Archive for News
The ‘Check Mates’ Pre-Launch – with FREE gifts!
Posted by: | CommentsChecker – counter – washer – neat freak – superstitious – perfectionist – over-thinker – worrier
Any of these sound like you? Perhaps a friend or family member? To tell the truth, I think we’re all a little obsessive-compulsive. But just imagine if our quirky little habits and rituals started taking over our lives without us even realising it. Read More→
So-called NHS cuts £5bn from mental health services
Posted by: | CommentsIn yesterday’s edition of the Evening Standard, there was an article on p. 26 about the latest Budget cuts affecting the British National Health Service. It seems that among many other substantial cuts, the government has put pressure on the NHS to seek £5 billion savings in the mental health area. As the Standard points out, this puts lives at risk when it comes to severely unstable patients with violent tendencies, and indeed there is currently a murder investigation underway, owing to a lack of trained nursing staff on the ward where the crime took place – because they let so many nurses go in an effort to save money.
Beyond this, I thought it important to inject the perspective of the ‘mental health’ patient. How many people can relate to this?: Read More→
‘Check Mates’ has been submitted for printing
Posted by: | CommentsJust a quick update to announce that ‘Check Mates’ has now been sent off for printing and proof copies, in preparation of its release on 11 May – be sure to pre-order your copy now!
Please remember to subscribe to this news feed for further updates – and if you’ve got a story to tell, click ‘Contact’ and submit your fiction or non-fiction of no more than 3,000 words about your own experience with a neurological condition. All submissions received by the end of 31st March will be in with a chance to win a FREE copy of ‘Check Mates’.
‘Check Mates’ mention in the Hertfordshire ‘Comet’
Posted by: | CommentsIn this week’s edition of the Hertfordshire ‘Comet’ (25th February 2010) there is a notice on p.48 of local books, including ‘Check Mates’. Rather unfortunately, despite having my contact details, the paper didn’t actually communicate with me about this and sprang it on me at the last minute that it would be going to press – so it calls me a Mr when I’m a Mrs! But no publicity is bad publicity, right?
You can read the article here:
The Comet – 25.02.10 – article page
Vrinda Pendred
Editor & Founder of Conditional Publications
Win a FREE copy of ‘Check Mates’ OCD fiction, poetry & artwork!
Posted by: | CommentsIf you have a neurological disorder and you’d like to get your hands on a FREE copy of the upcoming book ‘Check Mates: A Collection of Fiction, Poetry & Artwork about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, by People with OCD’, then this is for you!
Just click the ‘Contact’ tab on this webpage and send us your own writing. We’re looking for no more than 3,000 words – fiction/poetry or non-fiction. Read More→
Interview on ‘Book That Author’ podcast – Thursday!
Posted by: | CommentsThursday, 25th February, I will be giving an interview on ‘Book That Author’, a talk show devoted to authors, editors and other book professionals in the writing industry to display their talent, skill, insider information and love for the craft.
I’ll be discussing the upcoming book of OCD fiction, poetry and artwork entitled ‘Check Mates’ (on Amazon from 11 May), but from a wholly different angle this time. Please do tune in live at 11.30AM Central Time, 12.30PM EST – or check out the podcast aftewards.
More information and the live player here.
‘Check Mates’ interview, live on PIDD radio, tonight – call in!
Posted by: | CommentsTonight at 9.30 PM EST I’ll be appearing on PIDD Radio (Primary Immune Deficiency Diseases/Disorders). I’ll be talking about the modern theory that conditions such as OCD and Tourette’s are actually autoimmune disorders, as well as discussing ‘Check Mates’ the very first collection of fiction, poetry and artwork inspired by OCD, all by people with OCD.
If anyone would like to call in to ask questions, please feel free to ring 1-347-934-0024, from 9.40 EST onwards. The full show is about an hour long, and can be downloaded as a podcast via BlogTalkRadio.
Please visit the website here.
Proposed changes to upcoming DSM-V: have your say!
Posted by: | CommentsThe Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of mental disorders (DSM) is soon to be released in its fifth revision. Before its publication, however, the public apparently have a say in the proposed revisions.
Included in the proposal is the combination of all autistic disorders into one single entry for Autistic Spectrum Disorders – as well as the consolidation of certain psychotic conditions, and a new category for Psychosis Risk, intended to help treat patients earlier rather than once the problems have overtaken them. There will be rules enstated in order to prevent overdiagnosis…so they say. Read More→
Nia Peeples’ kind endorsement of ‘Check Mates’ – OCD fiction, poetry & art
Posted by: | CommentsA fascinating and enlightening read, so brave and honest. OCD: I never really knew. And now I’m so glad that I do. Thank you for this.
Nia Peeples – Actress, Singer & Writer – Los Angeles, CA
You can read more about Nia at her website: http://www.niapeeples.org
And be sure to pre-order ‘Check Mates’ here, if you’re in the UK
or
sign up for an alert when it becomes available in the US, here.
PRE-ORDER ‘Check Mates’ – OCD fiction, poetry & art
Posted by: | CommentsYou can now officially pre-order ‘Check Mates’ – a collection of fiction, poetry and artwork about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, by People with OCD. It is a project conceived and developed by genuine sufferers and survivors of the condition, who met via a social networking website dedicated to OCD.
The book is now listed on Amazon, in preparation for its official release on 11 May.
If you’re in the UK, you can pre-order it now, by clicking on this link: http://ow.ly/11jvV
If you’re in the US, it does not seem to be available for pre-order yet, but you can sign up to be notified when the book becomes available, by clicking here: http://ow.ly/11jyw and clicking the ‘sign up’ button on the right-hand side of the page.
The price on Amazon.co.uk is currently £14.95, but this will go down nearer the release date. In the US, the RRP will be $16.95, but again, Amazon will be selling it for cheaper!!
Look around and you’ll find that usually such books are either medical or autobiographical accounts of the subject – which makes ‘Check Mates’ truly unique.
It has been kindly endorsed by OCD author Jeff Bell, OCDTribe.com and OCD-UK (the leading national UK charity for the condition).
OCD-UK also published an extract from one of my own contributions to the collection, ‘The Royal Bank of Scotland’, in their members magazine back in October 2008. A portion of all profits from the sale of the book will be going to this and other OCD charities.
The aim of the project is to help others struggling with the condition realise they’re not alone and they’re not strange for it – they don’t need to feel ashamed or suffer in silence.
We also want to make people aware of the truth behind the stereotypes of this often disabling condition. OCD seems to have taken on a ‘trendy’ persona these days, due to people like Justin Timberlake and Cameron Diaz coming out with their condition. While we love that more people are recognising this condition and becoming aware of it, there still seems to be a definite lack of understanding of how deep it goes. It’s not just about counting and handwashing – there are dark, intrusive thoughts that go with it, thoughts that permeate every aspect of existence and can often be severely disabling – and yet, there is still always hope.
And don’t forget – we have a social network, http://conditionalpublications.ning.com, we’re on Twitter as ‘NeuroBooks’ and be sure to join the Conditional Publications fan page on Facebook!
In time, we hope ‘Check Mates’ will touch people’s lives and that this venture will build up into the important niche publishing house we believe it can become.