Bisection~ one man, two children and bipolar disorder
Triple Talented Kenton Hall author, musician and actor~ He was born in Estevan, Saskatchewan – the sunshine capital of his home country – but now lives and works in the United Kingdom where his disposition makes more sense. From 2000 until 2010 he was the lead singer and lyricist for the band ‘ist’ who released three critically acclaimed albums before breaking up due to musical amnesia. in 2015, he wrote and directed the feature film “A Dozen Summers” and in 2018, his first play “The Public Interest”. Bisection is his first full-length prose work. But watch out…. He is threatening a follow-up More music is also on the horizon for Kenton, with his first solo album, “Idiopath” – building on the themes of Bisection – currently being recorded.
Check out Ist last album https://open.spotify.com/artist/4aYl9tULfjcptNbEjaJPT4
About the book… Bisection: Since childhood, Canadian author Kenton Hall has fought a battle with bipolar disorder. At the moment, they’re calling it a draw, but they’ve both taken the round on more than one occasion. In the interim, he also escaped a cult, became a father to twins – eventually a single father to twins – and pursued a career as a writer, actor and musician. No one is claiming he makes things easy on himself.
Bisection is not your average book about mental health. It is the story of one man, two children and bipolar disorder – a funny, heart-breaking, fierce and hopeful book that dares to find humour in the darkest places – and shed enough light to lift their shadows. Imagine Douglas Adams wrote a book about mental health. Then imagine Douglas Adams was shorter and more regularly moose adjacent. That’s Bisection!
You can find the book on Amazon and other book selling sites.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/48411590-bisection
Tell us a little about yourself? Perhaps something not many people know?
I’m not entirely sure how much people don’t know – I don’t appear to shut up. But, let’s go with the basics: I’m a Canadian actor, author and musician and a single dad to two hilarious teenage girls who are clearly angling to put me in a home. I have bipolar disorder, which has informed a lot of what I’ve written, for better or worse. And I grew up in a cult, which is it’s own long story. #
What made you want to become a writer?
My childhood was – what’s the polite word? – challenging. Reading was an escape from some fairly horrible things and some other utterly ridiculous things. Writers shaped my conception of what the world could be, rather than how my world appeared. Writing is… my way of paying it forward.
What is your writing style?
I’ve written films, songs, narrative fiction and non-fiction. Each of those demands a different set of tools. But I do think there is a love of words – often ununsual words – and an absurdist sense of humour that runs through everything I do – even when I’m being serious, which I often am. In fact, that’s often when I’m at my funniest. I like the old-fashioned concept of a humourist. That’s what I aspire to be.
Pen or typewriter or computer?
I learned to type when I was 5 or 6. As a result, my handwriting is appalling. I do enjoy a typewriter, but I tend to write quickly and edit extensively, so my laptop bears the brunt of my work.
Does your book have a lesson? Moral?
I don’t really hold with morals – too prescriptive. Besides, who am I to give advice to anyone? I accidentally electrocute myself at least twice a year. I do have a hope for Bisection though – which is that it helps those who have never experienced bipolar disorder to see the person beneath it more clearly and that those who have experienced it feel less alone.
What is your favourite part of the book?
My relationship with my children is central to the story – and I always love to write about them. Especially when it annoys them.
What is the inspiration for your book?
I never intended to write anything as nakedly autobiographical as this, but it turns out my own story is as complex and absurd as any of those I’ve made up. I needed to reckon with my own recovery from a breakdown and writing has always been how I process the world. It just took a slightly different form this time.
Could you tell us a bit about your book and why it is a must-read?
I read a review of the audibook the other day which I liked: “Never has mental health been so funny”. I’d like to believe that’s true. I think it’s important to remember that humour needn’t entail making light of something. Sometimes, it’s the only way of shining a light in the darkness. Whether it’s a good thing or not is not for me to say, but I’m fairly confident that you won’t find another book covering bipolar disorder, parenting twins and escaping from a cult. Especially not one intended to make you laugh.
Anything you would like to say to your readers and fans?
To those who have bought, read, listened to or watched any of my work over the years, you have my eternal gratitude. To the rest of you: What are you waiting for? Kids are expensive.
Who is your favourite author?
That’s such a tough one. One is too hard. I’ll pick the first three that occur to me. Douglas Adams, Margaret Atwood and Dorothy Parker.
“Bisection” – a tale of bipolar parenting – out now from Chinbeard Books (ebook, paperback and audiobook)
“A Dozen Summers” – a feature film comedy for children and smart adults
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