A Blue So Dark »

Holly Schindler (Springfield, Missouri) dove headfirst into her writing pursuits after obtaining an M.A. in English from Missouri (ma-zur-ah) State University. Her essays, poems, and short stories have appeared in such journals as The Explicator, Slipstream, and Short Story. A Blue So Dark is her first novel. Visit her online at HollySchindler.com.

Fifteen-year-old Aura Ambrose has been hiding a secret. Her mother, a talented artist and art teacher, is slowly being consumed by schizophrenia, and Aura has been her sole caretaker ever since Aura's dad left them. Convinced that "creative" equals crazy, Aura shuns her own artistic talent. But as her mother sinks deeper into the darkness of mental illness, the hunger for a creative outlet draws Aura toward the depths of her imagination. Just as desperation threatens to swallow her whole, Aura discovers that art, love, and family are profoundly linked—and together may offer an escape from her fears.

Praise for A Blue So Dark:

"A truly real, emotional, and honest read."—Catherine Ryan Hyde, author of Pay it Forward

"A Blue So Dark is a raw, compelling and eloquent portrayal of art and madness, and the freeing, healing gift of creativity. Schindler's voice is brilliant and true."—Carrie Jones, New York Times bestselling author of Need and Captivate

"Schindler's lyrical debut explores the nightmare of mental illness in a voice that is sharp and funny and all her own. This is as real as teen fiction gets. A must-read."—Crissa-Jean Chappell, author of Total Constant Order

VOYA

Fifteen-year-old Aura is trying to hold her family together. Her mother, a gifted artist, is slowly losing her mind to schizophrenia. She paints with frantic grace and refuses to take the medication that could help heal her brain and psyche. Aura, utterly helpless, can do nothing but keep watch over her mother. Her father is no help, having created a new family for which to provide and care. Aura begins to lose sight of herself; skipping school more frequently, worrying about the household bills, and ignoring the troubles of her best friend, Janny. Aura also worries that her mother's mental illness will become her own. She is gifted in her own right, but does not allow herself to create the images that have destroyed her mother. The pressure builds until Aura can no longer contain the cacophony of troubles that have invaded her life. Schindler's debut novel is a lyrical tapestry. Lines like "late August had bloomed, like a giant sweaty marigold," and "the morning weighs so heavily on me that I feel like Atlas" are poetry in motion. Her first-person narrative is witty yet biting at times. Aura's voice is clear and sharp throughout the novel. She is burdened with her mother's mental illness and is holding on for dear life; something that the reader will feel with every word Aura says, every action that she makes. Readers will forget this is a fictional tale—it reads like truth. It is an excellent first novel—a definite must-read. Reviewer: Jonatha Basye