If you are listening to my Podcast: “Schizophrenia As I Live It, Part 1,” which accompanies my novel “The Overlife, A Tale Of Schizophrenia,” then I have some news for you!
First of all, my novel is published. For example, my book’s Kindle and Paperback format is now available on amazon.com. More information is on my website for the book: https://overliveschizophrenia.com/
Now that my book is available for purchase, I am ending the current Podcast and will soon start a new Podcast titled “Schizophrenia As I Live It, Part 2.”
The new Podcast will assume you have access to my book, but you can follow it independently of the book. Also, there will be no “spoilers,” so you can read the book at your own pace and still enjoy the Podcast.
My fiction book has three main characters: Jodie, Sarah, and Dalaigh. Jodie is Sarah’s mother, and Dalaigh is her father. Both Jodie and Sarah live with paranoid schizophrenia.
In the new Part 2 Podcast, I will still talk about schizophrenia as I live it, but, without spoiling the plot, I will use material from my book more freely. In particular, Sarah’s experience of schizophrenia is close to mine. Dalaigh does not live with mental illnesses but is trapped in an unhappy marriage.
Reviews of my book are beginning to appear. I will post below a review written by Australian students Monika, Star, and Bek, from the Ikon Institute. By the way, I am being interviewed by them for an episode of their podcast entitled “The Ikonic Podcast.” The Ikon Institute of Australia is a private Institute of Higher Education specializing in creative therapies, counseling, psychotherapy, and early childhood education.
Here is their review, which they wrote in the first person singular. You can find it on amazon.com on the author page of my book: https://www.amazon.com/author/diana_dirkby.
“‘The Overlife’ by Diana Dirkby is an absolute gem that delves deep into the complexities of family history, mental health, and the enduring human spirit. This book captivated me from the very beginning, offering a compelling narrative that beautifully unravels the layers of a rich family history.
One of the most striking aspects of this book is how it delves into the individualized nature of schizophrenia. Dirkby’s poignant account of her mother’s experience, as well as her own, is both eye-opening and profoundly moving. The raw honesty with which she describes their struggles and triumphs with this condition is nothing short of awe-inspiring.
The book brilliantly paints a vivid picture of how trauma and PTSD can cast long shadows over a person’s life. Through Dirkby’s words, we witness the resilience it takes to face these demons and how love, acceptance and interpersonal support play a role in the cultivation of agency when it comes to mental illness.
In the end, “The Overlife” is more than just a book. It’s an intimate portrait of the human condition, a testament to the power of love, resilience, and the unbreakable bonds that tie us to our past and propel us into the future.”
I will end this Blog post here. Look out for my next Podcast, “Schizophrenia As I Live It, Part 2.”