Dream of Things Releases Paperback Edition of "Leaving the Hall Light On: A Mother's Memoir of Living With Her Son's Bipolar Disorder and Surviving His Suicide" by Madeline Sharples

DOWNERS GROVE, IL, August 10, 2012 (Press-News.org) Leaving the Hall Light On by Madeline Sharples is now available in a trade paperback edition from book publisher Dream of Things.

Leaving the Hall Light On: A Mother's Memoir of Living with Her Son's Bipolar Disorder and Surviving His Suicide charts the near-destruction of one middle-class family whose oldest son committed suicide after a seven-year struggle with bipolar disorder. Author Madeline Sharples goes deep into her own well of grief to describe her anger, frustration and guilt. She also shares the story of how she, her husband and younger son weathered every family's worst nightmare—including struggles with her own thoughts of suicide, and ultimately, her decision to live and take care of herself as a woman, wife, mother and writer.

Originally published in 2011, the hardcover edition of Leaving the Hall Light On garnered critical praise, as well as the attention of groups focused on suicide prevention and survivor support services:

"A moving read of tragedy, trying to prevent it, and coping with life after." - Midwest Book Review

"I recommend this book to suicide survivors and to mental health professionals. Madeline Sharples is much more honest about what it is like to survive suicide than most patients and clients allow themselves to be." - Fran Edstrom, American Association of Suicidology

"Recommended to those who lost a child or who struggle with the mental illness of a child, and to anyone who wants a deep, intimate read where the author bares her soul and lets you into her world!" - Bonni Rubinstein, Organizer of the Facebook group "Loss of an Adult or Young Adult Child"

"We are thrilled with the opportunity to offer this very moving and inspiring memoir in this new format," said Mike O'Mary, owner and publisher of Dream of Things. "As many others have noted, this is a remarkable book for people who have been touched by bipolar disorder or suicide, while also inspiring many others to survive their own tragedies."

Leaving the Hall Light On ($14.95, Dream of Things, 338 pages, ISBN 9780982579480) is available in trade paperback from Ingram Book Company and from Dream of Things (dreamofthings.com).

About the Author

Madeline Sharples worked for most of her professional life as a technical writer and editor, grant writer, and proposal manager. In addition to Leaving the Hall Light On, Madeline co-authored Blue-Collar Women: Trailblazing Women Take on Men-Only Jobs (New Horizon Press, 1994) and co-edited the poetry anthology, The Great American Poetry Show, Volumes 1 (Muse Media, 2004) and 2 (2010). Her poetry also accompanies the work of photographer Paul Blieden in two books, The Emerging Goddess and Intimacy. Madeline is currently working on a novel based in the 1920s. She and Bob, her husband of 40 years, live in Manhattan Beach, California.

Founded in 2009, Dream of Things is a book publisher and online book store that focuses on anthologies of creative nonfiction, memoirs and other books. For more information, visit dreamofthings.com.