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It feels like I’ve been waiting for years to tell everyone the title of my book, but the fact is, the title has only existed in its current form for a short while. It’s funny how I can write 1000s of words for myself or for clients, practically without thinking about it but when I considered the title for my book, every, single syllable was tough to decide on. And the cover? That took many, many iterations and multiple designers (including me taking a crack at it).
So, today I introduce you to: Lost Marbles: Insights into My Life with Depression & Bipolar.
I’m also extremely excited to show you the cover for this new book. Jordan Klosterman of Lee Jordan Design, an incredibly talented graphic designer and generally fabulous person, came up with the design and I can’t tell you what a relief that was as I went through at least five major versions before that point. (In case you were wondering, there are four blue marbles and one green marble because one-in-five people will experience mental health challenges; and green, of course is the colour of mental health awareness. Jordan came up with this concept.) My equally wonderful friend Terry did the finishings on the design as he’s a Photoshop wizard.
I love this design and I really hope you do, too.
Previously, I revealed a partial table of contents of the book. You can see it here.
Lost Marbles: Insights into My Life with Depression & Bipolar is a book that straddles a self-help book and a memoir with a little scientific information thrown in for fun (Okay, my idea of fun.). It’s a book that contains some of my most well-read pieces from here and Breaking Bipolar and new work as well. This book is unlike any I have read on mental illness as it provides fully-referenced facts combined with a direct line of experience to those with mental illness.
DJ Jaffe, Executive Director, Mental Illness Policy Org., author, Insane Consequences: How the mental health industry fails the mentally ill, and amazing mental illness advocate has this to say about the book:
‘Lost Marbles: Insights into My Life with Depression & Bipolar’ is a witty, original, informed, politically incorrect, and iconoclastic description of what it is like to live with serious mental illness and how to come out on the other side. Natasha Tracy challenges almost every conventional wisdom about living with mental illness. She brings clarity, compassion, a deep understanding and irreverence to subjects including suicide, and deciding whether to take medications or stop medications. She is almost blasphemous in the depth of her introspection. If you want to understand what goes on inside the mind of a bipolar and why, then read this book. You’ll understand how Natasha Tracy became one of the internet’s top mental illness writers.
I’ve got quite a few more quotes from different folks like Andy Behrman and others but you’ll just have wait and see those soon.
Lost Marbles will be available on Amazon via ebook next month and in a paper format shortly thereafter.
Natasha Tracy is an award-winning writer, speaker, advocate, and consultant from the Pacific Northwest. She has been living with bipolar disorder for 26 years and has written more than 2000 articles on the subject.
Find more of Natasha’s work in her acclaimed book: "Lost Marbles: Insights into My Life with Depression & Bipolar" on Amazon.
Connect with Natasha at the social media links below.
Shopping for someone with a mental illness can feel tricky—you want a gift that actually helps, not just more clutter. This guide walks you through 15 thoughtful, low-pressure mental health gifts that offer real comfort, reduce stress, and say, “I see you and I’m here,” during the holidays and all year.
For decades, people were told bipolar disorder was just a ‘chemical imbalance.’ That idea was never accurate—and modern science proves it. From brain scans to genetics and circadian rhythms, research shows bipolar disorder has real biological markers. Learn why the myth persists, what the evidence really says, and how it matters in everyday life.
Self-hatred in bipolar disorder can feel relentless — a voice telling you you’re not enough, day after day. But this voice is lying to you. Discover why bipolar disorder makes it so easy to hate yourself, how it steals your self-worth, and practical steps to break the cycle.
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… everyone i talk to likes the graphics of your new book … :)
So looking forward to reading your book. What I appreciate most about your writing is that it comes from personal experience, it is scientifically accurate and well-researched, and, dammit, you can write! A winning trifecta.
Sorry !
SCROLL DOWN!!!
SHEESH
Omg…..
NATASHA:
Please see my above post re your book!!
Hey Natasha,
Just for the heck of it, I thought I’d take a shot at your book cover:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/nt-book/LOST-MARBLES-BOOK-COVER.jpg
https://s3.amazonaws.com/nt-book/LOST-MARBLES-TWIN.jpg
Hi Booker,
Interesting take :)
– Natasha Tracy
Thanks – I tweaked it a just a bit after I sent posted here – may need to refresh/reload to see latest version.
Dearest, dearest Natasha, I’ve always thought you had the ”brilliance spark” when it came to describing our shared illness, —bipolar- and I have told you that, years back. I can’t wait to read your book over and over and then hope that there’s many a sequel to it. (How could you possibly put it ALL into one single book?)
I am so proud of you for this great accomplishment, and I am so very happy for you too. The cover and title are perfectly intertwined.
Thank you forever Natasha. You’ve changed my bipolar outlook, and helped me so much with my bipolar thinking etc, b/c of All of your hard work and research. With all that has been said and written about bipolar, I have learned more from your personal stories than from Sylvia Plath, or the Greek philosophers. (Beat that).
You will always, always, have a special place in my heart. xoxoxoxoxxo
Please let us know when it hits Amazon!
Natasha!!!
I’m getting your book!!
I told my sister ( now we’ve been getting on SO SO MUCH BETTER THAN EVER LATELY!!)
Today when she took me out shopping for a few fall/ winter clothes / shoes / boots rest I’m on my own)
SHE SAID YES!!
AS CHRISTMAS PREZZIE,SO SHES GOT TONS OF CREDIT CARDS MONEY & GREAT CREDIT OF COURSE)
YAY!YAY YAY!!!
WAS ALSO FUN TO COME HOME WITH A NICE FALL COAT ( parka with fake fur hood from UK shop H & M)
FANCY IN STYLE LEATHER BIT OF HEEL GREY SHOES do up with a button & zipper @ back from TOPSHOP
Another UK shop…Finally,hit Sears for a cool pair of boots that look like a cross btw rugged trainers & boots
In grey.
I bought only a cute ear cuff from UK boutique Claire’s not really for mature women,but who cares?
I like it it’s got got dangly stuff & crescent moons cool stuff you’d like probably too but their stuff $$$$
12$ that’s for -1 earring!
DAMN!
I sweet talked a new girl to put aside another more elaborate & lovely pair gorge) $20
So,the -2 won’t match…perfect!!!
Who wants to be a sheeple!!!
Sorry to go off.
But I’m happy about things,my sister is doing her own ART SHOW IM INVITED!
IM GOING TO SUPPORT HER AS I PROMISED!!!
This is so incredible it’s happened,never thought it would.
I’m feeling tired as our shop took nearly 3 h so too much w my back….but,my sister is returning to work in October
Today was her last free day,
Then art show 2 weeks then work back at the business part at RBC.
Then,I will email,call.
But not see that often.
She hates / stresses her job.
Anyway back to you.
Just wanted to pass that info back to you re your book purchase
Maybe behind a cloud there is a silver lining!
Ciao mon ami.
Natasha,
This is great. I really look forward to reading it. I think you should know that your website is the first (and only) internet source (not written by a physician) that I recommend when anyone asks about bipolar disorder.
Keep doing what you do.
Hello Tracy,
Yes in the U.K. sorry I thought you were U.k. based.
Please consider a tour over hereI I know a few contacts in book publishing and the Mental Health service Mind who will be interested.
Kind regards,
David
Natasha, congratulations. I will definitely purchase the book when it’s available. Thank you for all you do for us. Just a note: I will finally be revealing my illness in my own blog on my birthday next month and will be pointing folks to your website as on of the reference sites. You have given me the courage to “come out” and put the stigma and shame behind me.
You are truly a blessing. <3
Congratulations, Natasha! I’m really looking forward to reading it! It looks beautiful too! Love the marbles :)
Hello Natalie,
Thank you for your very prompt reply.
I wonder if you would have a book signing in Frome, Somerset organized by Hunter Raven Books, look them up on the w.w.w.
They have won many awards as an independant book shop and arranged many famous authors to come to the town.
I would be prepared to pay any fees and expenses if you will attend.
Good Luck on your launch.
David Gosling
Hi David,
Are you referring to the one in England?
– Natasha Tracy
OH Natasha! Everything about it is simply perfect! And I too was unaware that green is the colourful mental illness awareness. Now that I know that I will use it in my art for certain. Thank you for yet more valuable information relative to my life and my Self. By providing not just information about Bipolar II, but a bridge to uncountable numbers of people like myself who cope with it daily, you have helped make me feel so much more a part of the world than I ever have before in my life. I can never thank you enough. I will most assuredly be first off the mark to buy your printed book when it hits the market. I am going to ask my partner if he will consent to read it. I wouldn’t trust any other author to express on my behalf the whys and wherefores of my internal bipolar struggles.
Congratulations. Giving birth to a book is an enormous success!
Hi Stephanie,
That is so lovely, thank you. I’m honoured.
– Natasha Tracy
Dear Natasha,
I will also have to wait for a shop copy as on principle of Amazon destroying book shops and other retailers.
I also believe they have a very poor record of assisting people with mental illness, in fact may be inducing it, as has now been with proved with Sports Direct..
Besides all of the above I look forward to readind your book
I would also like to thank you for your Twitter feed it is very good.
Hi David,
I can totally respect that but understand that you may have to buy through me directly as it’s very, very tough to get a bookstore to stock a book like mine. Even if I sell oodles, they likely still won’t look at me.
– Natasha Tracy
Hi David,
You know what, I just remembered, I think your local bookstore can order it even if they don’t stock it but it’ll be a bit because I have to get it into their systems first.
– Natasha Tracy
Someone I know recently self-published and they had at least several Chapters stores in their area pick it up. If you’d like I can check with them what was involved or if they had any tips. Out of curiosity, which company are you using to manufacture the dead tree version?
Hi Mark,
It wouldn’t actually be too hard to be the book into a few local bookstores but that’s not really helpful because I don’t have a local audience, I have an international one. It’s easier just to get the bookstore to order it or send out the book myself for the few that can’t but via online for one reason or another.
CreateSpace will be doing the print book (that’s Amazon’s company, sorry).
– Natasha Tracy
Natasha:
I don’t think I can do that unfourtunately…..
It’s sad I can’t be still trusted by the boss ( joking- half- serious) sister .
To own a credit card
I asked her again,even with a substantial low limit no no NO SANDRA!!!!
So,I’ll likely be one of these ppl who shops in store paying DIRECTLY CASH ONLY
Regretfully sorry.
Luv
Sandra
Hi Sandra,
The reason I asked is because I think you can get the money directly from your bank account and put that into PayPal. (So you could just get the amount of the book and no more.) I totally get the credit card thing, believe me.
– Natasha Tracy
Sandra,
Oh, but, I think your local bookstore might also be able to order it if you request it, but it’ll be a bit because I have to get it through the proper channels first.
– Natasha
Well good morning lovely!
Congrats on your book,looks AMAZING loved & got a laugh ( in a good way!) from the title
Very appropriate,
I love the graphic design layout!
Again,
Congatulations!
I’ve no credit card ( WONDER WHY??)
So I’ll be awaiting your book to come out in shops…hopefully it will hit Chapters book Stores???
I’m located in Kingston,Ontario hence the question….
Anyway,
If you are privy to that info can you let me know?
Ta.
?
Hi Sandra,
That could take a little while but if I have an update, I’ll let you know. Can you pay via PayPal? (I may be able to accept payment that way and just send it to you personally.)
– Natasha Tracy
As you know, HUGE fan of the marbles analogy and love the concept behind color selection of ’em. Couldn’t be more excited for you and the review bloody rocks!. This book is going to help so many – not just those struggling with a bipolar diagnosis but also those who love or know someone who is bipolar (i.e., the majority of the planet). So proud of you. Write on mate, write on.
Hi Kerry,
Thank you so much :) I sure hope so.
– Natasha Tracy
Great title, great cover, great review, Natasha. I didn’t know that green was/is the color for mental illness awareness. I have green eyes.
One possible “rub” with the cover, if you are interested. The marbles all look the same color, to me. As people age, the eyes’ lenses (I think) change color so that certain colors are hard to discern. In my case, I think each eye lens has changed different from the other. I can tell because I have a stained-glass kaleidoscope. I’ve had it since the early 1980s and (1) the colors are no longer as vivid as they used to b e now; and (2) each eye sees the colors a little differently.
I look forward to reading the book! Now I’ll go back to the Table of Contents for the second time.
I really like the cover of your new book, I like it alot !
Hi Wiekert,
Great! I hope you like the book as much :)
– Natasha Tracy
… I Bet I Wil … :)
I love the title. Ironically, I was just viewing a trailer for .a two part television documentary entitled: “Stephen Fry: the Secret Life of the Manic Depressive.” I like your title better. When you make your documentary, call it Natasha Tracy: Lost Marbles.
Hi EDDE,
Sounds like a plan :)
– Natasha Tracy
Edde, just FYI – I’ve seen both Parts 1 and 2 of Stephen Fry’s documentaries and they are worth the watch. ;-)
Great title – congratulations on this and the cover! And the inside too. :-) I’m really looking forward to this!