Bedlam South by Mark Grisham and David Donaldson

Bedlam South

Mark Grisham and David Donaldson

"Truly a must read for anyone who reads at all. I've read alot of books from many bestselling authors, and this is my new favorite! I literally could not put the book down, I found myself reading it at red lights in traffic! I was totally captivated by the characters. I laughed during a snowball fight after Gettysburg and cried when loved ones were lost. Read and enjoy."


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Dr. Bryarly, the central character and focus of Bedlam South, moves from England in 1862 to work in an Richmond's Wingate Asylum. When he arrives, he's met with the current regime by Captain Samuel Percy, a sadistic man who treats the inmates of the asylum with cruelty.

Bryarly works to improve the conditions for the men who reside in the asylum while battling Captain Percy. At the same time, he's battling his own personal demons that are revealed bit by bit throughout the story.

Grisham and Donaldson paint a realistic portrait of what life might have been like during this time period for those who suffered from the emotional and mental scars of war. Especially in a time when little was known about how to properly treat and care for someone who has experienced the major trauma of battle.

You'll be compelled by Bryarly's storyline as it intersects with the stories of several other critical characters. And don't worry, there will be plenty of time spent on the battlefield as you follow the story of another central character - Zeke Gibson - a 17 year-old who's joining his brother on the front lines.

When Mark Grisham and David Donaldson grew up together, they had no idea they would one day collaborate on a historical fiction. But their two loves made the perfect combination for a compelling novel about the Civil War.

Grisham grew up with a love of the Civil War and Southern history. This made him the perfect person to write about life during the Civil War - especially in the South. Donaldson's love for psychology and mental health set the perfect tone for focusing on the psychological challenges and effects of war.

The two areas of interest intersect perfectly in Bedlam South as they provide a framework of understanding the effects of the Civil War on the mental health of those who fought in it. This is different than any historical fiction you've ever read.

You'll find out about not only what life was like on the battlefield, but also what it was like for the average Joe living during this time. In addition, you'll understand more about the startling way in which mental health patients were treated inside the asylum.

Grisham and Donaldson have teamed up to create a new twist on the Civil War historical fiction. Once you begin reading it, you'll find yourself drawn into the psyche of each of the characters and you'll be compelled to turn page after page.

Mark Grisham is the owner and operator of a construction company in Desoto County, Mississippi, where he has lived since 1967. He attended Ole Miss and Arkansas State University where his love for Civil War History took hold. He resides in Mississippi with his wife and two teenage daughters.

David Donaldson holds a PhD and works as a clinical mental health doctor. He is also the CEO of Impact Missions, Inc. that works to provide mental healthcare for needy kids in the Northern Mississippi Area. He also provides marriage and family counseling that is faith-based. He lives in Northern Mississippi with his wife of 25 years. They have 3 children and are the proud grandparents of one grandson.

The friendship these authors have shared gave them the opportunity to collaborate on a historical fiction that combines both of their lives. They also work together to raise money for Impact Missions in order to allow more children to benefit from the mental health care they need.

Bedlam South is their first novel. Look for their next novel, Butcher's War, which will be released soon. This sophomore novel focuses on the time before the Civil War that set the stage for the bloody battle.

I have been asked hundreds of times what it was like growing up with a big brother like John Grisham. Honestly, we had no clue that he was destined to become one of the best-selling authors of all times. We grew up in a modest working class suburb of Memphis, Tennessee.

My two older brothers, John and Ken, were six and five years older than me, so I naturally looked up to them in many ways. John was not a brilliant student, as most people assume he was. He was a decent athlete and was disciplined enough to learn how to study. He never showed any inclination towards being adept at writing stories. Ken was usually focused on the girls and having a good time, while John was a little more reserved. Our dear mother taught us to find humor in all things that happened; sometimes we took that a little too far. Our sense of humor at times probably seemed a little warped to strangers, but it was all in good fun. Life was good growing up on Staunton Drive in Southaven. The street and surrounding neighborhood was crammed full with kids of all ages. It was never hard to find a ballgame of some sort going on, usually in our yard or driveway. When my dear sweet older brothers were bored, they often found someone (usually bigger) for me to have a good and nasty fight with. My sole purpose as a boy was to grow up and be bigger than the both of them, so I could kick their butts. I was determined to make them pay for what they had done to me. Funny though, when I outgrew them both, they insisted that I should be grateful to them for making me tough. That, because of them I was a better football player.

I should have realized then, that John was destined to be a lawyer. He was quick witted and hard to out argue. When he was wrong, he would just knock the heck out of me. They were supportive in their own ways though. When our dentist convinced my mother that I needed braces, John helped me convince our dad that I could not play football with braces on my teeth. That I could not wear a mouthpiece with braces on. Having never used a mouthpiece, my dad was easily swayed, again by a future lawyer. On the other hand, there was the time John held me down and taped my entire head with masking tape, just for fun. Or the time they crammed me into a wooden crate and shoved me under a crane in my dad's business, just for fun. Or the time I was holding a ladder for John, while he was spray painting a crane with oil based metallic paint, bright orange at that. Lost in my thoughts, I suddenly realized that he was spray painting my head, bright orange. I spent hours pouring paint thinner into my hair to get the orange out. I could go on and on and on. In their defense, I probably did deserve a lot of what I got.

I guess growing up with a brother like John might not have been what one might suspect, or maybe it was.

Mark Grisham, an aspiring author, and David Donaldson co-wrote Bedlam South. A portion of all book sales will be donated to Impact Missions, a faith-based ministry dedicated to providing care to abused children, hurting families and impoverished people. To learn more about the book and the charity www.bedlamsouth.com