About Christopher
In the spring of 2001, Community Webs, Inc., a flourishing dot com company that I had co-founded and led for three years, got caught up in the dot bomb. We were at a point where we either received our next million dollar venture capital round or we closed. Perhaps we had lost our focus, but, nonetheless, I lost the round and experienced my first crippling bipolar episode.
My late father, Paul Sharits, was and still is a famous experimental filmmaker and artist. If brilliant is a ten then he was a twelve. His knowledge and charisma mesmerized his students and his fans. I was one of them. He was bigger than life, but he did have an Achilles Heel. He was manic depressive and self medicated to the point where his therapeutic drugs were ineffective. He was scary and exciting and completely unpredictable at the same time, but never a good bipolar role model.
I spent a week in a mental health facility and left with medication in hand and absolutely no idea of what to expect. Thanks to a subsequent illness and a failure to adjust, I spent some additional time in the hospital and did learn about the clinical definition of bipolar disorder. While I was in my second or third round of “visits” that summer, my new psychologist explained that my kind of bipolar was the worst to treat because I loved being manic.
Intellectually, I understood the disorder, but I still felt out of control. My emotions were like a roller coaster without brakes.
My father committed suicide as did his mother, brother, and two uncles. Understandably, I am terrified of my disorder. My medications and care is far more advanced than they had and my support system is far superior, but I still have my moments. I would say that the most threatening mind melt for me is panic attacks. They are unpredictable and scary. I break out in a cold sweat and start shaking and then I panic about panicking. I now keep lorazepam in my pocket at all times.
I had already made the transition from a successful career in middle and upper management to a freelance writer when I decided to write a book. I thought, “What could I bring to the literary world?” I went to my favorite book store and did some online research and didn't find any fiction stories about being bipolar. That is when Nick Gambella and the “Night in Positano” was born.
The story is set in Boulder Colorado and Positano Italy. I lived in Boulder when I was young and grew up only a short drive from there. I stayed in Positano with my dad for a nine week break in school and I fell in love with the village on the cliff.
I have been asked if “Night in Positano” is autobiographical. While it carries a familiar backdrop for the story, I did not jump off any cliffs. The book is my contribution to bipolar patients and their families. Hopefully it will help someone. It has certainly been good therapy for me. I hope you enjoy the book.
After living in San Francisco and Buffalo, New York, my little family of five has settled back into the shadows of the majestic Colorado Rocky Mountains. I graduated from Buffalo State College Summa Cum Laude, studied for two wonderful years at The University of Denver's Graduate School of International Studies, and earned my Master's in Education from the American Intercontinental University.
In addition to writing fiction, I freelance with The Examiner/Reuters, Ezine Articles, and I contribute to Food Service Daily News as the Staff Editor. I love to paint, but rarely have the time. My websites are PaulSharits.com, Lose250.blogspot.com, and NightinPositano.com. Thank you for visiting.
In addition, use the following hyperlinks to my artistic endeavors:
NEW! My favorite videos
Also online at:
E-mail: csharits@comcast.net
* Nine page 1989 "Berlin letter" from Paul to Christopher in which he talks about his alcoholism, demons, and God...
Part One; Part Two; and Part Three
