1) What is "Cooling Well Water: A Collection Of Work By An African-American Bipolar Woman?"

A. "Cooling Well Water: A Collection Of Work By An African-American Bipolar Woman" is a labor of love. It is an intimate look at my developing spiritual relationship with my Creator as an individual living with Bipolar.

2) Why should people read this book?

A. This collection of work is very inspirational and encouraging allowing readers to understand the brain disorder, Bipolar. It is a spell-binding, faith-based approach to removing stigmas and myths and showing deliverance every Christian will understand. It will also allow readers to witness God's grace and mercy and become believers.

3) What makes this book different from other books on the same topic?

A. "Cooling Well Water: A Collection Of Work By An African-American Bipolar Woman" is unique in that it is less academic than most other books available. It is not a novel or source of entertainment. It is truth displayed in a powerful way that readers will be able to see, feel, and touch. Being able to relate to my experiences, encourages readers to feel less shame about seeking treatment themselves or for a family member.

Readers will also learn about Bipolar and raise their own awareness about a mental illness that has no cure, but is treatable and manageable. Because of this alone, "Cooling Well Water: A Collection Of Work By An African-American Bipolar Woman" is transcending of time, ethnicity, and race.

4) How long did it take you to write this book?

A. I first began writing "Cooling Well Water: A Collection Of Work By An African-American Bipolar Woman" in 2002. I was in a very dark and lonely place because I was still grieving my father's death and the end of my marriage of 19 years. I felt extremely lonely because of the empty nest syndrome as well. I was very afraid and I needed to find God.

During that same time, my therapist suggested I seek faith-based counseling. I began attending bible study classes and God began manifesting in my life stronger and more visibly.

My motor skills were not very strong at that time so I began writing poetry like David, the Psalmist, did. I had never written poetry before. It seemed like the more I wrote, the more God showed up in my life with answers. He began guiding me spiritually to write even more.

Then I experienced a manic episode while writing my poems and I wanted to write through that experience. I wanted to write about what was actually going on in my head while in an episode. When I was stabilized after having my medications adjusted, I went back and read my writings and I simply cried. They were beautiful. They were very telling. They were quite awe-inspiring.

Then I asked God what to do with this collection. It was a process of tweaking and fine-tuning my work so that it was no longer scribbles, but words that best articulated my experience and relationship with God and showing my story.

Then I put the manuscript aside.

In 2004, I was inspired to share the Collection in bits and pieces with my church family and with my online writers' community. I was completely filled with joy by the reception of my work by others and I soon understood that publishing the Collection was God's purpose for me. Once I accepted that calling and began researching the publishing industry, I decided to self-publish. That has been a learning experience all in itself, but I am wiser and determined to bring this book to readers at last.

I also wanted to show the growth of my relationship with God so when compiling the Collection, I selected samples of my work up through year 2007.

5) How has Bipolar affected your writing?

A. Bipolar has affected my writing in several ways. For one, when I am struggling with depression, I do not have the energy to write. I can barely get out of bed and holding a pen was unheard of. Being able to type is much easier than writing so I began doing my journals on the computer by pecking keys with a finger.

Writing is also very therapeutic for me. It relaxes me. It calms me. It allows me to stay focused for longer periods of time and that will slow down the racing thoughts while the medication is adjusting.

When I am going through anxiety or manic depression where I cannot sleep, experience restlessness, and/or my thinking is grandiose, my creative juices flow abundantly. Because of the therapeutic aspect of writing for me, I also fell in love with blogging. Blogging is a short way of expressing one's thoughts. Blogging is a perfect way for me to express my angers, frustrations, hurts, joys, or simply whatever is on my mind, etc. and that helps guide me through the episode beyond the medicine taking hold.

My motor skills become affected by Bipolar, too. Therefore, using the keyboard builds my strength up and helps me to concentrate during the process.

Sometimes, I am absolutely amazed at what I wrote when I go back and read my work after the chemicals in my brain have balanced. God is always there.

6) Is "Cooling Well Water: A Collection Of Work By An African-American Bipolar Woman" solely for the African-American woman?

A. No. The title of the book came to me from the Lord. My understanding is that because African-Americans are the one race group in America least likely to seek mental healthcare, the book especially needed to get the attention of members of our race specifically. However, "Cooling Well Water: A Collection Of Work By An African-American Bipolar Woman" encourages women, in particular, of any race or ethnic background to trust God and seek mental healthcare. It is inspirational on many levels to aide women to empower themselves and take charge of the circumstances that disable them from living a quality life.

Also, "Cooling Well Water: A Collection Of Work By An African-American Bipolar Woman" allows every member of every race group to understand the adverse affects of issues that specifically harm the African-American woman spiritually, emotionally, mentally, psychologically, and physically especially. This is important if America is ever going to seriously address the sky-rocketing cost of healthcare. Untreated mental illnesses cost America 100 billion dollars each year!

7) Is it true that "Cooling Well Water: A Collection Of Work By An African-American Bipolar Woman" contains prophecy?

A. Yes.

8). Can you give us an idea about the prophetic content of "Cooling Well Water: A Collection Of Work By An African-American Bipolar Woman?"

A. God is very real. He is the Alpha and the Omega. He wrote the script.

9) Will it be difficult for readers to believe the prophecy shared in the book knowing that the source came from a person with a mental illness?

A. That worried me at first, but then I focused on the fact that I am accountable to God to be obedient only to Him. Readers will be able to decide for themselves about the prophecy in a chilling way.

1) Why are you self-publishing "Cooling Well Water: A Collection Of Work By An African-American Bipolar Woman?"

A. As a writer, I learned that the publishing industry is a very complex industry. Like most writers, I believe my book is worthy to be shared and it has to be shared. The publishing industry has millions of people feeling the same way. Therefore, access to a publisher is extremely hard and then to have your manuscript accepted, is even harder.

2) Is it costly?

A. Absolutely. In my experience, I did not do enough research when I first began marketing my book product. That experience cost me a pretty penny. However, it also taught me to spend more time studying the industry! That was the key to making the decision to self-publish. I used to fret over the money I lost the first time around, but I turned that experience into a stepping stone and now I think of it as a semester in Self-Publishing 101.

3) Would you advise writers to self-publish or find a publisher with a sound history?

A. Writers need to know and understand that writing is a separate task altogether. An editor is needed to proof your work and that is the best investment to complete the writing part of publishing.

The second part is publishing your book. You can be patient until the end of time waiting for a mainstream publisher or a small publisher to accept your manuscript. It depends on your personal goal.

The third and most important part in my opinion, is marketing your book product. No Author can rely solely on any publisher to sell his or her book. Authors must become their own salesman and act vigorously to bring buyers to their product. The book stores are not going to become your salesman. If writers are not up for this part of the publishing process, then it is not time to be looking for a publisher or spending time and money on the first two parts of publishing.

Writers must research and study the publishing industry and then decide on what their personal goals are for the release of their book. Is the topic time-sensitive? Is the book historical or a romance novel? What genre will you target? Who will do your book cover? How many books do you want printed? Are you willing to invest many long hours and money into marketing and promoting your book? These types of questions should help an author decide whether or not to self-publish.

4). Will there be more work from you as an Author?

A. Absolutely.

Cooling Well Water: A Collection of Work By An African-American Bipolar Woman by Agnes B. Levine ISBN #0975461206 IS A MUST HAVE BOOK FOR EVERY African-American and American household. Women of the African diaspora all of the world will cherish this book from generation to generation! Even the unique classy cover painted by me makes Cooling Well Water: A Collection of Work By An African-American Bipolar Woman. a beautiful book to display on your coffee table or desk!

Challenge your thinking by answering a few questions following the stories and best of all…

You can blog with me, Agnes B. Levine, about Bipolar, manic depression and clinical depression, its symptoms, and succeeding in life with this brain disorder. Share laughs and tears, always find great links to mental healthcare organizations and let’s chip away at that dark family secret that destroys us all once and for all!

Join me at myspace.com/coolingwellwater

HBCU member name Agnes Levine at: www.hbcuconnect.com and blog with me there, too!