Cover Reveal: Conditioned – the sequel to my #mentalhealth drama “Conditions”

Tags

alcoholism, co-dependency, codependency, family drama, mental disorder, mental health

HERE IS THE COVER OF MY UP-COMING BOOK CONDITIONED, (the sequel to CONDITIONS) –
OUT ON OCT 16THThanks to Daz Smith for yet another great cover design

CONDITIONED dives back into the world of gardener Charles, his friends and the state of his mental health – one year on. We meet loner Simon and his battle with the outside world, co-dependent Martha and her abusive husband Clive, neurotic poet Catherine on the verge of getting married, Tony, who finds his strange brother Charles a challenge, psychic Elaine looking for a new direction in life and quirky widow Sarah Roseberg who has a go at sorting out all of their problems.
CONDITIONS aimed to sensitise readers and make them think about tolerance and acceptance. CONDITIONED wants readers to look beyond their attitude towards Conditions and examine what we all do and what we can do to overcome our challenges. The sequel is another snapshot of this circle of friends. Some will have improved their lives, others will not.

From reviews for CONDITIONS:
“The writing, while subtle, brings out intense conflicts … The book … made me wrangle with the one overwhelming condition that wove Charles’s friends together: Empathy.

It made me wonder: Would I have it in me to be such a supportive friend to someone with a “condition”? I am ashamed to admit: I am not sure. The question haunts me. Christoph Fischer achieved his goal; he made me think real hard about “Conditions.”

 

*****

Conditions has a fascinating array of characters and is a book that will make all readers think…
The book is not about one set of symptoms or even one character, but it reflects back to us some of the standard reactions to people who might be affected by such a disorder. Are they really unable to do a day’s work, or is it all an excuse? Are they telling the truth or are they making up stories to get attention? Why should they be treated differently and given special privileges when they aren’t pulling their weight? Are they just exploiting the system? Should they just be locked up?
… What is normal and how we define normality are questions that the more one works in the field, the more one wonders about. Absence of a diagnosable mental illness is not the same as what society might think as “normal behaviour” …
… When we get to know both his friends and those who aren’t that close to Charles, we come to understand that all of them (and by extension, also us) have their own conditions, and we shouldn’t be so quick to judge. Even the most enlightened of us can have prejudices and misjudge others if we are not open and refuse to take them on their own terms.

Why a sequel?
The short answer is: I left a few of the characters in the lurch and wanted to give them a much needed closure.

Conditions has an ensemble cast, a group of friends and family who gather around Charles, a man with a mental condition. His condition and how people handle it  becomes the centre piece, even though the other characters have their own lives and problems, too. You can follow these links to read my character profiles for Charles, Elaine, Catherine, Martha, Tony, Simon, and Edgar.

Every life and individual situation is different and so it was important for me to show a snapshot of the lives and of the problems. To end ‘Conditions’ on a “and they lived happily-ever-after” note would have been simplifying the Conditions and unrealistic.  However, there were many specific calls to help Martha out of her ditch and to explore Simon’s life further.

To not turn the sequel into a mere soap opera by continuing all sub-plots with new and sensational developments I chose a setting that unites all the characters one year on and provides another snapshot. Some will have improved their lives, others will not. My aim with “Conditions” was to sensitise readers and make them think about tolerance and acceptance. With the sequel, “Conditioned” I want readers to look beyond their attitude towards Conditions and more at what we all do and what we can do to overcome our challenges.

con•di•tioned
adj.

1. existing under or subject to conditions.

2. characterized by a predictable or consistent pattern of behavior or thought as a result of being subjected to certaincircumstances or conditions.

3. acquired through conditioning: conditioned behavior patterns.

4. in a fit or suitable condition.

5. accustomed.

 

 

Conditions 

When Charles and Tony’s mother dies the estranged brothers must struggle to pick up the pieces, particularly so given that one of them is mentally challenged and the other bitter about his place within the family.
The conflict is drawn out over materialistic issues, but there are other underlying problems which go to the heart of what it means to be part of a family which, in one way or another. has cast one aside.
Prejudice, misconceptions and the human condition in all forms feature in this contemporary drama revolving around a group of people who attend the subsequent funeral at the British South Coast.
Meet flamboyant gardener Charles, loner Simon, selfless psychic Elaine, narcissistic body-builder Edgar, Martha and her version of unconditional love and many others as they try to deal with the event and its aftermath.

On Amazon: http://smarturl.it/CONDITIONSCFF

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/529337

On iTunes: https://itun.es/i6LL8nt

Nook Book Link: http://ow.ly/LMhGM

On Goodreads: http://ow.ly/C0Ziw

On Facebook: http://ow.ly/C0ZqX

“CONDITIONS” is FREE on Amazon Dec 12 – 16

Tags

amazon, Conditions, family drama, Free book, freebook, mental disorder, mental health, promotion, sale

 

as an early X-mas present my book CONDITIONS is free on Amazon for 5 days:

http://smarturl.it/CONDITIONSCFF

Conditions 

When Charles and Tony’s mother dies the estranged brothers must struggle to pick up the pieces, particularly so given that one of them is mentally challenged and the other bitter about his place within the family. 
The conflict is drawn out over materialistic issues, but there are other underlying problems which go to the heart of what it means to be part of a family which, in one way or another. has cast one aside.
Prejudice, misconceptions and the human condition in all forms feature in this contemporary drama revolving around a group of people who attend the subsequent funeral at the British South Coast. 
Meet flamboyant gardener Charles, loner Simon, selfless psychic Elaine, narcissistic body-builder Edgar, Martha and her version of unconditional love and many others as they try to deal with the event and its aftermath.

On Facebook: http://ow.ly/C0ZqX 

On Amazon: http://smarturl.it/CONDITIONSCFF

On Goodreads: http://ow.ly/C0Ziw

 

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought Provoking, November 27, 2014   Through very real, compelling characters, Fischer weaves a thought-provoking tale that revolves around Charles’ mental illness and how it affects the family. A disturbing, thought-provoking, and enlightening read that had me questioning just what is normal anyway.   5.0 out of 5 stars If you are curious about the human condition, then “Conditions” is for you!, November 26, 2014   Christoph Fischer is a reader’s writer. The story Fischer weaves is rife with colorful characters with their own “conditions” making the reader question “What is ‘normal’ anyway?” The best and the worst of human qualities are displayed as the story moves from the mother’s death to her funeral, then finally to the aftermath of reading the will.The dialogue is what carries the story forward and makes each character come to life. Fischer is brilliant with dialogue! Because he writes using multiple points of view, the reader is able to get inside the head of each character. I felt I had an intimate relationship with everyone from Elaine (Charles’ somewhat psychic 50-something friend) to Tony’s shrewish wife. This book covered a great deal of human territory: mental illness, domestic abuse, homosexuality, marital discord, the paranormal, greed, gossip, guilt, jealousy, gambling addiction…I’m sure I missed other issues. The point is that Charles’ condition is what everyone talked about just as having a diagnosed mental illness is socially stigmatizing. But what about those of us who are not labeled with a mental illness but still have social ills in need of attention? This question is at the heart of what this fine novel explores. If you are curious about the human condition, then “Conditions” is for you!

 

Introducing the characters from my novel “Conditions”, Post 3: Elaine

Tags

Elaine, family drama, friend, funeral, mental disorder, mental health, psychic

Elaine is a motherly figure and a close friend to Charles. A haidresser, a psychic and a caring giver, she attracts fragile and needy people and is always happy to help: be that her sister who has ME, her neighbour with the broken leg and of course, Charles. We never learn how the two met and how they became friends, but they are close, and she is the engine that powers the group on the day of the funeral. 

Approaching her sixties, she is lively, always busy, a little bossy and outspoken but also charming, gentle and caring. I picture her a bit like a young Judy Dench or Zoe Wannamaker with spiky multi-coloured dyed hair, wearing a kind of alternative yet stylish velvet black dress.

How does she cope with Charles’s erratic ‘turns’and ‘episodes’, his highs and lows and his needs? Why is she so selfless, where does she get her energy from and can she really read the tarot?

Find the book

On Facebook: http://ow.ly/C0ZqX

On Amazon: http://smarturl.it/CONDITIONSCFF

On Goodreads: http://ow.ly/C0Ziw

Connect with Christoph

Website: http://www.christophfischerbooks.com/

Blog: https://writerchristophfischer.wordpress.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6590171.Christoph_Fischer

Amazon: http://ow.ly/BtveY

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CFFBooks

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/christophffisch/

Google +: https://plus.google.com/u/0/106213860775307052243

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=241333846

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WriterChristophFischer?ref=hl

Conditions

When Charles and Tony’s mother dies the estranged brothers must struggle to pick up the pieces, particularly so given that one of them is mentally challenged and the other bitter about his place within the family. The conflict is drawn out over materialistic issues, but there are other underlying problems which go to the heart of what it means to be part of a family which, in one way or another. has cast one aside. Prejudice, misconceptions and the human condition in all forms feature in this contemporary drama revolving around a group of people who attend the subsequent funeral at the British South Coast. Meet flamboyant gardener Charles, loner Simon, selfless psychic Elaine, narcissistic body-builder Edgar, Martha and her version of unconditional love and many others as they try to deal with the event and its aftermath.

Time To Let Go – Release Countdown

Tags

ageing, Alzheimer's Disease, contemporary drama, family drama, family dynamics, family relationships, preview, review, writer Christoph Fischer

My new book, TIME TO LET GO, will be released on Amazon on May 15th.

Time to Let Go is a contemporary family drama set in Britain.

Following a traumatic incident at work Stewardess Hanna Korhonen decides to take time off work and leaves her home in London to spend quality time with her elderly parents in rural England. There she finds that neither can she run away from her problems, nor does her family provide the easy getaway place that she has hoped for. Her mother suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and, while being confronted with the consequences of her issues at work, she and her entire family are forced to reassess their lives.

The book takes a close look at family dynamics and at human nature in a time of a crisis. Their challenges, individual and shared, take the Korhonens on a journey of self-discovery and redemption.

This is my first attempt at contemporary fiction and naturally I am very excited and nervous about it at the same time.

While I am in the last stages of coombing through the proof copy, I put the book on Goodreads and handed out Advance Review Copies.

Here are the first two reviews:

Lauren wrote: This story hits really close to home with me. My Greatgrandmother, who has passed and my grandfather, who is alive, both had/have Alzheimer’s. In my opinion it is the worst disease around. You watch your loved one’s forget everything, names, stories even how to live. This story has me in tears because the author truly understands and makes the story relate to everyone. I was brought up in a family that takes care of their own, no homes or live in nurses, we move in with one another and make it work. In this book Hannah suffers a tragedy at work and decides to spend time with her parents to get her head right. But after returning home she realizes her mother Biddy’s Alzheimer’s has gotten worse and harder on her dad. You become so attatched to these characters, and are heartbroken at the end because you know what lies ahead. This is a must read for anyone that has dealt with Alzheimer’s, even if you are lucky enough not to know anyone who suffers from it this is a great read. Have kleenex on hand and know that this emotional story will stay with you, but it is worth the tears. *****

Dermot wrote: Although Alzheimer’s disease plays a major role in this wonderful novel, this is not a book about Alzheimer’s disease. Sometimes it takes a crisis to reunite a family and when air stewardess Hanna suffers a traumatic experience at work, this is exactly what happens, although not for the reasons she had initially anticipated. As one of Hanna’s brothers explains, people react differently to stress and trauma in their lives and how each of the characters in this story react to the stresses in their lives and how they impact others in their social circle is precisely what’s going on here. As a response to her stressful situation, Hanna reacts by retreating to what she thinks is a family that will comfort and support her in the rural countryside. However, her father Walter is dealing with the stress of his wife’s mental retreat from him and the world into a seemingly no-man’s land of confusion and forgetfulness, characteristic of Alzheimer’s. Interestingly, whereas his wife is bereft of memories from the past, Walter immerses himself more fully into his as he chronicles his family history as if fearing that if events from his past are not recorded, they may be lost for good, almost as if they had never happened to begin with. As they are pulled back into a family dynamic, Hanna’s brothers must also face the stressful memories of their past, both actual and imagined and are each given perhaps a final opportunity for family reconciliation, secrets to be finally revealed, etc., which they both respond to differently and tellingly for their very disparate personalities. A very interesting scene recounts a situation where under hypnosis, a war veteran patient suffering memory loss was able to remember events prior to the trauma that in his normal consciousness, he had no recollection. This suggests that the mind, in the role of shielding us from painful memories may be also preventing the recall of the happy memories, as well. Luckily for Hanna, however, this is not her plight and she faces her traumatic past and her stressful present/future with courage and fortitude, allowing for all possibilities both wished for and feared. In so doing, the universe opens doors before her where she herself could only see brick walls.

Here is an excerpt:

He heard Biddy stir on the sofa and his thoughts returned to the here and now. Biddy was all love and happiness when he went in to the living room to wake her with a cup of tea.

“Oh, you are so nice. Thank you, thank you so much. I love hot tea,” she said and she snuggled up to her husband. These moments of closeness had become rare between the couple and he cherished them. Sometimes he felt he had lost his wife for good with the disappearance of her memory, but then she was suddenly back for brief moments like this. They sat together on the sofa for a while without saying anything. Biddy took sips from her tea and Walter for a moment could live the dream that she was with him, as if she remembered exactly who he was and why he was here. Biddy leaned on him and he could choose to believe that it was a sign of their unbroken connection to each other. Dead brain cells, grey matter, synapses and shortage of chemicals – all the medical explanations did not matter.This moment did: him and his wife, Walter and Biddy Korhonen, and their unity on the sofa.

“You will make someone a good husband.” Biddy broke the silence all of a sudden, shattering the happy illusion, but she smiled at him with the utmost care and affection.

“Yes, I think one day I will!” he said smiling back, accepting that the brief, heavenly visit to the past was over and the new reality had returned.

“Now, let’s get you dressed and go outside for a walk. How about that my sweetheart?” he asked.