First edition published January 2006; cover design by t.ART Design Studios; layout and design by Barbara Mueller; Printing by Schaltungsdienste Lange, Berlin, Germany.

About the Book:
Everyone has a story to tell. When you meet an addict or alcoholic, their stories are disjointed, confusing, sometimes happy, and sometimes sad. Their stories are of highs and lows, of good times and bad. And they are all to do with their addictions. They are emotionally intense people who are scared shitless of life. It’s like seven degrees of separation. Whatever they tell you in some ways, leads you back to their poison. Are addicts weak? Yes, maybe we are. We see and feel things differently. Most alcoholics start their story with the same line: “I always felt there was something different about me.” Maybe it’s just an excuse. But whatever it is, it’s how they feel.

Over the last year I have struggled with my recovery but never faltered. I write poetry everyday. When I write it is exactly how I feel on that day at that moment. I have found a great release for me in writing. I know you do not need mind altering drugs to find peace and a sense of calm. You just have to look for them. Help does not come in a bottle or a pill jar. Help will not be found at a bar. Help won’t jump up and rescue you from yourself. Alcohol is cunning, baffling and powerful and patient. It can wait for you forever to need it again. It hangs about in the background, saying: “You needed me before, and I helped you. So maybe I can help you again”. Strange thing is I really did think it helped me. I know now the only help it gave me was to bring more misery and chaos.

Life for me now in my sobriety has not been easy, but whoever said life was easy? Life for me now is sober, is chaos free and is better.

Through months of recovery I have found who I really am and I like the new ‘me’. The new ‘me’ is learning how to cope with life and all life throws at me or in my case all I attract. Someone listened to me, someone heard me and someone corrected my journey, back onto the right track. I am proud of who I am, at last I am proud.

A Statement by The Author:- This is my first book of poetry to be published, although I am published in two South African anthology's and have been published in local media. I am a recovering alcoholic and have always written poetry so it just came natural to put my recovery road to paper.

About the Author:
My name is Sharon, I am an alcoholic. I am also a Gemini, a natural blonde, insane, a smoker, a Londoner, a mother, a wife, a sister, a daughter, an aunt, a cousin, a customer, an idiot, a shop lifter, a verbal skip, and an addictive personality type. I am also a poet, an expert on bottle stores and I could actually live next door to you. In case you didn’t quite get it, I am a woman too.

The most common response to all this would be: “You don’t look like, an Alcoholic.”

I am expected to wear my life history on my face. I have been married to the same man I met 28 years ago and my children still look at me with pride. I haven’t lost my job or my money but I lost my mind, my dignity, my social skills, my confidence and my ability to sing Patsy Cline’s ‘Crazy’ to anyone who would listen. Oh, and a red shoe once.

Now you know everything about me. Glad that’s out of the way. Life is better when we start off honestly.

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