PAOLINA MILANA

Embarking on her latest book, Committed: A Memoir of Madness in The Family (She Writes Press, May 4, 2021), author, speaker, podcaster, and founder of Madness To Magic, Paolina Milana’s mission is to share stories that celebrate the triumph of the human spirit: To unleash the power that lies within each of us to bring about change for the better. 

Milana’s professional background is rooted in journalism where as a features writer for a major daily newspaper in the Midwest, she told the stories of other people. Then she moved to the field of PR/media and digital marketing as an executive in both corporate and non-profit environments. Given her experience in an emotionally tumultuous household where she was put in the position of caregiver to unstable family members, she is uniquely qualified to serve as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children in foster care and as an empowerment and resiliency coach, using storytelling to help people reimagine their lives, write their next chapters, and become the heroes of their own journeys. 

Paolina has won awards for her writing, including her first book, The S Word, which received the National Indie Excellence Award. Her self-help picture book for adults, Seriously! Are We There Yet?!, and her holiday fiction novel, Miracle on Mall Drive both published in late 2020. Paolina is first-generation Sicilian, married, and lives on the edge of the Angeles National Forest in Southern California.

PRAISE FOR COMMITTED:

“COMMITTED is a must-read for anyone struggling with mental illness…This raw memoir brings to light the reality of madness — both in terms of what may surround us and that which may lurk within us.” – Samantha Dunn, author of Failing Paris and Not By Accident

“Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review. This book easily earns all the stars! It’s probably one of the best books on mental illness that I have ever read. Paolina Milana tells her story of having a mother, then later a sister, with paranoid schizophrenia with such honesty and passion. The toll that being a caregiver has on her is completely understandable and she shows real courage. I highly recommend this book!” ~ Librarian

“A modern-day ‘Girl, Interrupted’ but with family. Paolina Milana is an incredible writer and is very brave for sharing her story with us. Mental illness is still seen as taboo and she is breaking down what happens when we are taught to keep it all in the family and never air dirty laundry.”  5 out of 5 stars ~ NetGalley