Fascinating Authors

FASCINATING AUTHORS: What excites you most about your book topic? Why did you choose it?

Author: My book is about my drug addiction and how it led me into criminality. I felt the need to explain my inexplicable behavior. I’ve made some horrible choices and have hurt people with those choices, and I’ve wrestled with the question of whether or not I am a bad person. Regardless of the answer to that question, I know that I have become and will continue to become a better person. I hope my book can help people before they travel too far down that dark road that I once was on.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: How long did the book take you from start to finish?

Author: It took a year and a half to write the first rough draft. I didn’t force anything out, I just let it flow as it came to me. Sometimes it just poured forth and other times it just dribbled out a little at a time. It took another six months to revise and make several rounds of corrections. So it’s taken two years altogether.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: What aspect of writing the book did you find challenging?

Author: Since I was writing a memoir, the most challenging part was to decide what to add or what to leave out. I wanted to be totally honest, but I also didn’t want to hurt anyone by revealing too much. And some parts were painful to write about such as my brother’s death. But one of the benefits I received from writing my book was much needed healing. I had to look at some things I didn’t like about myself and figure out how to put that down on paper.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: What surprised you the most about the book writing process?

Author: I’m surprised at how much it has helped me grow. In the twelve step groups, there is a saying that we are only as sick as our secrets. Opening myself up and exposing all my faults has allowed me to feel better about myself and has removed a heavy burden from my shoulders. So it was more than a book writing process for me – it was a healing process. I was surprised at the amount of insight I’ve gained into the addiction process.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: Did you have any favorite experiences when writing your book?

Author: The best experiences I had was when I got nothing but positive feedback from the people who I had let read what I had written. I only told a few people that I was writing a book and I let them read it. They told other people and pretty soon I had a lot of people wanting to read my book without ever having really told anyone that I was writing one. So that let me know I written something worth reading.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: What do you hope readers will gain from reading your book?

Author: I hope people will have a better understanding of what addiction is really about and what it can lead to if untreated. I’ve read lots of other addiction memoirs and none of the authors of those books sunk as low as I did. I want people to know that drug addiction and alcoholism is hell on earth for the addict and his family as well. Many people suffer from this affliction much longer than they should because they or their loved ones don’t really know what they’re dealing with.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: What projects are you currently working on?

Author: I’m still in prison, so I’m still journaling and writing and reading everything I can get my hands on about addiction. I’m working on some ideas for another book, but I haven’t settled on anything yet. For the time being, I’m working on promoting this book.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: Is writing your sole career?

Author: Writing is the only thing I can do right now. I look forward to working in the field of addiction treatment when I’m released from prison. I’m looking at the different ways that I can be of use, whether it’s writing, counseling, speaking, or whatever else I may be able to do.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: Did you research for your books, or did you write from experience?

Author: There was no research involved in what I wrote. After I read “A Million Little Pieces” by James Frey, I told myself that I could do better than that….and I wouldn’t have to make any of it up! So all I needed to do was put my memories into words.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: How did you come up with your title?

Author: I had a couple of other titles I was working with, but nothing I was really happy with. I was going to use “Darkest Before Dawn” but it seemed to be too much of a cliche. Then I woke up at three o’clock one morning with “Running Away From Me” in my head. I liked it because running has been a big part of my life, and also, I just have to go with anything that comes to me in that manner.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: What books have influenced you the most?

Author: As for fiction, I love Dostoevsky. “Crime and Punishment” is my favorite. “The Brothers Karamazov” is also great. I’ve read it twice and plan to read it again because there’s so much in there, I’d never be able to get everything out of it in just two readings. I don’t really read for entertainment. When I finish a book, I expect to know something that I didn’t know before. I like autobiographies and memoirs, especially the ones about people triumphing over hardships. “Night” by Elie Wiesel comes to mind. Anything dealing with the dark side of human nature is interesting to me.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: Who was your publisher and why did you choose them?

Author: I chose Trafford because of their spotless reputation and they offered the all-around best package, including world-wide distribution.

To learn more about the book and Author, please visit – http://www.runningawayfromme.com/