‘Of Nod’ — A Poetic Memoir of Recovery and Rediscovery

Book promotion graphic for Of Nod, memoir written by Mark Alan Murray.

‘Of Nod’ — A Poetic Memoir of Recovery and Rediscovery

Mark Alan Murray, a longtime Residential Advisor and Recovery Coach at Gould Farm, has released a powerful new work titled Of Nod: A Poetic Memoir. Written in a voice that is both personal and daring, the book explores Mark’s journey through addiction, schizophrenia, and healing with raw vulnerability and lyrical beauty.

Though Mark has long served others in their paths to wellness, Of Nod reveals the less visible road he has walked himself—one filled with turbulence, but also grace and creative awakening.

“Somewhere along this life’s journey I lost a great part of myself. I am now thirty-eight years old and suffer from schizophrenia. But, I do believe this illness is a blessing and a curse. Understandings are gained only through some sense of hardship, it seems.”

— Of Nod, Chapter One

Mark has described this work as his own genre—a “poetic memoir”—where memories and emotions are translated into poetic prose. Of Nod began as a fiction novel released in 2012, but in 2025, Mark revisited and reimagined it into its current form to reflect the truths of his lived experience. The result is a luminous, genre-defying memoir that doesn’t shy away from the pain of mental illness and addiction but ultimately orients itself toward healing and redemption.

What Readers Are Saying

"A memoir of struggles and triumphs…"

“This deeply personal and evocative memoir… makes every experience and emotion palpable… a powerful testament to Mark’s courage and vulnerability.” — Amazon Reviewer

"Hauntingly beautiful..."

“A journey from innocent childhood through adulthood and the grapplings of mental illness… poetic imagery and dreamlike passages… a story of loss, discovery, love, and hope.” — Amazon Reviewer

"A poetic masterpiece..."

“A journey through a lifetime of experiences… addiction, love, family, schizophrenia… unforgettable.” — Amazon Reviewer

From the Opening Pages

"Upon the bushes that lined our home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, there were red berries, that mother said not to eat… sometimes… I would break their skins with my fingers as if they were tiny worlds..."

"This bridge over untraversable water… I have dressed myself in the gown of night… I must lie down… so that I may heed the throbbing heart that I know is there."

These early passages give a sense of Mark’s style—poetic, meditative, and honest.

About the Author

Self portrait of staff member and author Mark Alan Murray

Mark Alan Murray lives and works in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, where he has been part of the Gould Farm community for over two decades. With degrees in English and speech-language pathology, he is a self-taught artist, musician, and writer whose work spans poetry, prose, and Native American flute composition. In addition to Of Nod, Mark has released several other creative works.