Lipstick and Thongs in the Loony Bin

When you're just crazy enough to know that there's no such thing as sanity.
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From Rock Bottom to Rock ON!!!! 

       ~The word is out...and the word is CRAZY!~

So far the book is doing great and I'm thrilled. Keep on spreading the word!

My darling fellow Loonies--Send this link to everyone you can think of who has any media connections at all...Also find me on

Facebook and myspace.com and friend me---email to search me is: sococaw@yahoo.com but please don't put it on truckstop

bathroom walls...thanks. :)

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                                                                               Lipstick and Thongs in the Loony Bin

A memoir by Courtney A. Walsh  Order your copy today! Also available for download...

 

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Hi all! I've put together this site so that I can add updates as needed. This is the best way to find out about retreats, TV and radio appearances, webcasts, etc.  Also---it's the best way to request to book me for speaking engagements. Well---la-di-da.....

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AUGUST 2008 *NEW!* I have a new chapter in a book coming out at the end of August about Leadership What? Who? ME???!! Seriously?:

 

"The Power of Leadership is filled with insight from leaders who exemplify what it truly means to be a leader. They are beacons of strength and character who have dedicated themselves to succeeding by helping others to succeed. Their words, stemming from depths of experience, will teach you what it takes to build unwavering character and become a leader capable of achieving success for yourself and others." Foreword of The Power of Leadership, Finding the Leader Within.

 

When I was first asked to contribute my immediate question was: "Ummm...do leaders sometimes eat Pringles for dinner and have piles of clothes on their bedroom floor? Cuz then I'm SOOO in!"

 

 Luckily they still wanted my chapter anyway which is entitled: Following Your Inner Compass to Leadership...So ya know...ROCK ON!!!! And pass the Pringles. Make way for the Leader of the Loonies, yo. And can someone please teach me how to use a compass?

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More in August 2008 Save the Date! Book signing at the Stadium Theatre Friday August 22 at 8pm. I'll be setting up a table to sell copies of "Lipstick and Thongs in the Loony Bin" in the lobby at the Comedy Show. More info here.

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Shop ON! The Loony Shop is open for bizzle on zazzle: www.zazzle.com/courtneyawalsh (loonybus.com link will be live at the end of the summer)...Stay looned...You know you want a bumper sticker, keyring, t-shirt and mug.

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ALL ABOARD the LoOnYbuS!!! I recently ran a contest here: http://99designs.com/contests/7847 and I HEART my new Loonytasticalifragisticexpialibodacious Logo. Thanks to Mike Peach of Peach Photo Design for the rockin' winning entry. Stay looned for an overhaul of this site and more looniness to come...

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*NEW!* Testimonials: "Courtney has a way of engaging the audience with her powerful story and warm presence. Her message is a timely one and much needed for today's youth, for mental health professionals, parents, as well as by society at large. Her writing is accessible to the mainstream and crosses genres blending humor and compassion with the tricky, taboo and often stigma-laden subjects of suicide, depression, bipolar illness and the overarching themes of mental wellness today."
~Katherine Ellin, Ph.D., M.S.W., D.T.R.

 

"Courtney gave two talks around the topic of her book entitled, Lipstick and Thongs in the Loony Bin. I found Courtney to be inspiring, witty, and poignant all in an hour. She spoke honestly and with a continual sense of appropriate humor. She reached our students in powerful ways around the sensitive topics of mental hospitalization, depression, and suicidality. At the end of each of her talks there were students who hung around to speak with her more. I recommend her to speak to high school and college audiences about these topics. I think she brings a fresh voice to what has become an epidemic of depression in our time." 
~Jamie B. Chisum, Assistant Principal, Wellesley High School
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BLURBTASTIC!!: Check out my blurb in "20 Something Manifesto" in bookstores now by Christine Hassler (www.christinehassler.com)

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Also in bookstores now---check out my excerpt in "Spot of Grace" by Dawna Markova (www.dawnamarkova.com) Page 117!

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L&T goes back to High School---not a musical! March 12th--Wellesley High School gig---seminar day. I'll be speaking to about 100 or so kids about why they should not off themselves before graduation or ever...

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Radio gig~~Tune in: *NEW!*March 21st--WNRI (www.wnri.com) interview with Dr. George King at 6:05 pm

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L&T chosen for book club:My little pink book was in good company as the Underground Bookclub's March Meeting pick...

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Article in the Valley Breeze: www.valleybreeze.com/Free/290509326030396.php#

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Get lucky this Christmas! Erin go Thong! Grab your green lipstick, lads and lasses--L&T is now in IRELAND!

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*Save the date!* 12/15 @2pm Book signing at the Woonsocket Harris Public Library Click here for more info and spread the word!

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*NEW!* Divine Caroline Article: Somewhere under the rainbow

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Common Ties Article: Brushes and Crushes (yup, another excerpt)

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*HOT!* More Articles: Fire Stroll with Me....Because walking on hot coals is a perfectly normal thing to do...

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"The Moon and Me" and "Speaking of Suicide"

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Martin Sheen, Quentin Tarantino and I made the news--for more on this juicy scandal click here: Miami Herald

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Amazon goes Amazon! My book is finally available on the Barnes and Noble.com, ALibris and Amazon.com sites too....here are the

glorious linkages... Amazon Barnes & Noble ALibris

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L&T goes (even MORE) international: How do you say "Damn!" in German or Japanese? 

Hey~Look at all of the people around the world exploiting me! Yippeee!!!! Maybe I should join the writer's strike...

KIDDING. I'm still grateful the word is getting out there. LuLu is still the cheapest of all of the sites. I get more royalties from LuLu, too...

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Who are all these lovely people?:

www.bookfinder4u.com/IsbnSearch.aspx?isbn=0615159532&mode=direct&option=all

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I've also found mentions of it being bookmarked and/or sold down under in Australia, wear a thong with your boot 

Italy, say yes to freedom South Africa, the Netherlands, yah and some Eastern European language I don't even recognize..

put it this way, different alphabet and lots of consonants.

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 Blog entry~ Speaking of Suicide...

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Listen up!: webcast of FREE online interview with

Dr. Paul of  Cabot Shores...

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Interview link: http://instantteleseminar.com/?eventid=897528

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Read previously published excerpts here:

http://www.divinecaroline.com/article/22189/37603

http://www.aspiremag.net/articles/innergrowth/transformation/themoonandme.html

http://www.mendingwords.com/Submissions/Self-Image/thongtastic.htm

http://www.printnpost.com/authors/617/Courtney-Walsh

http://www.commonties.com/blog/2007/07/20/dangling/

http://www.divinecaroline.com/article/22189/36081

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                                                                                                What people are saying so far...

 

"I really needed to read your story. I recently had tried to commit suicide due to domestic abuse.

My husband didn't like lipstick or thongs. Believe it or not I'm now going to try both." Brooke P.~ Florida

 

"I just have to say how brave you are to write about this topic that plagues so many of us. I've been off

work for nearly a year after the breakup of my marriage that threw me further into severe depression and

alcohol which eventually resulted in a car accident. I was severely injured and worse, I nearly killed my son.

The road to recovery has been hard but worth it. Congratulations on your success!"Jackie V. ~New Philadelphia, OH


"Thank you for writing your book. I am a 30-year-old single woman and I was diagnosed with depression

at the age of 15. Around the age of 20 I was diagnosed as Bipolar. I managed to graduate from a great university

and put on my happy face to get through my job all the while hurting inside. At the end of September I admitted

myself into a facility for help because I just could not find help down here in Delaware. I have had to move back

into my parents and I am devastated. Fortunately they have a beach house I can rent from them but still- I feel

like such a loser not being out on my own like others my age and not married and no kids. I was thinking of suicide

tonight (again) and then I came across your video on YouTube. I really think I was meant to see it. My plan for

suicide was to get in the car in the garage and...well you know the rest... I applaud you for what you have done.

We need to erase this stigma. Let me know if you have any ideas or projects going that I can help with to get the word

out to people.
Thanks!" Mary Beth C.~Delaware

 

"In Lipstick and Thongs, Courtney takes you through what must seem an unexplainable and at times unbearable

darkness with light-hearted wit and humor. Mental illness, suicide attempts, the wackiness that is life, these become entertainment as presented by Ms. Walsh. Having lived through a lifetime of my own type of darkness, I can

definitely relate to what is presented within. Hell, I am crazy enough to own a drawer full of thongs at my age!...

Do yourself a favor and read this book!" Jamie Antonia Symonanis~Author of  "You're Lost Little Girl"~Chicago, IL

 

"An exceptionally worthwhile read--Courtney has what it takes to transcend demographic demarcations

by her engaging writing style and sharp commentary. In her book, humor and depth intertwine remarkably

to take the reader on an unforgettable journey, which promises many laughs along the way and lessons

learned by the end. Courtney adeptly brings to light what has become to some a gnawing reality and to others

an unfathomable darkness. Ultimately out of desperation and despair come hope, redemption, and fulfillment."

Joel K.~ Bridgewater, MA

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                                                                                           From Rock Bottom to Rock ON!

You may have been hearing a lot on the news and on talk shows lately about suicide and Bipolar Disorder.

Oprah did a feature on her show recently (9/24) about these issues and did a follow-up featuring Sinead O'Connor

(noooooo----not Sinead? Shocking---explains the pope pic-shredding SNL incident in the 90s a bit more doesn't it?)......

                               The point being that Pandora's box? IS OPEN. It's time for change. People are ready.

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                                                                                          All Aboard the Loonybus!
So the idea for the Loonybus Tour is not a pipe dream but rapidly becoming a very real possibility. With celebrities coming out of the woodwork and out of the 'crazy closet' to speak up about mental illness we have a shot at finding corporate sponsors for our BIG PINK BUS rolling down the highway into high schools, colleges and treatment centers bringing light, love, hope, laughter, t-shirts (that say "Thongtastic"), CDs with coping techniques, warning signs and inspiring music, stress kits...ETC.

The merchandising possibilities are also endless...stay tuned for more to come...
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                                                         Anywhoo...Spread the message, spread the lipstick, spread the love!
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Big Apple Bloggin'

http://scribechickie.blogspot.com

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                                                                   Footage of: TV appearance!!!!! In case you missed it:

 

Part One~The *live* show: http://www.mandjshow.com/videos/surviving-a-suicidal-attempt/

 

Part Two~Greenroom *after the show* footage:

http://www.mandjshow.com/videos/surviving-a-suicide-attempt-151-part-2/

 

Now up on youtube, too!

http://www.youtube.com/courtneyawalsh

    

 Ready for my close-up..Tune your TiVos to the Fox  network's Mike and Juliet Morning Show 

www.mandjshow.com where I'll be appearing Wednesday, 9/19 at 9am to promote the book.

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                Description of Lipstick and Thongs in the Loony Bin book: Bridget Jones Meets Girl Interrupted Meets Sex in the City...

 

Beginning with a botched suicide attempt in her parents' garage, Lipstick and Thongs in the Loony Bin takes the reader on a journey that’s at once inspiring, haunting, heartfelt, and hilarious. From life at a mental hospital and the colorful cast of fellow ‘bin-mates’ to the horrors of insomniac night terrors and modern day electroshock therapy, Lipstick and Thongs uses dark humor and Walsh’s unstoppable personality to explore the absurdities of the mental illness realm, the universe and the magical healing

powers of lipstick.

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                                                                        How can I get myself a copy of this kickass book?
                                                                        For more info or to order your copy, click below: 
                                                                              http://www.lulu.com/content/1076267
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 Press release: October 2007
 
Author Courtney A. Walsh Gives Birth to Book on Labor Day
 
PROVIDENCE, RI—In her memoir, Lipstick and Thongs in the Loony Bin, Rhode-island based author, Courtney A. Walsh shares the story of her journey from the state of  mental illness and despair to the land of mental health and happiness. In Lipstick and Thongs in the Loony Bin,  Walsh takes the reader from the terror and humiliation of a botched suicide attempt through the ensuing
self-discovery process and ultimately successful treatment of her illness. Along the way, we meet her family and
friends, her fellow ‘’binmates’, and see parts of ourselves reflected in the everyday struggles of ordinary
people coping with the ‘insanity’ that life unexpectedly dishes out to us all.

According to Walsh: “My hope is that the main characteristic that sets this book apart from other books on
depression, bipolar syndrome or suicide is the humor factor. It challenges the reader to see life, death,
labels of the ‘sane’ and the ‘insane’ in a new way…through the lens of a compassionate sense of absurdity.”

Lipstick and Thongs in the Loony Bin asks the reader to relinquish previously held notions of what
defines sanity, to cast aside the pity that is so often doled out to those enduring a mental illness. Walsh
skillfully blends two polarized worlds- where the sane live and where the insane go to get well, in her
profound and sometimes profane, but always refreshingly funny memoir, “Lipstick and Thongs in the Loony Bin"
available on Lulu.com

 

 Walsh concludes: "It seems appropriate somehow that the launch of this book coincides with Labor Day...

For me it has been very much a labor of love and a birthing process...alternately, joyful, painful and messy."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Courtney A. Walsh, http://www.courtneyawalsh.com is an experienced communications professional/freelance

writer. She has an extensive background in journalism, film, languages, and marketing, and has worked on

projects for the United States Park Service, MTV, her work has been published on webzines and in print magazines:

Wisdom, Aspire, commonties.com, mendingwords.com, and The Portsmouth Journal among others. Walsh

also publishes a blog: http://www.scribechickie.blogspot.com about decoding the secret handshakes of the

publishing world.