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Thanks, Mike, for this wonderful memory. I sure miss his wisdom.

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Hi Mike, I'm a friend of Charlotte's in Fairfield. Thank you for this heartfelt tribute to Frank Conroy (I am a huge fan of Body and Soul and will now read his memoir too). I also appreciated how you distinguished between mental illness and creativity. So beautifully written, as always.

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Thank you, James. That day with Frank Conroy and Jorie Graham talking frankly about mental illness was a turning point in my life. My mother was and is a tireless advocate for those who suffer from serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia, which my two oldest brothers were diagnosed with in early adulthood. But that day my two worlds merged and I understood more clearly than ever that I didn’t need to go mad to write about madness. Indeed, it was the form and tradition and ritual of poetry and the company of poets that carried me through the hardest periods of my life. Thanks again for reading and sharing Frank’s beautiful work with so many, and for taking the time to share your kind words with TFP readers. MJ

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May 17, 2023Liked by Michael Judge

Mr. Judge, this was a terrific piece. Conroy's Stop-Time is one of the most influential books, and most enjoyable, I've read. I still purchase a few copies a year to give away to young and new writers. Your essay might now be included with those gifts because it speaks so eloquently to mental illness and the creative process.

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