States of Mind Format: Paperback

A glimpse into the life of a vivacious young woman whose brilliant mind is caught in the ebbs and flows of her mental illness.

The true story of a spirited young woman whose brilliant mind is caught in the grip of mental illness, known as bipolar disorder. In constant flux between transient euphoria and utter despair, Camille attempts to decode her mind and treat her illness. However, she discovers that the will of the patient is not always enough to cure the ills of the mind, and the only way she can find a semblance of peace is when surrounded and supported…if not understood. It is this compassion which allows her to stay anchored in life, a buoy ebbing and flowing with the ocean. STATES OF MIND's strength is in its unabashed and unapologetic account of the destruction and desolation that the disorder causes, but more importantly, the beautiful humanity and compassion that blossom in its wake.

Patrice Guillon is a writer, draftsman and colorist who got his start in the comic industry a bit later in life. He first published "Kat Ogan," a strip illustrated by Stéphane Abadie, in Mon Quotidien, a newspaper for teens, in the years 1996-1997. He then went on to write: Guide de la cinquantaine (Guide to the Fifties), drawn by Tépaz for Winds of West; Une passion cubaine (A Cuban Passion), a commercial album drawn by Loustal, published in 2006; Dans la secte (In the Sect), a testimony on Scientology, under the pseudonym of Pierre Henri (The Bubble Box, Prix de la BD citoyenne), illustrated by Louis Alloing; and Mes Copains d'autrefois, (My Buddies of Yore), for Benjamin Bouchet. Eventually, Patrice paired up with his daughter to co-script the intimate and tragic Journal d'une bipolaire (States of Mind), for which they employed Sebastien Samson's illustrative talents. He then delved into more humorous material with Les Comptables and The Colleagues, which are personal works inspired by his past experiences as a designer in an advertising agency. For his most recent title, Un Juste, he interviewed David Cénou's father at length to accurately trace the story of his great-grandfather during the German occupation.

Emilie drew from her personal experiences, grappling with mental illness to cowrite Diary of a Bipolar Girl with her father, graphic novelist Patrice Guillon.

A Graduate of the Visual Arts of the faculty of Bordeaux III, Sébastien Samson writes for the popular French magazine, The Feast. He is also the illustrator of the bestselling graphic novel, States of Mind, an emotional and honest account of a young girl's mental struggles. My New York Marathon, an autobiographical account of his participation in the New York Marathon, will be published by Humanoids in 2018. He currently resides in Paris, France.