Carolyn Kaufman

Every writer who even thinks about creating or explaining a character with a psychological disorder should have a copy on their desk, right next to their dictionary and thesaurus.

well-written, easy-to-read guide to understanding the most complicated of psychological disorders that’s sure to help writers abandon the stereotypes and develop realistic characters.”

As a psychologist, a novelist, and a reader, nothing stops me reading faster than flat characters, phony fictional shrinks, and false diagnoses.

Fiction writers can get all the help they need with these problems and more in Carolyn Kaufman’s excellent reference, The Writer’s Guide to Psychology.”

—Dr. Roberta Isleib,

Quill Driver Books

connecting me with several other psychiatric professionals, but also for so generously sharing her time and expertise on medications.

who gave me a fantastic inside scoop on ECT and VNS.

Sharon Hawk-Carpenter, RN, BSN, MSA and John Tilley, PsyD, for answering oodles of questions and showing me around private and state-run psychiatric wards, respectively.

David Tom, PhD was also kind enough to answer questions on institutionalization, and to read the entire manuscript in search of errors.

QueryTracker Blog (querytracker.blogspot.com)—Suzette Saxton, Mary Lindsey, Heather Dyer, MD; and Patrick McDonald.