Randal Doering

Schizoaffective Randal Doering

Years have passed since the events in Randal Doering's first mental illness memoir, "Randal, Randal, Burning Bright," and his illness has ferociously returned. In this new memoir, Randal goes through manic cycles and psychotic cycles, and his psychiatrists change medicines several times as they look for a cure. Unfortunately, there is no cure in sight, and instead of a complete recovery and return to normal life, Randal runs halfway across the country trying to escape the voices and must grit and grin through many attacks by Heather, his imaginary girlfriend who has plans for him. Then he reads several articles in the media, talking about the police killing hundreds of mentally ill people every year in America. Thousands more die of suicide, and hundreds of thousands more are warehoused in prison or are living on the streets. Who is to blame for this situation, and who can make it better?