The short answer is "because I can't help myself."

Here's the longer one:

I'm on a mission to reduce the global suicide rate to zero. Yes, I know that's a lofty goal but I believe it's a do-able one. Probably not in my lifetime but it is possible.

I believe the way we do that is twofold: those of us who live with Depression need to express ourselves and tell our stories. To lessen our own self-stigma and shame. This will make the topic of Depression less taboo and the more we talk about it, the easier it becomes for people to ask for help. Also, the easier it becomes to ask others if they're okay. And to receive honest, no bullshit answers.

Both of these things make it easier for us to help each other and build a world that celebrates each other's differences, rather than denigrating them.

I write about mental illness because I want the topic to become an every day conversation. I want us to speak of Depression the same way we do of the common cold or a broken leg. Not spoken about in hushed tones with a sense of the taboo.

Because I adore them. I always have. I loved them way before they were popular (again) and certainly well before they ever sparkled.

I love Dracula, Bela Lugosi, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Bram Stoker, Charlaine Harris's vampires and the Morganville Vampires from Rachel Caine. I love vampire music, vampire clothing, vampire books, vampire fangs. I even love vampire red lipstick and hair dye.

When I was a kid, I found vampires to be both terrifying and fascinating. In NZ, here we used to have what was called "The Sunday Horrors" on tv on a Sunday night. I used to love scaring myself shitless watching them.

As soon as I was old enough I read Dracula by Bram Stoker and then I went on a search to find every other vampire story I could. Unfortunately, all I could find were teenage romances that happened to have a vampire or two in them.

I swore that one day, I'd write the vampire stories that I wanted to read.

And now, I do.

I like to keep my readers informed of goings-on in my world. Only interesting ones though, I promise not to bore you with what I ate for dinner last night. Instead you'll get book updates, any specials that are happening and the odd mental health essay if somethings really sitting on my mind at the time.

You'll also be first to know of any book promos, mine or others, any new book reviews I've done and any mental health essays I've written.

And yep, you can unsubscribe at any time.

I sure do. I've lived with Depression since my childhood. Back then we didn't know that children could get Depression so I wasn't actually treated until my mid-twenties. I've just turned 55 now, so I consider Depression to be an old frenemy. As well as a demon.

I also struggle with anxiety occasionally and have a number of physical issues which have a huge impact on my mental state. Currently, I'm managing my Depression well with medication, self-help techniques and writing. I have to always be aware of my mood and how close I am to sinking down in the pit. As you can imagine, menopause was a barrel of laughs.

I now live a full, happy, life, alongside my Depression instead of despite it. I don't deny the demon but I don't allow it to take control any more than I have to. If you'd like to know more about how I manage my Depression and my views of how we should manage it as a society, check out my non-fiction book Depression; Sucks.

I sure do. I have a BA in Psychology, a National Certficate in Mental Health Support Work and over 25 years of work experience with people with mental illness, alcohol and other drug issues.

More importantly, I've been there and done that. I live and breathe Depression every single day.