Kristen Suzanne Atkinson has been writing poetry and short stories since the first grade in Columbus, Ohio. She was born seventy eight miles away in Dayton.This is her first published rendering in the form of personal memoir/narrative journalism. Kristen currenting resides in Grand Terrace, California in the inherited house where she lived with her family from 1961 to 1974. She earned a bachelor of arts in english, theater and art from Humboldt State University in Arcata, California in 1974 where she was editor of the HSU Toyon Literary publication for two years. Kristen achieved a master of fine arts in writing from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri in 2017.
