AUTHOR Q&A

 

Can you tell us a bit about your background?

I grew up in North Yorkshire, England and in my mid-twenties I moved to the city of Hull, where I lived for over fifteen years. I am currently settled in beautiful Derbyshire. I've struggled with alcohol addiction, kidney disease and ADHD and my mental health for a long time so I have lived experience of those conditions.

 

What inspired you to start writing?

I've always enjoyed reading from a young age and I was quite an advanced reader (I was reading Dean Koontz books from the age of 10!). Stories fascinate me and I think that I enjoy that solitude - just you and the author. I'm also a fan of non-fiction and I like to learn new things. Music is my first love and I started writing a Fanzine in my late teens, covering the local music scene. In 2020 I launched oursoundmusic.com, a new music website where I have been writing album, single and live reviews as well as opinion pieces.

 

Why did you decided to write a book about sobriety?

It is a topic that I am very passionate about and as a recovering alcoholic, and in a good place, I feel that it is my duty to pay it forward to others who may be struggling.

 

'As Sober As a Goat' is a humorous take on a serious subject - what made you decide to go down that route?

I wanted to bring something slightly different to the self-help genre. A lot of sobriety books can be quite dry or author-centric. I wanted to show that stopping drinking doesn't have to be boring or a chore. Of course, it's a struggle and it takes work but a little humour goes a long way. The book does also have serious moments. I see it as another tool in the readers toolbox for recovery.

 

What was your writing process for the book?

I had the idea in my head of something different and  I moulded and developed that idea whilst thinking. I pretty much had the book complete in my head before sitting down to the keyboard. The actual writing didn't take too long but it did take a bit of time to edit and to polish. I purposefully designed the contents so they are an easy read for someone who is struggling with alcohol and perhaps mentally - larger text and double spacing, which makes it a less-daunting prospect to pick up and have a read of.

 

What is the overall message of 'As Sober As a Goat'?

That sobriety doesn't have to be a downer. You can still stay positive and have fun despite the lifestyle change. That it is a journey (the book takes the reader through the first 90 days of sobriety) and that sobriety will throw different challenges to you at different times throughout your journey.

 

Are you working on another book, if so can you tell us anything about it?

I'm in the early planning stages and I have an idea (in my head!) of what it will be but for now I'm concentrating most of my time and energy into getting As Sober As a Goat to as many readers as possible and hopefully helping as many people as possible too.