Dyane Leshin-Harwood

Dyane Leshin-Harwood holds a B.A. in English Literature from the University of California at Santa Cruz. A freelance writer for over two decades,she has interviewed luminaries including Madeleine L'Engle, Anthony Bourdain, Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison and SARK. Dyane was diagnosed with postpartum bipolar disorder (bipolar, peripartum onset) in 2007. Dyane was selected as an International Bipolar Foundation Story of Hope and Recovery, a PsychCentral Mental Health Hero, and a DBSA Life Unlimited. Aside from raising her daughters Avonlea and Marilla with her husband Craig, Dyane is a women’s postpartum mental health advocate. She founded the Santa Cruz, California chapter of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) and facilitates free support groups for moms with mood disorders. She stays on the cutting-edge of postpartum mental health research as a member of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders and Postpartum Support International. Dyane’s memoir "Birth of a New Brain – Healing from Postpartum Bipolar Disorder" will be published by Post Hill Press in 2017. Dyane blogs at www.proudlybipolar.wordpress.com