Gum on My Shoe (Martin Baker & Fran Houston)

Gum On My Shoe is a creative partnership between best friends Martin Baker and Fran Houston. Our book "High Tide, Low Tide: The Caring Friend’s Guide to Bipolar Disorder" inspires and informs others who support a friend living with mental illness.

A highly successful electrical engineer until illness struck, Fran has lived with bipolar disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia for over twenty years. Her first book, "For the Love of Peaks: Island Portraits and Stories", was published in 2010. Fran lives in Portland, Maine.

Three thousand miles away in the United Kingdom, Martin works in the Information Technology Services industry. He is an ASIST trained Mental Health First Aider; a member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Stigma Fighters, Mind and BipolarUK; and Fran's primary support and life-line. His Collected Poems: 1977–1984 was published in 2008. Martin is married to Pam and lives in the north-east of England.

www.gumonmyshoe.com