The
Next Step
isn't your first published book. What sets it apart from
Suddenly
Single
and
The Marriage Go-Round: Yours, Mine and Ours?
The
subject matter and the audience for this book are entirely different.
The first two pertain to losing a spouse through death or divorce and
re-marriage. The
Next Step
is directed entirely toward people who have been in 12-step programs
or addiction therapy and are looking for more individualized support
to help them maintain sobriety.
What
do you think makes this a good workbook?
It
makes readers take an introspective look at themselves. It addresses
subjects they may have previously avoided or were either unable or
unwilling to examine. Topics covered include emotional issues that
are a built-in problem for addicts, including poor self-image, low
self-esteem, guilt, shame, anger and more. There are questions asked
that might be difficult to vocalize, but the written exercises
provide a safe place to vent and express true feelings. The book also
provides extensive information and practical advice for making better
choices.
What
inspired you when writing The
Next Step?
What
inspired me was the fact that this book might help so many people. I
kept thinking of a family friend who committed suicide several years
before I began the work I do now. I have always regretted the fact
that I was too late to help him. When
his emotional turmoil became too great to bear, he ultimately
couldn't face it without alcohol and ended his life. When his body
was found, there was a glass and a half-empty bottle beside his
chair. I had him in my mind as I wrote this book, thinking that if
only he had had the help I could give him now, things might have
turned out differently. Maybe not, but perhaps the book can help
prevent someone else from doing the same.
What
are your ambitions for your writing career? Full time? Part time?
My
writing has always been part time. I am an educator at heart and
have always used my writing as a means of informing others. I intend
to keep writing part time as an integral part of my stress management
work.
When
did you decide to become a writer?
I
have been a writer since I was a child and was probably one of the
few people on the planet who actually liked writing school papers. I
loved doing research and writing in college and whatever needed to be
written was the best part of every job I ever had.
When
writing The
Next Step
did anything stand out as particularly challenging?
What
was most challenging was having to write down all the detailed
instructions and information I would normally give to someone in
person if we were in a private session.
How
did you come up with the material of The
Next Step?
For
more than 11 years, I’ve had a private stress management practice.
During that time, I’ve worked with people from all walks of life
and with different kinds of issues, including people who have tried
unsuccessfully to address their emotional turmoil with drugs or
alcohol. This book is based on my direct experiences and it addresses
the particular emotional issues and self-destructive behavior that
are problematic for people coping with addiction.
What
do you like to do when not writing?
I
like working with my clients, singing in the community choir I have
been a member of for 17 years, enjoying social occasions with friends
and family, making jewelry, reading and watching movies and British
TV series on Netflix.
How
can readers discover more about you and your work?
Please
visit me online at Stress Free Living:
http://www.stressfreewitheft.com
for more information.