ABOUT ME
My Biography
MEMOIRIST & MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE
Scott Murray
"When my father woke me at 2 AM to tend to the crucifixion wounds on his feet, I had two choices: tell my bipolar dad he wasn't actually Jesus, or show him compassion. I chose compassion."
I'm Scott Murray, and I've spent four decades learning that love isn't about waiting for someone to get better—it's about showing up for all of it, forever.
My memoir, ALL OF IT, FOREVER: Growing Up With My Bipolar Father, tells the story of a childhood where SWAT teams and wrestling championships were equally likely to mark a Saturday, where dark humor became as essential as any medication, and where choosing to stay was the most radical act of all.
"Mental illness might be the uninvited guest at every family gathering, but it doesn't get to write the whole story."
After a lifetime in the chaos—from small-town Kansas adventures involving homemade horse trailers to pepper spray incidents on I-70—I write to give voice to the millions of families loving someone through mental illness. My work explores the messy middle ground between tragedy and comedy, finding light in the impossibly dark moments that define a life lived at full volume.
MY STORY
From Chaos to Compassion
As a network engineer by day and storyteller by calling, I believe the most important stories are the ones we're afraid to tell. Mine just happens to involve a father who thought he was Jesus, a mother who weathered every storm, and three kids who learned that sometimes love looks like massaging imaginary stigmata at 3 AM.
Currently, I'm working to transform ALL OF IT, FOREVER from manuscript to movement, speaking to families who need to hear that their exhaustion is not weakness, their laughter is not inappropriate, and their choice to stay is not stupid.
My Mission
To give voice to the millions of families loving someone through mental illness, offering not false hope of cure but real hope of connection, understanding, and even laughter.
My Message
Love isn't conditional on someone getting better. Sometimes the most profound act of courage is simply showing up—even when showing up means becoming part of the Holy Trinity at 3 AM.
My Purpose
To transform four decades of lived experience into a resource for families navigating the beautiful chaos of loving someone with mental illness.
SPEAKING & ADVOCACY
Sharing Stories That Matter
I'm available for speaking engagements, workshops, and media appearances on topics including:
- Family Mental Health: The child's perspective on bipolar disorder
- Finding Humor in Darkness: How laughter becomes survival equipment
- Choosing to Stay: A different narrative about mental illness
- Writing Through Trauma: Turning chaos into compelling stories
From bookstore events to mental health conferences, from university classrooms to support groups, I bring four decades of lived experience to every conversation.