Sharon Atwood is originally from the small farm town of Hayden, Alabama. As a youngster, she helped PawPaw and MawMaw shell peas, shuck corn, can beans, and make fried peach pies. She left the farm in 1992 to attend junior college before attending Birmingham Southern College, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Language Arts Secondary Education. Sharon then went on to complete her Master’s degree in Special Education at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2001.
Sharon’s diverse employment led her to realize she wanted to explore working with the elderly as well as with children, so she became a certified Home Health Aide. While following some of her true passions, she immersed herself in poetry, writing, and artistic expression, offering a welcome distraction from her mental health issues.
As an active member of her local church in Birmingham, Alabama, she enjoys participating in Bible studies. Sharon recently re-entered the workforce to teach reading intervention to elementary-aged children. When she is not writing or working, she likes to cuddle with her cat, Selah. Connect with Sharon through her social media.
Karen O’Kelley Allen enjoyed growing up as the middle daughter of three girls in the small town of Sylacauga, Alabama. Sports and music kept her active on the volleyball court and at the piano and organ bench in local churches. However, her interest in the medical field led her to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Technology from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1982, followed by a Master’s in Education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Karen married her hometown sweetheart, George Parker Allen, and moved to Lake Charles, Louisiana, picking up a mangey dog along the way. After a few years in Cajun Country, they returned to Birmingham, Alabama. Karen enjoys being retired and devoting more time to her writing after working 36 years in laboratory medicine and cancer research.
Karen’s bout with cancer in 2003 prompted her to write Confronting Cancer with Faith, an award-winning 6-week Bible study of encouragement, comfort, and hope through the trials of cancer (www.confrontingcancerwithfaith.com). She developed Ewe R Blessed Ministries as a result of her writing and international missions work (www.ewerblessed.com) and has a bi-weekly blog (www.ewerblessed.com/blog). Connect with Karen through social media and subscribe to her blog.
Anxiety, depression, mania, suicide attempts, and societal fears are not beyond God’s reach.
One in five people struggles with a mental health condition.
The stigma of mental illness is challenged as the authors team up to provide transparent devotions on touchy topics using real experiences. Two viewpoints are expressed: one from an individual with mental illness, the other from a friend, mentor, and advocate.
Even when the stress of this world makes you feel like you are out of your mind, you can cling to His compassionate and loving heart. AMAZON