So, I haven't blogged for a year. One of the reasons for that is because I have been working on the Aqua Maddas novel.
Yes that's right, a novel.
Currently available as a Kindle ebook and paperback:.
Without giving away too many spoilers, what's it got?
The Ocean
The story follows the adventures
of the aquatic humanoid Aqua Maddas as they explore the ocean. They travel the world with the help of their friend, the Listener, and his magical boat. You will meet the wildlife of the Red Sea, Great Barrier Reef as well as the deepest,
darkest depths of the ocean.
Welcome to the home of Aqua Maddas...
(Image by Lutz Peter from Pixabay)
Life in a Mental Health Ward
Maddas is trapped in a mental health ward and tells their story to various people, including a therapist, mental health nurses and other patients. The novel aims to shed light on the challenging lives of those who inhabit such institutions. The media often portray mental health patients as violent and unable to recover. Additionally, movies often depict ward staff as being cold or evil. As someone who has recovered after being Sectioned, and who has been supported by incredibly warm, caring and selfless mental health Nurses, I felt that the human race needed a fresh perspective on severe mental health issues.
Patients are often suffering enough, don't make their life harder.
(Image by Ryan McGuire from Pixabay)
Not every patient is violent, but some patients certainly are. It can be a terrifying experience if you are a naturally harmonious person, and you find yourself trapped in a mental health ward with violent patients, at a time when you are at your most vulnerable. However, wards can also bless you with great friendships. There are other people there going through similar traumas as you, so it's empowering to find kindred spirits.
The Maroons of Jamaica
Maddas explores the ocean, but also interacts with people at various points of human history. I wanted to use this platform to explore parts of history that have been forgotten by the mainstream. For instance, the existence of the Maroons of Jamaica.
Specifically, Queen Nanny of the Maroons
(Image from https://face2faceafrica.com/article/how-the-maroons-from-africa-battled-the-british-in-jamaica-and-won-in-the-1700s)
The Maroons were slaves who escaped from and fought slave owners on the Caribbean Island of Jamaica in the 1600s-1700s. The word ‘maroon’ comes from the Spanish word ‘cimarrones’, which meant ‘mountaineers’, due to the ex-slaves populating the mountainous regions of Jamaica.
I was so inspired by the story of Queen Nanny, the leader of the Windward Maroons, that I absolutely needed to write something about it. So I did.
Mermaids and Pirates
Specifically, one mermaid with an unexpected backstory.
(Image by Mystic Art Design from Pixabay)
Jewish History
Inspired by recent efforts to explore my ancestry, I decided to include an adventure involving the fascinating Jewish East End of the early 1900s.
The chapter will make you hungry for beigels, I warn you.
(Image from Steve Birch)
Bipolar Mania
Most of the ideas came to me during a bipolar manic episode, and if you are brave enough to read it, I'm sure this will be evident.
(Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay)
The adventures of Maddas aim to explore mental health in an abstract way. I hope that others with bipolar will find something that they can relate to within the story.
Psychosis Recovery
As I mentioned previously, patients who have psychosis are often portrayed by the media as unable to recover. Whilst this can be the case for some patients, many mental health Service Users do recover. However, the recovery process can be lonely, emotionally harrowing and incredibly complicated.
(Image by Luis Gesell from Pixabay)
I hope that what I have written can help others feel less alone during this process.
Where to Buy
