Amanda LaperaAmanda LaPera is an award-winning author, speaker, teacher, and advocate. She served on the Board of Directors for the National Alliance for Mental Illness, Orange County Affiliate for ten years where she advocacted for individuals and families affeced by mental illness. Her creative works, including short stories and poetry, which often address mental illness, have been published in a variety of anthologies and websites. Visit her website www.amandalapera.com for more information. She teaches English and lives in California where she enjoys spending time with her supportive husband, children and dogs. She continues to write. Amanda LaPera is available for professional speaking engagements, both motivational and informative, on a variety of topics, including mental health and mental illness. Read More Read Less