About Holly Hollan
Holly is a widow in her late 50s who has dealt with the strange ups and downs of the bipolar condition for her entire life. Because she was "different" she experienced early life as an outsider to much of the external world around her. She learned she could find solace and comfort in nature and, especially, in music.
However, in keeping with the maxim, that which does not destroy me makes me stronger, she sought to maximize her strengths which are a high innate intelligence, perseverance and tenacity, and a near total recall memory.
She experienced her first great depression in college and was dismissed due to a suicide attempt, even though she was pulling a 3.5 grade point average. At that point, she left home to try and make her own life.
The rest of this book tells the story, from an insider's point of view, of overcoming numerous manic episodes as well as dealing with the depressive side of the disorder.
Now, the "noisiness" in her bipolar brain appears to have stabilized. This is why she's written Soaring & Crashing because, while she's been through tremendous pain and difficulties, she is an ingenious survivor with a story of hope, resourcefulness, optimism, encouragement, and concrete strategies to share.
At this time, Holly is a Web Administrator for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, after owning her own editing business for a number of years. Despite her unusually steep version of the bipolar roller coaster, she maintains successful social and career relationships. Holly currently lives in Austin, Texas with her two Border Collies.