Check Mates : A Collection of Fiction, Poetry and Artwork about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, by People with Ocd

Check Mates is an original collection of fiction and poetry written about Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder by the people who know best - Obsessive-Compulsives. Split between 'realism' and stories of the 'beyond', there is a diverse range of styles and genres, and a mix of rage, frustration, tears, violence, pain, heartache, subversion,love, strength, metaphysics, philosophy, friendship, hope, and even a bit of humour. And maybe - just maybe - it will knock away a few stereotypes. NOTE: Part of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to OCD charities. Featuring writing by:'Kristen', Rose Gardener, 'Heather', 'Kristyn', Steven Mojsovski, Vrinda Pendred, 'Sad Clown', Laura Power, Laura Chi, Jennifer Abrams, Sharon Meyer, 'Ash', Mark W. Johnson, Beth Barker, E. I. Muse, 'Rich Writer' and Ryan Arroyo Illustrations by Stephen Leaver and Richard Krecker

`Kristen' lives in New Jersey and is currently 18, although she wrote the following poem at 15. She says her religion is what gets her through the tough times. She is also our youngest contributor and gives us a glimpse of just how much OCD can hurt at such an early age.

Rose Gardener is 44 and lives in Wales, mainly afflicted with contamination OCD. She is fairly new to writing, but has certainly managed to pull it out of the box! This piece is a double-edged sword that leaves its reader in a loop of constant questioning....

`Heather' is 28 and lives in Ohio with her three children. She battles with mostly `Pure "O"' OCD (obsessive thoughts), yet remains ultimately optimistic despite all her life's struggles. Here, she takes us into the mind of an obsessive-compulsive as she journeys through just another ordinary day.

`Kristyn' is just 19 and lives in New Hampshire. She is shy and not yet open about the true nature of her OCD. She mainly deals with `Pure "O"' OCD (obsessive thoughts), but physical compulsions are becoming more frequent. She loves listening to music at all times, writing and painting, and when she's older she would like to do something that helps animals and supports the things she believes in. She hopes her story will help someone out there feel less alone.

Ryan is 32 and comes from Hacienda Heights, California. His OCD hit him in junior high school, leading to the creation of mental compulsions and fantasy worlds to escape into. He has longed to give these a life outside his mind, and his writing now does just that. In this `tale', he shows us the consequences that may fall upon us if we let anxiety get the best of us.

Beth is 24 and lives in Wales. She battles with violent OCD thoughts, dyspraxia, an autistic disorder and as-yet-undiagnosed tics. Beth has what I believe is the ability to create beautiful complex sentences: in her tight multi-clause lines, so much information is revealed that we instantly feel drawn inside her characters' minds,
houses, lives.

E.I. Muse is 48 and lives in South Carolina. She has OCD, an eating disorder and an unconfirmed mood disorder; her children have also inherited her problematic genes. Despite the challenges her family face, she holds a strong and faithfully religious approach to life. She is currently working on her first novel, `The Healer'. Her writing has a unique way of merging darkness and fear with a message of hope and the ability to conquer your worst nightmares,
often with a touch of the unearthly, too.

`Sad Clown' has chosen to remain anonymous. I will say that he is 40 and comes from India, making our collection truly international, and demonstrating OCD's transcendence over geography and culture. In a form and style I feel reflects his love of writers like the 19th Century Dostoevsky, this first contribution from him teaches us that not all obsessions are simply about things.

`Kristen' lives in New Jersey and is currently 18, although she wrote the following poem at 15. She says her religion is what gets her through the tough times. She is also our youngest contributor and gives us a glimpse of just how much OCD can hurt at such an early age. //

Rose Gardener is 44 and lives in Wales, mainly afflicted with contamination OCD. She is fairly new to writing, but has certainly managed to pull it out of the box! This piece is a double-edged sword that leaves its reader in a loop of constant questioning.... //

`Heather' is 28 and lives in Ohio with her three children. She battles with mostly `Pure "O"' OCD (obsessive thoughts), yet remains ultimately optimistic despite all her life's struggles. Here, she takes us into the mind of an obsessive-compulsive as she journeys through just another ordinary day. //

`Kristyn' is just 19 and lives in New Hampshire. She is shy and not yet open about the true nature of her OCD. She mainly deals with `Pure "O"' OCD (obsessive thoughts), but physical compulsions are becoming more frequent. She loves listening to music at all times, writing and painting, and when she's older she would like to do something that helps animals and supports the things she believes in. She hopes her story will help someone out there feel less alone. //

E.I. Muse is 48 and lives in South Carolina. She has OCD, an eating disorder and an unconfirmed mood disorder; her children have also inherited her problematic genes. Despite the challenges her family face, she holds a strong and faithfully religious approach to life. She is currently working on her first novel, `The Healer'. Her writing has a unique way of merging darkness and fear with a message of hope and the ability to conquer your worst nightmares,
often with a touch of the unearthly, too. //

`Sad Clown' has chosen to remain anonymous. I will say that he is 40 and comes from India, making our collection truly international, and demonstrating OCD's transcendence over geography and culture. In a form and style I feel reflects his love of writers like the 19th Century Dostoevsky, this first contribution from him teaches us that not all obsessions are simply about things.

`Kristen' lives in New Jersey and is currently 18, although she wrote the following poem at 15. She says her religion is what gets her through the tough times. She is also our youngest contributor and gives us a glimpse of just how much OCD can hurt at such an early age.

Rose Gardener is 44 and lives in Wales, mainly afflicted with contamination OCD. She is fairly new to writing, but has certainly managed to pull it out of the box! This piece is a double-edged sword that leaves its reader in a loop of constant questioning....

`Heather' is 28 and lives in Ohio with her three children. She battles with mostly `Pure "O"' OCD (obsessive thoughts), yet remains ultimately optimistic despite all her life's struggles. Here, she takes us into the mind of an obsessive-compulsive as she journeys through just another ordinary day.

`Kristyn' is just 19 and lives in New Hampshire. She is shy and not yet open about the true nature of her OCD. She mainly deals with `Pure "O"' OCD (obsessive thoughts), but physical compulsions are becoming more frequent. She loves listening to music at all times, writing and painting, and when she's older she would like to do something that helps animals and supports the things she believes in. She hopes her story will help someone out there feel less alone.

Ryan is 32 and comes from Hacienda Heights, California. His OCD hit him in junior high school, leading to the creation of mental compulsions and fantasy worlds to escape into. He has longed to give these a life outside his mind, and his writing now does just that. In this `tale', he shows us the consequences that may fall upon us if we let anxiety get the best of us.

Beth is 24 and lives in Wales. She battles with violent OCD thoughts, dyspraxia, an autistic disorder and as-yet-undiagnosed tics. Beth has what I believe is the ability to create beautiful complex sentences: in her tight multi-clause lines, so much information is revealed that we instantly feel drawn inside her characters' minds,
houses, lives.

E.I. Muse is 48 and lives in South Carolina. She has OCD, an eating disorder and an unconfirmed mood disorder; her children have also inherited her problematic genes. Despite the challenges her family face, she holds a strong and faithfully religious approach to life. She is currently working on her first novel, `The Healer'. Her writing has a unique way of merging darkness and fear with a message of hope and the ability to conquer your worst nightmares,
often with a touch of the unearthly, too.

`Sad Clown' has chosen to remain anonymous. I will say that he is 40 and comes from India, making our collection truly international, and demonstrating OCD's transcendence over geography and culture. In a form and style I feel reflects his love of writers like the 19th Century Dostoevsky, this first contribution from him teaches us that not all obsessions are simply about things.

`Kristen' lives in New Jersey and is currently 18, although she wrote the following poem at 15. She says her religion is what gets her through the tough times. She is also our youngest contributor and gives us a glimpse of just how much OCD can hurt at such an early age.

Rose Gardener is 44 and lives in Wales, mainly afflicted with contamination OCD. She is fairly new to writing, but has certainly managed to pull it out of the box! This piece is a double-edged sword that leaves its reader in a loop of constant questioning....

`Heather' is 28 and lives in Ohio with her three children. She battles with mostly `Pure "O"' OCD (obsessive thoughts), yet remains ultimately optimistic despite all her life's struggles. Here, she takes us into the mind of an obsessive-compulsive as she journeys through just another ordinary day.

`Kristyn' is just 19 and lives in New Hampshire. She is shy and not yet open about the true nature of her OCD. She mainly deals with `Pure "O"' OCD (obsessive thoughts), but physical compulsions are becoming more frequent. She loves listening to music at all times, writing and painting, and when she's older she would like to do something that helps animals and supports the things she believes in. She hopes her story will help someone out there feel less alone.

E.I. Muse is 48 and lives in South Carolina. She has OCD, an eating disorder and an unconfirmed mood disorder; her children have also inherited her problematic genes. Despite the challenges her family face, she holds a strong and faithfully religious approach to life. She is currently working on her first novel, `The Healer'. Her writing has a unique way of merging darkness and fear with a message of hope and the ability to conquer your worst nightmares,
often with a touch of the unearthly, too.

`Sad Clown' has chosen to remain anonymous. I will say that he is 40 and comes from India, making our collection truly international, and demonstrating OCD's transcendence over geography and culture. In a form and style I feel reflects his love of writers like the 19th Century Dostoevsky, this first contribution from him teaches us that not all obsessions are simply about things.