Arkhangel, the Story of Battling Schizophrenia along a Journey of Self-Discovery, - Ep. 124

Leo Zaccari is a history professor, writer, and author of the psychological thriller ARKHANGEL. He teaches history at Brookdale Community College and loves thrillers, sci-fi, fantasy, and the paranormal. My book is a psychological thriller about a girl learning who she is and it touches on themes of coping with mental illness, isolation, alienation, and schizophrenia. I really hope that this book will help young and old alike feel that they don't have to be alone and that they can identify with a character who shares some of the same problems that they do, and that they can overcome them.

During my chat with Leo, he talks more about his first book, which begins a series that will see the main character and protagonist, Raven, begin a journey of self-discovery while confronting her personal struggles in ways she never imaged.

• How did he come up with the character, Raven, and what was his inspiration for writing the book?
• The types of research he found himself undertaking and how the research he did helped develop the main character and story.
• What he's learned most during his research, especially since much of the mental health world was new to him.
  • How this new awareness has influenced him and what he would like to see changed in the mental health world.
• How does Raven's mental health pose a challenge in the story and how she begins to explore and overcome these challenges.

It was great to talk with Leo, not just to learn about his book but also to get his unique perspective of only recently entering the world of mental health struggles and things that people from all walks of life struggle with as a result of past trauma of all types.

As someone who spends a great deal of time engaged with the mental health community in many ways, it's important to always be open to new ideas and perspectives. It's often all too easy to be wrapped up in our own world as we see it, and there's certainly nothing wrong with that, but gaining a different perspective allows us to explore this world we are so passionate about, in a different way. Maybe that changes some things, maybe it doesn't but giving yourself the opportunity to explore mental health challenges in a new way can only serve to broaden our horizons and help to remember pause and think outside the box now and then. You never know what you might come up with.

Be sure and head over to Amazon and check out ARKHANGEL and also consider becoming a Patreon and join him on the journey of Raven and the adventures which await her during her superhero journey of self-discovery.

-Matthew Pappas, CLC, MPNLP

All conversation and information exchanged during participation on the Beyond Your Past Podcast, on BeyondYourPast.com, and BeyondYourPastRadio.com is intended for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing on these podcasts or posted on the above mentioned websites are supplements for or supersedes the relationship and direction of your medical or mental health providers.