Addiction and SoBB

[Gina's Escape and Reality]

You skim the subject of your own addiction years go and how it played into Trevor's story in the Q&A in the end of your book. You've shared that it's been about 8 years for you. Was it difficult to go back into that dark place from your life? I've shared that I was by my husbands side when he became sober years ago. I'm feeling compelled to write about it but I'm not looking forward to looking into those old memories. Was it therapeutic to write about?

[Ryan]

Hi Gina. Great question. It was difficult for me taking Trevor to some of those dark places. I tend to write very late sometimes, even falling asleep in my office, and there were mornings I woke and had to check myself to make sure it wasn’t I who had been drunk the night before. Trevor became very real to me in the writing, and because I put a lot of personal experience into his journey, so did the world he was fighting his way through. In the end, the writing made my sobriety much stronger. I think all good fiction begins when the author is wrestling with different themes or questions, and the best fiction never truly answers them as the characters investigate their worlds and their places in them. In that way, I was struggling with some of my daemons through Trevor, and when I wrote that last line, I wasn’t afraid anymore either.

[Gina's Escape and Reality]

Thanks for your response Ryan. hee hee So is waking up thinking you have a hangover kinda like "phantom limb"?? My husband has woken up pissed cause he was dreaming he was drinking again... Anyway, thanks for your response, your novel will always be a favorite of mine, especially the signed one I won from Facebook. Can't wait to see what you have next for us.

[Gina's Escape and Reality]

oh and no Ryan Winfield quotes on Goodreads??? I just added a couple of my highlights!

[Ryan]

Gina wrote: "oh and no Ryan Winfield quotes on Goodreads??? I just added a couple of my highlights!"

Thanks for doing that, Gina. You picked some of my favorite passages to highlight. :)

[Lori]

I've found writing about my past was a wonderful way to deal with some unhealthy emotions. I was able to put aside those old feelings of anger and resentment. You write what you know, and if you've lived it, suffered through it and came out on top, you'll write it best. I only pray both you and Trevor are able to continue to reap the benefits of your success.
God Bless you!

[Ryan]

Lori wrote: "I've found writing about my past was a wonderful way to deal with some unhealthy emotions. I was able to put aside those old feelings of anger and resentment. You write what you know, and if you've..."

Thank you, Lori! Every day is a gift.