Born in South London in the late 1950s, I enjoyed a happy upbringing. My childhood showed few signs that as an adult I would experience severe mental illness. I considered university as the only true home for me, so I enrolled on a number of undergraduate and post-graduate courses, only to suffer even worse symptoms. I battled through, and despite enduring schizophrenia and depression, I not only gained the academic equivalent of five degrees, including a Ph.D., but also secured engaging employment as a freelance journalist, a published author of five books, and a historian. Born in South London, Richard Lewis now resides in East Sussex, UK. Semi-retired, the author wrote this book to give hope and encouragement to those with mental illness. Publisher's website: http: //sbprabooks.com/RichardLewis