(click book to Amazon).About Hearts and Scars:
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We lose more than 350 people every day in the United States to addiction. This collection of stories shows how the deadly disease is a conflicted struggle, not simply of broken people, but one that encompasses the human condition that affects us all.  The book consists of two sections. The first is a series of short fictional stories that portray individuals suffering from active addiction. The second is made up of real life tales of recovery, written by the people who experienced the journey themselves.
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For those directly affected by this horrible affliction, these stories will help you make sense of your journey, both where you came from as well as where you are going. For advocates, policy makers, and others with the power to help, this collection will help humanize the issue. Because, while addiction may be a cunning, baffling disease, it is ultimately one that affects real people.

Only by understanding the humanity within those who suffer from it – as buried as it may sometimes seem to be – can we as a society find the courage and will to finally do what needs to be done to end the suffering.
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We have known each other now for about 2 years. We met on social media and he did a very nice Book and Author Interview on his fantastic blog My Sober Life after my recovery book was released was released late Nov, 2012 ~ Here is more about Dustin.”

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About Dustin The Author:

Dustin John was born and raised in Gallup New Mexico. At age 11, he moved to a small town in Southern Utah. Leading a seemingly normal lifestyle after graduating high school, Dustin’s life took a turn for the worse. A short time after a divorce lead him to bankruptcy, his life began the slow dive into addiction.

By age 22, he was jobless, homeless, running from the law, and searching for his next shot of heroin. Travelling across the western states in search of a safe haven, Dustin landed himself directly in the midst of a massive underground drug ring. After a decade of playing on death’s doorstep, Dustin made a miraculous escape into sobriety. Dustin and his father, Dallas documented Dustin’s drug riddled history in a uniquely written, father/son memoir titled “A Walk in his Shoes”.

Dustin’s father Dallas, passed away from an aggressive illness just months before the book’s final manuscript was published. Dustin has been sober since February 1, 2012 and continues to help in the fight against addiction. He resides in Southern Utah with his wife and their many reptiles.
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About Dustin’s New Book Release:

Dustin’s life was once full of joy, happiness, security, and success. With a lucrative job, a wife, and a home of his own, he was destined for a life of fortune, prosperity and comfort. That was before heroin. This unique and gripping tale is the first of its kind to tell the story of addiction through the eyes of both father and son.

Together, Dustin and Dallas shine a blinding light on the dark life of a junky. As Dustin decides to travel across the western states in search of a safe haven, Dustin wanders within a few footsteps of his own demise. Instead of finding freedom, however, his addiction cascades into corruption, deceit, and evil. As alcohol and drug abuse continues to ravage every community in America, this groundbreaking memoir offers important insight into the inner workings of an active user, as well as the pain of those loved ones who must helplessly stand by as the family structure disintegrates from addiction . . .
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Now of course I am NO James Lipton from ‘the actors studio’ but I had a few burning questions for my old friend to make him feel like he was “sittin on the HOT SEAT” a little bit. LOL.
But he handled the answers pretty damn well! …
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My Burning Questions for Dustin:

1.) I know you are a fantastic blogger and write there, but what made you come to be a writer and share your recovery? — “The main reason I became a writer is because I knew my story needed to be told. Studying addiction issues in the US made me realize that my experience with addiction could help other families and the only way I could get my story out to the world was to put pen to paper.”

2.) Who inspires you in your recovery? (Writer, Author, etc.) —  “My father was a great inspiration. He was not in recovery but he co-authored my latest book and told the family side of my addiction to heroin. He died of an aggressive illness months before we were able to publish the final manuscript. He was a photographer and a columnist at a newspaper for many years. I decided to dedicate the book to him.”

3.) Was there any fear around sharing your life in book form for the world to read about your addiction and recovery? —  “There is massive amounts of fear in publicizing my story. Many times in the editing process I felt like minimizing what I did while telling my story. Once I realized that my fear was a boogeyman and a great gauge for honest writing, I began to embrace that fear.”

4.) What can you reveal personally about yourself that readers may not know about you and any advice to others in recovery? —  “As a second hobby I breed exotic reptiles. I can also say my ABCs faster backwards than I can forward. One piece of advice I would give to the recovery community and to everyone as a whole would be to learn who they are and where they came from. There is nothing more helpful for gaining happiness in the world than self-knowledge. Taking an objective view of your childhood is the most powerful practice towards freeing yourself from dysfunction and other harmful human attributes.
Dig deep. Be open and honest. Connect. As Socrates said “know thy self!”

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So I am again so happy for my good friend and now fellow author! Dustin can tell you himself how long I have bugged him to write a book and share his story and testimony. He is also a great blogger like I had mentioned earlier, so take a visit to his blog at ‘My Sober Life, and . . . HE has a special Giveaway going on over at Goodreads to, so get the details on his blog: Goodreads – Autographed Book Giveaway | My Sober Life on how to enter.
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You can also connect with Dustin on Twitter  @DustinLJohn – Lets Tweet!
and over on LinkedIn & Goodreads too!
Connect with Author, Dustin John on LinkedIn
Connect and Follow on Goodreads

So please support us addiction & recovery authors and go grab a copy of Dustin’s new book today and read an Amazing Story and a Beautiful Life in Recovery!

I really appreciate the honor of sharing my dear friend Author, Dustin L John with all of you . . .
His book is available below on Amazon and Barnes & Noble, so just click the book to purchase Today! 🙂

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(click book for B & N)        (click book for Amazon)

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Happy Holiday Season & Blessings All,
Author, Catherine Townsend-Lyon