Bill Zaferos has long-suffered from bipolar disorder. 

But while Zaferos is comfortable talking about his own diagnosis, he said too many people struggling with mental health issues suffer in silence. 

Zaferos, a lifelong Wisconsinite who now lives in Florida, wrote a novel called "Poison Pen" when he was suffering from a manic high. Years later, he opted to pitch the novel to a publisher, and it was printed in 2019. 

Zaferos has now written a new novel, called Serenity Heights, coming out June 15. 

He said he hopes both novels help to promote awareness about mental health issues, as they draw on some of his own experiences battling mental illness.