New York author gets crash course in Southern hospitality

Michelle Longo-Bloom (l), author of "Over the Rainbow: A Story of Life, Love, and Family With Bipolar Disorder," spent a few days in Lincolnton last week on her way to a book signing in Charleston, South Carolina. She is pictured here with Judy Burkham of Lincolnton. Michelle Longo-Bloom, an author, lecturer, psychologist, and stay-athome mom, made a brief stop in Lincolnton on Monday, June 22, en route to a book signing in Charleston, South Carolina.

Commenting on small town life, the New Yorker said, "The diameter of Lincolnton can be measured by the number of times I heard, 'You have a good day now, ma'm!'

"Lincolnton is definitely a small town — a small, friendly, Southern town, without a doubt. Quite honestly, this is the first place I have ever been where a gentleman actually tipped his hat to me."

While in Lincolnton, Michelle visited with friend Judy Burkham, whom she met through Judy's son, Kelly Ray Burkham.

According to Michelle, "I met Kelly Ray in 2005, while I was waiting to catch a plane at New York's JFK Airport. I was writing poetry to pass the time when I was asked by a very polite Southern gentleman what I was writing.

"After talking with Kelly Ray, I found that we shared the same passion for writing. He himself was a songwriter. That was my initial introduction to the Burkham family."

Shortly after their first meeting, Michelle and Kelly Ray discovered they also had something else in common: the thread of bipolar illness running through their families.

With encouragement from the Burkhams, Michelle wrote a book titled "Over the Rainbow: A Story of Life, Love, and Family With Bipolar Disorder."

Basically, the book chronicles the author's lifetime struggle with the disease — the different treatments she endured, the myriad of medications she had to take, what it was like to work in the mental health field while battling her own mental disease, the toll her illness took on her family, and so forth.

"At age 21, I was diagnosed with mild depression," said Michelle. "Then, in my early to mid-thirties, I was diagnosed with Bipolar II Disorder, an illness characterized by episodes of severe chronic depression and mild mania. I was also diagnosed with Atypical Refractory 'Treatment- Resistant Depression' (TRD). Unfortunately, TRD is becoming more prevalent among people who suffer from this illness, which gave me an added incentive to tell my story.

"For over 20 years, 14 of which I can only describe as gruesome, I battled this disease. About four-anda half years ago, I reached a state of recovery, and although I am not completely episode free, I can honestly say I made it over the rainbow."

She went on to note that her mission is to be an advocate for the victims of Bipolar Disorder and their families. "I want to help people go from a world of darkness to a world of light and colorful rainbows.

"It is my goal to dispel the stigma of mental disease and to let the public know that life does not end with mental illness. In spite of the darkness — even on those harsh and relentless days — there is always a rainbow of hope in the distance — I am living proof!"

In addition to "Over the Rainbow," Michelle is likewise the author of magazine articles dealing with mental health topics, and her poetry has appeared in a variety of books and journals. Presently, she is preparing to publish a series of books for children, which speak to moral expectations for today's youth.

Copies of "Over the Rainbow" are currently available at Barnes & Noble bookstores. They may also be obtained from www.amazon.com or www.mountainvalleypublishing.com.