Silver Spoons: One's Journey Through Addiction: Blog Tour and Giveaway

Silver Spoons: One's Journey Through Addiction takes an intimate and raw look at the current face of addiction and recovery. Talking about the current opioid epidemic, we follow a young couple while one of them goes through the recovery process. Told through letters, we get an understanding of their relationship as it struggles through his addiction and resulting recovery. From detox, rehab, sober living and the 12 steps of AA, you get a raw and honest look at the effects of addiction and how they affect relationships.

AUTHOR NOTE: There is explicit and graphic content.

Print Length: 380 Pages
Genre: Women's Fiction
Publisher: Independently Published
ISBN-13: 978-1717868947
ISBN-10: 1717868940

Silver Spoons: One's Journey Through Addiction is now available to purchase at Amazon.com.

Book Giveaway Contest

To win a copy of the book Silver Spoons: One's Journey Through Addiction by Sarah Dickinson, please enter using Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post. Giveaway ends on February 2nd at 11:59 PM EST. We will announce the winner the next day on the Rafflecopter widget. Good luck!

About the Author

Sarah Dickinson is a lifelong resident in beautiful upstate New York. Mother of two amazing daughters and three equally awesome rescue dogs, she is the author of Silver Spoons: One's Journey Through Addiction. She currently attends college and is in the midst of switching careers. When she isn't doing it all, she reads comic books, blogs, and takes weekend getaways.

You can find the author online at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Silver-Spoons-Ones-Journey-Through-Addiction-916257075228829/

Blog: https://sarahvdickinson.art.blog/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahdauthor/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Peerpre36414692

Goodreads Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19325669.Sarah_Dickinson

---  Interview by Nicole Pyles

WOW: First, congratulations on your book Silver Spoons. You chose a unique storytelling method by telling this story in mostly letter form. Why did you choose to write your book in this way?

Sarah: I chose it for a few reasons. It helped establish intimacy and unfiltered honesty. It was also something I had never seen and it helped create a unique spin to hopefully stand out. Also, for totally pragmatic reasons writing it in the form of letters gave me some freedom in telling the story. I could ignore certain rules of grammar and interject facts without sounding like a textbook.

WOW: I love that! So, why did you decide to self-publish?

Sarah: It's exceptionally difficult to get your foot in the door. I have been rejected for not having enough followers. I have received interest, but then I was asked to make changes in the characters in various parts of the story. All of that led me to decide that this book would never fit into the commercialized asset of traditional publishing. I wanted this story to be told as raw and honest as possible and didn't care much about making money.

WOW: I read in an interview that you went to AA meetings and even received personal accounts from people that you put into your book. What did you learn from working directly with people in recovery from addiction?

Sarah: Yes, I did. I even got a sponsor and worked the steps. Every person I spoke to went out of their way to help me understand the steps as well as the program. There were closed meetings I wasn't allowed in, but I was made to feel welcome in every open one. I learned about addiction, namely that it does not discriminate. It can happen to anyone at any point. That the practices and steps in AA could help any person live a better life. I learned every person deserves the chance of a new life and the support to do it.

WOW: That shows so much dedication to the story you were telling! What do you hope people gain by reading this book?

Sarah: The biggest thing I hope they gain is empathy. I hope they see not only how easy it is to become an addict, but that addicts are still people. Good people who have done bad things. They can be your neighbor, friend, or co-worker. I hope the reader sees that addiction and recovery affect more than just the addict. You never know what any person is battling.

"Dive in and tell that story. The most stigmatized subjects are often the ones with very few voices."

WOW: I totally agree. What advice do you have for people who want to write about a subject that is often stigmatized?

Sarah: I would say to do your research. Despite my own experiences, I spent a year researching addiction and going to meetings. You should also have a very honest conversation with yourself about what voice or perspective you want to bring to this. Lastly, I'd say dive in and tell that story. The most stigmatized subjects are often the ones with very few voices.

WOW: Fantastic advice! So, what are you working on now? 

Sarah: I'm still in the research of a story about two sisters who were estranged due to one of them marrying an abusive man. When the abuse continues and gets worse, the sister flees. She is helped by her sister and they reconnect as they both help rebuild her life. While I want to address the abuse, especially how predators abuse their victims as well as the effects of that abuse, I want the main focus to be on their relationship. I want to focus on sisterhood, family, hope and all the good stuff.

WOW: That sounds awesome! Best of luck with your book and with the blog tour!

--- Blog Tour Dates

January 27th @ The Muffin
What goes better in the morning than a muffin? Visit our blog today and you can read an interview with the author of Silver Spoons: One's Journey Through Addiction and also enter to win a copy of the book!
http://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com

January 28th @ 12 Books
Stop by Louise's blog today and read her review of Sarah Dickinson's book Silver Spoons: One's Journey Through Addiction.
www.12books.co.uk

January 29th @ Joyful Antidotes
Make sure you visit Joy's blog today and read her review of the book Silver Spoons: One's Journey Through Addiction.
https://www.joyfulantidotes.com

January 30th @ 12 Books
Visit Louise's blog again where you can review Sarah Dickinson's guest post about 5 reasons why you should consider a change in lifestyle.
www.12books.co.uk

February 1st @ Author Anthony Avina Blog
Make sure you visit Anthony's blog today where he shares a spotlight of Sarah Dickinson's book Silver Spoons: One's Journey Through Addiction.
http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com

February 2nd @ A Storybook World
Deirdra will be highlighting Sarah Dickinson's book Silver Spoons: One's Journey Through Addiction with a spotlight post.
http://www.astorybookworld.com/

February 3rd @ Jill Sheets' Blog
Visit Jill's blog today and read Sarah Dickinson's guest post about 5 reasons to consider a change in your relationships.
http://jillsheets.blogspot.com/

February 4th @ Coffee with Lacey
Join Lacey over at her blog today and read her review of Sarah Dickinson's book Silver Spoons: One's Journey Through Addiction.
https://coffeewithlacey.com/

February 10th @ To Write or Not to Write
Visit Varsha's blog today and read her review of Sarah Dickinson's book Silver Spoons: One's Journey Through Addiction.
https://sreevarshasreejith.blogspot.com/

February 10th @ StoreyBook Reviews
Make sure to visit Leslie's blog today and check out an excerpt of the book Silver Spoons: One's Journey Through Addiction.
https://storeybookreviews.com/

February 12th @ The Faerie Review
Visit Lily's blog today and read her review of the powerful book Silver Spoons: One's Journey Through Addiction.
http://www.thefaeriereview.com/

February 13th @ Author Anthony Avina Blog
Visit Anthony's blog again where you can read a guest post by author Sarah Dickinson. Make sure you check out her easy self-care tips to add to your daily routine.
http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com

February 14th @ Jessica Belmont's Blog
Visit Jessica's blog today and you can read her review of Sarah Dickinson's book Silver Spoons: One's Journey Through Addiction.
https://jessicabelmont.wordpress.com/

February 16th @ And So She Thinks
Make sure you visit Francesca's blog today and read her review of Sarah Dickinson's book Silver Spoons: One's Journey Through Addiction. You can also read an interview with the author!
https://andsoshethinks.wordpress.com/

February 18th @ Choices
Visit Madeline's blog and you can read Sarah Dickinson's guest post about how to be self-aware in your writing.
http://madelinesharples.com/

February 19th @ It's Alanna Jean
Make sure you visit Alanna's blog and read a guest post by Sarah Dickinson called, "5 Reasons to Consider a Change in Career."
http://ItsAlannaJean.wordpress.com

February 20th @ The Frugalista Mom
Visit Rozelyn's blog today and you can read her review of the book Silver Spoons: One's Journey Through Addiction by Sarah Dickinson. Also, win a copy for yourself too!
https://thefrugalistamom.com/

February 21st @ The  Frugalista Mom
Stop by Rozelyn's blog today and you can read Sarah Dickinson's guest post about how to raise a confident (but not arrogant) child.
https://thefrugalistamom.com/

February 23rd @ Author Anthony Avina Blog
Stop by Anthony's blog and you can read his review of Sarah Dickinson's book Silver Spoons: One's Journey Through Addiction. 
http://www.authoranthonyavinablog.com

February 24th @ Armed with a Book
Visit Kriti's blog today and read her review of Sarah Dickinson's book Silver Spoons: One's Journey Through Addiction.
https://www.armedwithabook.com/

February 25th @ Armed with a Book
Make sure you visit Kriti's blog again when she interviews the author Sarah Dickinson.
https://www.armedwithabook.com/

***** BOOK GIVEAWAY *****

To win a copy of the book Silver Spoons: One's Journey Through Addiction by Sarah Dickinson, please enter using Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post. Giveaway ends on February 2nd at 11:59 PM EST. We will announce the winner the next day on the Rafflecopter widget. Good luck!

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4 comments blog tour, drug addiction, Nicole Pyles, opioid epidemic, recovery, Sarah Dickinson, Silver Spoons

Interview with Kathy Pooler, memoirist of Just the Way He Walked: A Mother’s Story of Healing and Hope

Interview by Dorit Sasson

A faithful partner for WOW! Blog Tours, Kathy Pooler is a retired family nurse practitioner. Her mission is to give hope to parents and caregivers struggling with an addicted child.

She blogs weekly at Memoir Writer’s Journey. She already published one moving memoir and if you haven’t done so already, check out her second soon-to-be released memoir Just the Way He Walked in our chat below about her journey parenting an addicted child.

***

WOW: What was the biggest takeaway from writing your memoir about parenting an alcoholic son?

Kathy: Because this was a very painful story, I had to take frequent breaks to write the most truthful memoir. It was not a story I could stick with consistently. Earlier versions started with vignettes of different moments and scenarios and I decided to share them with my son, Brian.

In this sharing I found the courage to keep going and discovered the gift of healing. As hard as it was to face those difficult memories, I was heartened by Brian’s responses to my storytelling version. His response was affirming and deeply healing.

It would take many more years for him to accept his story in published book form. He would grapple with that and I grappled with that too because I did not want to jeopardize the relationship with my son. But I also didn’t want to give up on this important story the world needed to hear.

The biggest takeaway was that I never stopped loving and believing in Brian. No matter how far down in the abyss we had gone, I clung to hope through my faith that things would be better—that he would one day, find sobriety and I would find peace of mind.

WOW: Your insights into your mother-son journey are profound and powerful. What did you learn about yourself or your writing while writing a memoir?

Kathy: I got in touch with my tenacity and learned to use it to my advantage. I was determined to survive and thrive as a mother to an addicted child. I didn’t know how. During my son’s twenty-four years of active addiction, my biggest mistake was being in a state of denial which delayed my ability to educate myself about how to rise above the disease of addiction.

Education and support groups are critical. In my writing, I’ve challenged myself to dig deeper to face the hard truths and I found the courage to face recovery.

WOW: What a gift the writing process was for you both. How did you manage to stay the course of memoir writing once you started experiencing self-doubt especially in light of the painful and difficult memories?

Kathy: As I’ve mentioned, I had many starts and stops along the way of writing this memoir. I decided to take as long as Brian and I needed to get the memoir ready for publication.

It would take many years to discover my compelling story. But for that to happen, I had to let the story evolve naturally. How does a single mother cope with seeing her son spiral downward from addiction? When I experienced self-doubt, I tried refocusing on my purpose for writing the story—to share the hope with other parents of addicted children. Being fueled by the hope, became my “WHY” for pushing through with the writing. I had also set the condition that Brian had to be totally on board with me publishing my story.

When I was in the throes of Brian’s active drinking, I felt isolated and alone. Now I know there’s a better way through community resources and support groups.

WOW: It just goes to show you how much we can accomplish when we get out of our way and rally the right support—makes a huge difference. Curious to know how your background and career in nursing helped you cope with your son's alcohol abuse and recovery.

Kathy: Interesting question as one would assume that my master’s prepared nursing background would guide me through this. But in my case, I was so overwhelmed by the circumstances of being a single parent and having an addicted son that I lost all objectivity.

Despite overwhelm, I eventually learned to reach out and take advantage of available resources. There was so much more I needed to learn so I could cope in a healthier way.

"This memoir started with writing vignettes in 1999—twenty years ago ... each revision forced me to dig deeper into the heart of the story."

WOW: Good for you for recognizing your need for support! What was the revision process like and how did it differ from your first memoir? Were you drawn to reading other memoirs on alcoholism?

Kathy: Unlike my first memoir, Ever Faithful to His Lead, this memoir went through many revisions. And while this memoir was difficult to write, in many ways it was easier because it was just about me.

I did fear repercussions from my ex-husband and his wife but that never materialized. He died of cirrhosis two months after my first memoir was published in 2014. The sensitivities related to my son and his acceptance of the story delayed the writing process with the second memoir.

Brian wanted to be helpful, but he also had to face his truth to the story. Up until just four months ago, I honestly did not even know whether we’d be able to move forward with publication. We spent endless hours on the phone poring over sections he had issues with. In many cases, it was a word or description that stymied him. It was a fine line for me as I wanted to be open to his suggestions without losing the intent of the story. Together, we negotiated and even compromised. In some cases, I removed or changed the wording or a sentence. I wanted him to feel his input was valued but in the end, he proclaimed, “I see that this is your story, Mom. I’ve been so caught up with my own issues that I didn’t see it. Now I do. Go for it!”

What a relief, well-worth the long wait. (This memoir started with writing vignettes in 1999—twenty years ago.) I will add that each revision forced me to dig deeper into the heart of the story.

WOW: Twenty years is a long time to wait, wow. What advice would you offer writers who are drawn to the genre of memoir yet experience difficulties when it comes to telling their painful yet important stories?

Kathy: Probably the single most important factor in being able to plow through the pain of telling a difficult story is to be clear on your purpose for writing it—this will provide the fuel for the long journey. My “why” for writing this memoir constantly surfaced and evolved.

Here are some suggestions:

• Self-care – a necessary essential for the long haul. This includes breaks including counseling, or even permission to work on another project in the interim.
• Courage to expose your vulnerabilities. Authentic sharing of your vulnerabilities will align your truths with the right reader.
• Professional development including a memoir writing class. There are many opportunities online. Join a critique group in your area or online to receive feedback on your writing.

Writing a memoir is hard work. Knowing that information upfront will help set expectations. Take the necessary time to set yourself up for success from the start.

"Authentic sharing of your vulnerabilities will align your truths with the right reader."

Find out more about Kathy by visiting her website at krpooler.com.

***

Dorit Sasson is an award-winning author of the memoir Accidental Soldier and the upcoming Sand and Steel: A Memoir of Longing and Finding Home. As a book marketing and writing coach specializing in nonfiction, she helps authors use SEO more effectively to get the word out about their books and build their platforms effectively. She hails from Pittsburgh. Email her at sassondorit[at]gmail[dot]com.

Dorit also teaches for WOW! Women on Writing. Check out her upcoming class, Polish Your Memoir in 5 Weeks.

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9 comments alcoholism, Just the Way He Walked, kathy pooler, Memoir writing, recovery