Roseflower Creek Author Jackie Miles, Traces Success to Bipolar Disorder National Bipolar Disorder Awareness Day Thursday, October 9th during Mental Illness Awareness Week October 5-11

Acclaimed author Jackie Miles has Bipolar Disorder and CREDITS it with her success. This remarkable woman wants others to recognize the symptoms, seek help and know there's hope of living a productive life... and she's living proof.

Lilburn, Georgia (PRWEB) September 23 2003--Author Jackie Miles has highly productive writing surges that often times produce tremendous results, such as writing one-fifth of her first book in a single sitting, without intending to write a book to begin with. Miles attributes the creative burst to being Manic depressive, now more commonly referred to as Bipolar-affective Disorder.

People suffering with Bipolar disorder experience alternating periods of depressed moods and periods of mania or excited moods. Medication is the preferred treatment to stabilize the degree of mood swings.

"I experience the mania more often than the depression," says Miles, author of Roseflower Creek, "And I frequently experience creative bursts in which the words just flow out of my brain cells like water surging through a broken dam," explains Miles. "When I wrote Roseflower Creek, I did not start off to write a book. When the creative muse "spoke" I sat down and started writing without stopping until a fifth of the book was finished. When I started my second book, I wrote 20,000 words on the first day."

"Often times the rhythm of words and thoughts fill the page so quickly I cannot type fast enough to keep up with it, particularly when composing poetry. I have written some 75 poems in that manner, where the entire poem fell onto the page as though it were one sentence. It used to be a bit frightening, but I am used to it, so it no longer disturbs me."

"Strangely enough, at other times I cannot communicate a single thought. Naturally, that disturbs me greatly, but I've come to accept it as the ¡¥nature of the beast,' the result of the ever changing manic condition."

Born in South Dakota, Miles moved with her family to Wisconsin as a young girl, but has called Atlanta home for nearly thirty years. Though she never developed a southern accent, Roseflower Creek reflects an authentic Deep South dialect, as evidenced in the speech patterns of the main characters. Her publisher assumed she was born and bred in the south and was genuinely surprised to find otherwise.

Miles joins a long list of poets, writers, composers and artists with probable Cyclothymia, Major Depression or Manic-Depressive Illness, including Robert Burns, Lord Byron, T. S. Elliot, Victor Hugo, Emily Dickinson, Keats, Sylvia Plath, Edgar Allen Poe, Ezra Pound, Walt Whitman, Lord Tennyson, Victor Hugo, Walt Whitman, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Joseph Conrad, Isak Dinesen, Ralph Waldo Emerson, William Faulkner, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Graham Greene, Ernest Hemmingway, William Inge, Herman Melville, Mary Shelley, Robert Louis Stevenson, Leo Tolstoy, Tennessee Williams, Virginia Woolf, Dick Cavett, Rosemary Clooney, Patty Duke, Connie Francis, Margot Kidder, Burgess Meridith, Charley Pride, Vivian Lee, Vincent van Gogh, Jackson Pollack, Georgia O'Keeffe and Michelangelo, among others.

A talented bipolar writer friend of Miles recently committed suicide just days before receiving a six-figure advance for her second book from a major New York publisher. "She fell into what I call the black hole. I've been there. Think of depression as a rain storm. The black holds a tsunami."

"Often times, there's a high personal price to pay for those who are manic-depressive, and for those around them," Miles adds. "Sometimes, I think if I could find a magic-pill cure tomorrow I would take it instantly, even if it meant I would never write again." Miles, who had her first bipolar episode at age 17, was not properly diagnosed until age 34 when she almost lost her life due to manic exhaustion. "It was a relief to finally find out what was wrong with me and that proper treatment could finally begin."

Roseflower Creek chronicles the short life and death of ten-year-old Lori Jean, a sensitive dreamer of a child who longs for a normal family life. Set in l950's rural Georgia, Lori Jean is reared in poverty, and suffers physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her stepfather. She finds she is not only able to forgive the one who wronged her but discovers why she is able to.

The book is dedicated "in memory of all the little children whose bodies were broken but whose spirits rose above it to flower."

After writing the first 50 pages in one sitting, Miles finished the novel in 10 days. It was sold seven days later. The Trade paperback is shipping to the stores now and will be available to the public on August 1st.

Since the book's publication, Miles has become a dedicated advocate for abused children. She is a popular, engaging speaker at libraries, schools, writers' conferences, book clubs and fundraisers for those in need.

In recent months, Miles has also become an advocate for persons who are bipolar. "Experts have long suspected there is a relationship between the illness and the creative genius of the arts. I appreciate that aspect of the disease and have tasted its fruits many times. Unfortunately, I have also experienced the other side."

"It was shortly after the suicide death of my writer friend that I decided to talk about my condition. Because of the stigma still attached to mental illness," explains Miles, "I used to do all I could to hide the fact I had inherited the disease. Now I've come out of the shadows. In doing so, I am determined to make a difference in how those who suffer with mental illness are treated."

"If I can make a difference in someone's life who's had a journey like mine," concludes Miles, "then that translates into a successful life for me."

Roseflower Creek (ISBN 1-58182-240-5), Trade paperback (ISBN 1-58182-377-0) Published by Cumberland House. Available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, and fine booksellers everywhere $12.95. Visit www.roseflowercreek.com.

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Here's what authors and members of the media are saying about Roseflower Creek¡K

"A powerful, extraordinary novel."

Earl Hamner, Creator of The Waltons

"I read Roseflower Creek and enjoyed it immensely!!"

Terry Kay, "Taking Lottie Home", "To Dance With The White Dog"

"The lyrical prose will thrill you, the story is unforgettable, and the characters will stay with you forever."

William Diehl, "Eureka", "Primal Fear"

"A touching, compelling fast-paced narrative that captivates from the first page to the last. Don't miss it!"

Haywood Smith, "The Red Hat Club", "Queen Bee of Mimosa Branch"

"I can't wait to put it onto film."

Dennis H. Christen, Film Producer

M*A*S*H Contributing Script Writer

Author, Madam, The Grass Is High

"Agony of a young boy moved author to write . . . (novel depicts) child abuse, domestic violence, alcoholism, friendship and loyalty."

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"I may be through with this book, but this book will never be through with me."

Barry Farber, Syndicated Radio Talk Show Host

"Lori Jean will jam her thumbprint into your heart forever!"

Carmen Agra Deedy,

National Public Radio's All Things Considered"

BIPOLAR DISORDER AWARENESS DAY

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. What is Bipolar Disorder Awareness Day?

A. For 17 years NAMI has been educating the country on mental illness through

Mental Illness Awareness Week. This year NAMI will hold the first Bipolar

Awareness Day on Thursday, October 9th during Mental Illness Awareness Week

(October 5-11). Bipolar Awareness Day coincides with National Depression

Screening Day and promotes bipolar disorder detection, screening and treatment in cities and states across America.

Q. Why was Bipolar Disorder Awareness Day created?

A. Bipolar Disorder Awareness Day was specifically created to increase awareness of bipolar disorder and acknowledge the devastating impact of bipolar symptoms on the lives of undiagnosed individuals and their families and friends. Through Bipolar Disorder Awareness Day, we hope to reach out to the 2.3 million adult Americans, approximately 1.2 percent of the population, affected by bipolar disorder.

Q. What should people do for Bipolar Awareness Day?

A. NAMI encourages Americans to join this effort by:

„FƒnLearning about the symptoms of bipolar disorder and understanding its impact on society;

„FƒnInquiring about mental health screenings with family doctors for early detection of bipolar disorder;

„FƒnEncouraging individuals with bipolar disorder and families of bipolar disorder patients to seek successful treatment

Q. How do I know if someone has bipolar disorder?

A. There are many symptoms of bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is typically marked by mood swings that can be mild or severe, ranging from "lows" known as the depressive stage, to "highs" or the manic period. Mood swings can last for hours, days, weeks or even months.

Symptoms of Mania -- The "Highs" of Bipolar Disorder include:

o Increased physical and mental activity and energy

o Heightened mood, exaggerated optimism and self-confidence

o Excessive irritability and aggressive behavior

o Decreased need for sleep without experiencing fatigue

o Grandiose delusions, inflated sense of self-importance

o Racing speech and thought. Consistent irrational ideas

o Impulsiveness, poor judgment and distractibility

o Reckless behavior

o Delusions and hallucinations

Symptoms of Depression - The "Lows" of Bipolar Disorder include:

o Loss of energy

o Prolonged sadness or unexplained crying spells

o Changes in appetite and sleep patterns

o Increased feelings of worry and anxiety

o Feelings of guilt or hopelessness

o Inability to concentrate or make decisions

o Social withdrawal

o Unexplained aches or pains

o Use of chemical substances or alcohol

Q. What should be done if I suspect someone I know has bipolar disorder?

A. If you think you or someone you know may have bipolar disorder that is undiagnosed or untreated, he or she should consult with a family doctor and discuss the symptoms they are experiencing through a mental health screening or through the mood disorder questionnaire at www.nami.org. While there is no cure for bipolar disorder, it is a highly treatable and manageable illness through ongoing medication and treatment. There are also numerous local support groups that can assist consumers and their families and friends deal with bipolar disorder.

Educational materials on bipolar disorder and various treatment options are available in both English and Spanish.

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For more information about Bi Polar Disorder, please contact Sophie Patel at 312.751.3515/patels@fleishman.com or

Elizabeth Adams at 703.524.7600/ElizabethA@nami.org.