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Today marks a meaningful transition as I conclude "Schizophrenia As I Live It" and introduce my new creative journey, "Fractured Ink: Writing in Life's Chaos." While living with paranoid schizophrenia remains an essential part of my identity, my fiction writing is expanding to embrace the full spectrum of my experiences.

"Fractured Ink: Writing In Life's Chaos," or "Fractured Ink," for short, delves deeper into topics that have shaped my life beyond mental illness—from exploring sibling abuse in my second novel "Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies" (https://amazon.com/dp/B0DPXW76DV/) to sharing how I built a successful career as a research mathematician and university professor despite my diagnosis. You'll discover how adaptation, fortunate circumstances, and supportive colleagues helped me navigate professional challenges while managing schizophrenia.

The podcast balances serious subjects with life's joys. Humor has been crucial to my survival, and I'm eager to share what makes me laugh. I'll talk about finding love in marriage, my passion for bird watching and nature walks, and why love is never wasted—even when directed toward complicated relationships. Every Sunday at 5 pm PST, I'll bring you new episodes in both audio and video formats, available on Apple Podcasts and my YouTube channel "@DianaDirkbyWrites." (https://www.youtube.com/@DianaDirkbyWrites)

As we embark on this new chapter, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your support throughout "Schizophrenia As I Live It." That podcast will remain available as a resource, while "Fractured Ink" expands our conversation. Episode 0 is already available as a preview, with Episode 1 premiering tomorrow. Subscribe to my YouTube channel, join the discussion in the comments, and let's continue exploring life's challenges and celebrations together.

My website and social media:

My Instagram: @dianadirkby_writings (https://www.instagram.com/dianadirkby_writings/)
My Facebook Page: Diana Dirkby Writings (https://www.facebook.com/DianaDirkbyAuthor)

My X-account: @dianadirkby (https://x.com/DianaDirkby)
My YouTube channel @DianaDirkbyWrites (https://www.youtube.com/@DianaDirkbyWrites)

#fiction #novel #families #relationships #challenges #schizophrenia #CPTSD #epilepsy #siblingabuse #mentalhealth #nature #birds #birdwatching

Do you love to watch wild birds from inside your home? Then, your answer is a feeder that won a British Birdwatching Innovation Award and was updated just this year, 2025. It is designed with clear, strong plastic, so nothing obstructs the view of the birds who visit it to feed. It has extra-strong suction cups that ensure it stays in place. It has a high roof, which is also suitable for larger birds. Where can you find it? To see it on Amazon, click on the following link: https://amzn.to/42jxzDF. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. #ad #commissionsearned #birds #wildbirds #birdfeeder #nature #birdwatching

Pastime With Good Company by King Henry VIII, played by The Chestnut Brass Company 

Pastime With Good Company, composed by King Henry VIII, played by The Chestnut Brass Company

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, my name is Diana Dirkby and I live with
paranoid schizophrenia.
You are listening to my podcastSchizophrenia As I Live It.
This episode is the final oneof this podcast series.
I am starting a new podcastseries that in many ways, acts

(00:22):
as a sequel to this one, in thatschizophrenia will also be
discussed in the new podcast,whose title is Fractured Ink:
Writing in Life's Chaos, orFractured Ink for short.
Episode 0, a preview of thepodcast is published.
Episode 1 goes live tomorrow,April 20, 2025, at 5pm Pacific

(00:48):
Standard Time.
Fractured Ink will have anaudio and video version.
The audio version will beavailable on many platforms like
Apple Podcasts, including myYouTube channel.
The video version will beavailable on my YouTube channel
@Diana Dirkby Writes, and I'llgive the URL for that in the

(01:14):
episode notes.
The motivation for a new podcastcomes from my writing, which is
growing to include importantthemes outside schizophrenia,
like sibling abuse, the topic ofmy second published novel,
Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings,Three Furies.
As you will learn in the nextepisode, Episode one, Fractured

Ink (01:39):
Introducing Myself and my Novels, is closely related to my
last blog post Extract From MyBooks.
My podcast often deals withserious issues like mental
illness and child abuse.
However, although these issueshave been part of my life and
the lives of other authors Iwill discuss, we will still have

(02:01):
some fun.
Humor has been a big part of mysurvival arsenal and I want to
share with you what makes melaugh.
Also, love, even for myproblematic family and friends,
is a prominent feature of mylife.
I have found love in marriage.
I will share with you all thosethings and explain why love is

(02:24):
never a wasted emotion.
I have many interests, such aslistening to music, reading,
walking in nature, watchingwildlife, especially bird
watching, and I will share those.
I had professional success as aresearch mathematician and
university professor.
How did I manage that withschizophrenia?

(02:46):
That's an interesting storyinvolving adapting how I work,
luck and supportive colleagues.
There is much in my story tocelebrate, so the serious
treatment of specific, severeproblems and issues will be
peppered with much happiness toentertain.
Every Sunday at 5pm, PacificStandard Time is my target day

(03:08):
and time of the week for postingnew podcast episodes.
I may not always manage that,so if life gets in the way, wait
for the notification that a newepisode is posted.
If I need to skip a week, Iwill aim to post the next
episode on the Sunday after theone I missed at 5pm PST.

(03:28):
To be better informed byreceiving notifications,
subscribe to my YouTube channel@Diana Dirkby Writes.
Don't forget to like andcomment on my videos.
If you prefer the audio version, it is already on Apple
Podcasts and will also be onYouTube.
In the episode description, Iwill remind you of my website

(03:53):
address and the coordinates ofmy social media and talk about
my favorite bird feeder.
Thank you for listening.
Thank you for following me inthis journey of this first
podcast, which now has a sequel.

(04:15):
Schizophrenia As I Live.
It will still be available, soif you want to refer back to it
at any time, you can do so.
I really thank you for yoursupport and thank you for
listening.