I've learned a few things about mental illness over the last few years. This has been through attending conference presentations on the topic given by professional and licensed counselors and therapists, following people with mental illness on Facebook and Twitter, and personal association with friends with everything from epilepsy, schizophrenia, Asbergers depression, anxiety, panic attacks, to boarder-line psychosis. I do not know all, or even a lot, but I do like to consider myself as somewhat familiar with mental illnesses and their manifestations.
It is for this reason that I am endorsing and encouraging Altered Perceptions an anthology of behind-the-scenes, short fiction, and creative non-fiction in support of Robison Wells, a wonderful author and victim of the ravages of mental illness. I'll let him describe it for you. Rob ultimately lost his job because of his condition. He wasn't able to work in a traditional office environment and his writing was not sufficient to cover his expenses. He and his family have reached a point that they need serious help. Brandon Sanderson, Rob's friend and highly successful author, initiated the Altered Perceptions project by suggesting authors submit work that could be complied into an anthology that could be sold to help raise funds to pay off the biggest debts Rob's family were experiences (student loans and to the IRS). Not only did Brandon submit 5 chapters of the original draft of Way of Kings, an awesome book, for the anthology - he is paying the printing and publishing costs. All of the proceeds of the project will go to help Rob and his family.
The people submitting work to this anthology should tell you the kind of person the Rob is. There are 30 different authors (not including Rob himself) who have submitted work, some of it original pieces, including several New York Times sellers. Brandon Mull, Brandon Sanderson, Dan Wells, Larry Correia, Jessica Day George, Shannon Hale, Howard Tayler, Mary Robinette Kowal, and a host of other successful writers have stepped up to help Rob in his time of need.
The secondary, although no less important, goal of this project is to raise awareness of mental illness. It is real and the more we talk about it the more we understand it. I will be doing what I can to contribute and spreading the news. I encourage you do to the same.
It is for this reason that I am endorsing and encouraging Altered Perceptions an anthology of behind-the-scenes, short fiction, and creative non-fiction in support of Robison Wells, a wonderful author and victim of the ravages of mental illness. I'll let him describe it for you. Rob ultimately lost his job because of his condition. He wasn't able to work in a traditional office environment and his writing was not sufficient to cover his expenses. He and his family have reached a point that they need serious help. Brandon Sanderson, Rob's friend and highly successful author, initiated the Altered Perceptions project by suggesting authors submit work that could be complied into an anthology that could be sold to help raise funds to pay off the biggest debts Rob's family were experiences (student loans and to the IRS). Not only did Brandon submit 5 chapters of the original draft of Way of Kings, an awesome book, for the anthology - he is paying the printing and publishing costs. All of the proceeds of the project will go to help Rob and his family.
The people submitting work to this anthology should tell you the kind of person the Rob is. There are 30 different authors (not including Rob himself) who have submitted work, some of it original pieces, including several New York Times sellers. Brandon Mull, Brandon Sanderson, Dan Wells, Larry Correia, Jessica Day George, Shannon Hale, Howard Tayler, Mary Robinette Kowal, and a host of other successful writers have stepped up to help Rob in his time of need.
The secondary, although no less important, goal of this project is to raise awareness of mental illness. It is real and the more we talk about it the more we understand it. I will be doing what I can to contribute and spreading the news. I encourage you do to the same.
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