Schizophrenic writer tells crazy story

Despite what my headline infers, author Kenna Mckinnon has not let mental illness define her. As a child and teen she led a 'normal' life and had ambitious dreams. However, life abruptly changed when as a young adult she developed schizophrenia.  She remembers the day her doctor told her she must accept that she would never have the life of which she was dreaming, that she must accept the limitations of her disease. Of course, she didn't.

As a female entrepreneur with a very successful business and as a mother, a writer, an author of many published books, she's led a life of successes that far exceeds most.  Not all her books are about mental health, but she has done much writing to promote understanding of her disease.

I look forward to reading her new release, Batshit Crazy on Murder Island to not only be entertained but to learn more about schizophrenia...and the people who have it.

Tell us about your new release, Kenna...

Batshit Crazy on Murder Island

Annie’s back! 

Batshit Crazy on Murder Island is out, the 2nd in the Annie Hansen Mysteries series.

 “…a good dose of suspense and action throughout and I also liked the growing romance between Mark and Annie!” ~ Judith Holmes, Fort Steele, Canada 

“What happens when a gang of vicious drug dealers hit the sleepy Canadian town of Serendipity? Annie wakes up to the sound of gunshots…If you enjoy a fast-paced, easy read, with a good dose of suspense and action and unforgettable characters, Batshit Crazy is for you! Pick up Annie’s latest adventure today!” ~ Sean Robins, author of The Crimson Deathbringer series of thriller sci-fi space operas! 

Things have been quiet on Serendipity Island, Canada for two years. But this morning, Annie awakens with a start at the sound of gunfire and a jetboat getting away. The golden retriever, Chuckles, and the sleeping Mark heard nothing but Annie is on the job. 

There are a large number of perpetrators and a lot of action as Annie Hansen, a twenty-six year old female private eye and her partner, Mark Snow, an RCMP detective track down the trouble. 

Annie and her partner were instrumental in solving two gruesome murders on Serendipity in the previous book, Blood Sister, which led to the epithet ‘Murder Island’ by the local media.

Annie suffers from schizophrenia and throughout the book her hallucinations play a small part. 

If you enjoyed Blood Sister (Book 1 in the Annie Hansen Mysteries series), you’ll love Batshit Crazy on Murder Island. 

Kenna McKinnon, Author

Kenna is a Canadian senior woman who owns a medical / academic transcription business. She lives and works in the Canadian city of Edmonton, Alberta. Her spare time is spent reading, writing, walking in a nearby park and the scenic neighborhood in which she lives, and volunteering. Her most memorable years were spent at the University of Alberta, where she graduated with Distinction with a degree in Anthropology. She has lived symptom-free with chronic schizophrenia for many years. She has a beautiful daughter and three wonderful grandsons. 

Books may be autographed by texting 780-318-7269 or email at: contact@KennaMcKinnon.info 

So many friends and family have contributed to the genesis and final execution of this second in the mystery series of Annie Hansen, who suffers from a grander yet more gentle version of the illness that Kenna knows so well. 

This book is dedicated to her daughter, Diane, and her late son Steve with treasured memories and all her love. The Annie Hansen series is also dedicated to all who are touched by mental illness, in its many ramifications, and the possibility of love, career satisfaction, and self-actualization for those previously marginalized and ignored by “mainstream” society. 

As well as those friends and family members often injured by our random and sometimes thoughtless acts. If you enjoyed either or both books in the Annie Hansen Mysteries series the author and publisher would be grateful for a short yet honest review. Have fun with it and happy reading, dear friends!

Batshit Crazy on Murder Island

Blood Sister

Kenna McKinnon, Author

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Insane Success: life with schizophrenia

 In the early 1970’s I was a psychiatric nursing student suffering Medical Students Syndrome, a term that describes medical students’ propensity to suffer each disease in turn as it is studied. There was one year where I suffered depression, manic-depressive disorder, sociopathic personality, paranoia, repression, depression, aggression, the odd panic attack and bronchitis, too, I believe at one point.

The one disorder I didn’t experience was schizophrenia—my imagination fell short. However one of my fellow students was sure she was schizophrenic. Several of us spent more than one evening in nurses residence convincing her she was not seeing a giant bottle of ketchup on the floor where there was none. I think she survived okay, she graduated with us eventually in any event.

 

For me, I could not imagine what it would be like to perceive a reality different that the one others about you are perceiving. Even the bizarre events we experience in dreams are at least shared by others in the dream. What would it be like to hear things, see things, react to things that nobody else can sense? Would it be frightening? Would it be lonely? Would you realize something was wrong with you? Would you assume something was amiss with those around you?

What it would be like to have schizophrenia?

One is not born with schizophrenia, it usually happens after childhood. What is it like to be normal for two decades or more and then begin to experience a reality, often a frightening reality, that your loved ones don’t share? What’s it like when medication kicks in and the hallucinations subside? Do you feel normal again? Do remember what it was like to hallucinate, how you felt?

Back in the early 1970’s medication for schizophrenia was in its infancy, side-effects were fierce, and although I saw patients become calmer and respond less to things I could not perceive, they never seemed cured. They never returned to that pre-illness self, that self that could talk to me about what it was like to be schizophrenic.

So when I won Kenna McKinnon’s recent contest and the prize was my choice of her books, I didn’t hesitate—I wanted a copy of her THE INSANITY MACHINE.  The fact that this lady, a long-time sufferer of schizophrenia, was able to become an accomplished author amazed and intrigued me.

And her story THE INSANITY MACHINE did not disappoint. I recommend it to all who wish to understand those who suffer alone in a reality the rest of us do not perceive. A great story about a courageous, persistent, positive-thinking lady who faced the figurative devil and moved on to become a great story-teller and an advocate for those who are so often misunderstood, ignored, mistreated.

To read my Amazon review of THE INSANITY MACHINE click here.

Click here to purchase THE INSANITY MACHINE.

McKinnon has also published a book of poetry DISCOVERY - an anthology of poetry . Her most recent release is SPACEHIVE, a children’s SciFi.

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FATAL ERROR
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THE TRAZ