Raising Angels

Raising Angels stars Walter, who is an unlucky sort of guy, becoming schizophrenic and entering the world of schizophrenia at a young age. He loses his Mother through a drive by shooting, and goes on with living, his Dad in tow. To make things worse, Walter's best friend, a puppy gets killed in a freak accident when Walter's Dad runs over him in the drive way. Walter becomes lost, confused, and continues to let his self-care slide to the point of self-punishment, beating his head against the wall into unconsciousness. Walter's illness manifested itself to a point where his ravaging anger blew into his 7-eleven boss who was withholding pay. Walter violently pushed his boss up against the refreshment center and was accusing him of theft when the police came and took him to the hospital where he was diagnosed with an illness, schizophrenia. This was a malady he had long kept under cover. But now he had blown his top, and entered the way of life laid out for the medically treated schizophrenic person. Walter takes his treatment seriously, medication and all. He attends a "Life Styles" group where he receives weekly therapy together with other mentally ill people at the Pea Pine Mental Health Center, near his home. He makes progress in the group. It is there he finds a friend, Teddy, with whom he can share his thoughts and visions. After the death of his puppy, Walter was devastated. He sees a number of angels, who come solely to give him advice. He is advised to stick close to Teddy as a friend for the two have much to talk about; the darkness of the underworld. Walter has a girl friend that he confides in, but not about the underworld, which he discusses solely with Teddy. Shyla, is her name, and she is a very close friend, whose sister is also schizophrenic. Teddy falls in love with Shyla's sister, Mindy, at once. All are schizophrenic, except for Shyla, who loves Walter just as much as he loves her. The four friends find a new dog for Walter. Murder and suicide take place at the Pea Pine Mental Health Center. Walter is a witness to the first, and is devastated by the second as he loses a potential friend. The two clients who die are taken to the underworld, and Teddy and Walter see them as they visit Hell in their dreams. Lucifer, the antichrist is expunged from the Universe, for there are no more sacrifices for him to feed upon, and even his own turn against him. After three months hospitalized from the death of his Mother, Walter emerges with a new sense of freedom. He talks to angels, they talk to him. He finds energy in the Star Magnolia tree, which has special meaning to him from a friend down under. This friend being Alli, who becomes a tree after killing herself. A tree in the underworld, on the near side of the river. The murdered victim, Stephan, is left to feed on across the river by the aggregate of alien marauders who inhabit the other side with Lucifer. Lucifer, gone, leaves behind his agents, that come across the now green river, for there is no more blood, and the agents become the poisonous, venomous plants in our world. As life goes on, Walter gets assigned to a new case manager. He hopes he likes this one, Ophus, better than his last one. When he meets Ophus, Walter is intimidated by the man's exuding confidence. Ophus asks many questions, and eventually suggests that Walter enroll in more groups so to have less time for day- dreams, delusions, and hallucinations. All of Walter's work with Teddy and the underworld is invalidated. Walter's Dad decides to leave and travel across country to stay with Walter's sisters. Sadly he realizes he must go on. He has "Hooper", his dog, and Teddy, Shyla, and Mindy. Life is not so bad. He must go on. Never forget, God is farming his angels on Earth, and they rise, and they go out to meet the chosen ones.

Author Kris Ralston has previously published a book about schizophrenia, entitled Sending in the Clowns. Raising Angels, her second book is a greater novel, dealing with many more characters and utilizing more of Kris's talents to perceive the workings of the mind. Ralston grew up in Seattle and graduated as a 4.0 valedictorian of her high school class. She went on to study at Stanford University where she was diagnosed herself with Paranoid Schizophrenia. Her tales are touching and exciting, enticing and hard to believe. Take a read of Raising Angels and meet Kris in its pages.