Liar, Liar, Gown on Fire

A story about lies and a liar, Liar, Liar, Gown on Fire is a memoir of a lifelong struggle with mental illnesses, specifically bipolar disorder and factitious disorder, more commonly known as Munchausen syndrome.

When she was as young as six years old, Cindy found a thrill in receiving attention for being sick or injured. Flinging herself off a swing set, hoping to break an arm or leg, she often found herself sitting in the sand, disappointed in her good health. As she grew older and into the painful awkwardness of young adulthood, the lengths to which Cindy would go to gain "sick sympathy" grew more extreme.

Cindy Buckshon's many careers and talents-from nanny, to artist, to bus driver, to wannabe heavy-duty mechanic, to graphic designer-set the stage for an exciting and unconventional life. This memoir is about mental illness, but it doesn't ignore the person behind the disorders; it focuses on a wild journey through a life filled with creativity, psychotic adventures, emotional instability and faith. Written with a frank honesty that allows both humour and pain to shine through, the book is a refreshing read, and will satisfy those curious about a real mental disorder that, ironically, results in pretend illnesses.

Liar, Liar, Gown on Fire is a major achievement. As an expert on the topic of people who feign illness for attention, I have been contacted by many sufferers who intend to write memoirs about their experiences with "factitious disorder" (FD)-better known as "Munchausen syndrome." They have wanted to alert others that FD is a true form of mental illness, and that it can be overcome despite the many difficulties that will inevitably arise. But unlike all the others, Cindy Buckshon has not only actually written about her experiences with FD but done so in a remarkably readable and compelling way. This is a book that immerses the reader in the world not only of FD, but of a bipolar disorder that resulted in some of her greatest challenges. Cindy brings her multi-faceted talents to Liar, Liar, Gown on Fire, showing me that, despite 25 years of studying mental illness, I still had much to learn from her.

Marc D. Feldman, M.D.

Co-author, Dying to be Ill: True Stories

of Medical Deception

Clinical Professor of Psychiatry,

The University of Alabama