What is, Reckless Beginnings about?
With my debut novel moving forward and now in the page formatting stage, the question I get asked the most is: What is the book about? The easiest way to answer that is to post the synopsis of the book. This is what a potential reader will read on the back cover of the book. Another name for it is the Blurb.
The Log Line of Reckless Beginnings
What is a logline? It is a captive phase that outlines the books subject matter and stimulates interest. The logline for my book is the spouses of addicts. The silent and forgotten ones. This I can use when contacting media, possible interviews or to be a blog guest.
Reckless Beginnings is fiction based on true events. What is fiction? What is True? Well, I’m not telling 🙂 Tammy Mellows, the main character in the book, arrives in the States as a young naive seventeen-year-old teenager and makes some terrible decisions. Eventually, unbeknown to her, she becomes the spouse of an addict. The silent and forgotten one.
The drug Epidemic
Drug addiction has been a huge problem not only in the States but worldwide for decades and it continues to spiral out of control with the numbers of deaths related to drug overdoses, increasing every year.
In 2010: 1,842 people died from drug overdoses. By 2014 the numbers had quadrupled to 47,055. That is more deaths than when the AIDS epidemic peaked in 1995.
The Opioid epidemic that haunts us today is believed to be related to the sudden surge in heroin use and related deaths. Perscription drugs are far more expensive than heroin and an addict will seek cheaper methods to feed their addiction. Heroin is a tenth of the cost of opioids, thus the rise in uses and deaths.
Today addiction and deaths related to overdoses are at a record time high. Click here to see the charts.
We Never Hear About the Spouses of Addicts
Every news station, newspaper, and magazine run stories on the rising drug and opioid epidemic. Reporting how many lives have been lost due to drugs. They tell us the demand for rehab and safe houses are at an all-time record high and all numbers are continuing to spiral out of control. BUT what we don’t hear about are the spouses of addicts. The silent and forgotten ones. Shadowed by the addict, silenced with fear, the spouse struggles to retain their identity or have any kind of life of their own. Welcome to the life of my main character, Tammy Mellows. A woman that came to the States with high hopes only to have her life thrown into turmoil.
Have I Inspired you?
I hope I have inspired you to read the book. A publication date has not yet been set. I’m estimating around four months. In the meantime, if you sign up for the newsletter, you will automatically be entered into a drawing for one of the first signed copies. Enter here. and read the advantages of subscribing.
Further reading about the drug academic in the United.States.
https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/heroin/scope-heroin-use-in-united-states
More Articles About my Debut Novel “Reckless Beginnings
The opioid epidemic is worse than I’ve seen in years. I work at a Community Health Center and we recently had to hire 4 new behavioral health therapists to assist with our overload of patients who are users. I’m wishing you so much success with your book. It’s going to be an amazing hit!
Thank you! You are seeing first hand the effects this epidemic is having with having to hire more help.
Oooh this sounds so interesting and so many plot twists (even in just the blurb!) And love that you are focusing on the spouse of an addict.
Robin // Penn And Quill
Thank you. Yes, These are the ones we hear little about and how the addiction effects them.
Oh, Tina, I can’t wait to read your book!
And you make an excellent point about a drug addict’s loved ones. So painful.
Love this blog.
Thank you, Michele 🙂 I hope you enjoy it.
Congratulations on doing your part to help the epidemic! I hope your book is a great success. It is such a sad situation everywhere. In my small city we have had 10 over doses that I know of and many that I haven’t heard names of.
thank you and yes I wouldn’t be far off from saying that almost every large and small town has been affected by the drug epidemic.
I am intrigued about this POV.
Thanks 🙂 I’ll be sending you a copy soon to review, once I have it back from the publisher. 🙂
I knew it is a problem, but was not aware to what scale! you totally opened my eyes.
It’s actually quite scary, the vast growth of the problem and struggling amidst it is the spouses of the addicts.
I can’t wait to read. It really hit home and is true it seems nobody really thinks about the drug addicts wife it’s all about helping the addict recover. It’s a rough road for both.
Exactly. My book focuses on the other party involved and how they struggle to exist.
Am very excited for you that soon you will finally share your finished book! Hardwork really pays 🙂
Thank you. I’m excited too 🙂
I’ll have to check this out. It’s a shame how often drugs are abused these days. I wish drugs were harder to get.
Even though the addiction feeds the huge rise in the drug epidemic, it’s the dollars the dealers make that make it easy to buy. Dealers makes thousands from the market.
What you’re doing is admirable. I think it is often that those of us who don’t understand the epidemic condemn and forget about the families involved.
Thank you. People tend to forget it’s not just about the addict.
You have definitely inspired me to look for this novel! It sounds absolutely intriguing!
Thank you! It won’t be out for a few more months, but I will be posting updates on the site.
This sounds very interesting book to read. I will check this out. I think this will be an eye-opener.
Thank you! I hope so.
This sounds like it will be a emotional read, especially as it is based around true events. I like that your book is inspired by the spouse rather than the person with the addiction, it’s very hard to be the spouse and get very much overlooked.
So true. They tend to live in the shadows. My book brings them out and brings awareness to those caught in the turmoil life of an addict.
The drug problem in the US is absolutely out of control. The synopsis for your book looks so good! I’d definitely be interested in reading your book.
Thank you! Your words mean a lot. I’ll be posting updates until publishing day. 🙂
This sounds like a total page-turner novel, and touches on a subject I think many people can relate to. So true that entire families are impacted by even just one person becoming an addict.
Thank you so much. Focusing on those close to the addict is the main objective of my novel. Seeing the addiction from their side. A side we rarely hear about.
okay I am totally intrigued right now. this is such a page turner. totally feel like i would not put this down.
Thanks! The words an author wants to hear LOL
I’m not much of a book reader but would love to read this book, it sounds very interesting. It’s sad but I know several people don’t realize how bad drugs are nowadays. I look forward to reading your book soon
Well, that’s good to hear. Especially from someone that doesn’t read too many books. I appreciate it and hope you will pick up a copy.
his sounds so interesting and so many plot twists. The synopsis for your book looks so good! I’d definitely be interested in reading your book.
Thank you! I hope you will pick up a copy when it becomes available.
The book seems interesting! I love reading such books based on real life problems! I would soon pick it up for a good read! Thank you!
Thanks! I hope you do.
You made curiously. I’ll have to put this book on my reading list. I can only imagine how hard can be to have a spouse who’s having drugs addiction and to worry all the time, and fell useless in helping him/her get over this addiction.
It’s a sad situation for the spouse, knowing there is nothing they can do, only the addict can. In the meantime, the partner gets caught up in their world and looses their own identity in life.
Congratulations on your book! That is one heck of an accomplishment. From idea generation to final edit, how long did it take you to write the book?
Thank you. The idea mulled around in my head for fourteen years before I actually began writing it. It took seven years to write and this process of editing and formatting so far has taken ten months. We still have to so cover design.
Okay I definitely need to read this book! It sounds absolutely amazing! I have never heard of this author before!
Thanks! The author is me LOL. IT’s my debut novel. 🙂
The story is really interesting and eye opening. Congrats and I wish you all the success!
Thank you. Much appreciated.
Sounds like a very interesting book although not my genre at all. I am not familiar at all with the topic but can only imagine how hard it might be to write about it. Congrats on your book!
Thank you so much!
This is inspiring. Congratulations on your new book.
Thank you!
This sound so great! I would definitely love to read more!
Music to my ears 🙂
It’s always tough to hear about someone’s battle with drugs, but there’s always help. Some have to seek it outside of their home.
So true. Knowing you need help and admitting it, is the key.
A great topic for a book. Now I’m wondering how hard life can be for women in that situation. My prayers goes with all of them.
Thank you. It’s a tough situation for many of these women that are not heard and left on the sidelines trying to live a normal life.
Hi Tina,
Your book seems like a great read and I can’t wait to read it! I like the fact you focus on the addict’s spouse because you really don’t hear about them and what they go through. Can’t wait! 🙂
Thank you! I hope you pick up a copy.
I love reading your reviews, will remember to check here when I need something new to read.
Interesting book to read you have there! I guess I need to check this out for a friend of mine. Thanks!
Thank you, I hope you do when it becomes available.
I love that you are addressing this and bringing more awareness to everyone. Good luck with your book!
thank you!
The statics on drug use and deaths is harrowing. Your book sounds like a great read, I wish you the best of luck.
Thank you
Oh wow, it sounds like it will be a great ready once it is out, I am already really curious about what happened to Donna
Thanks! I hope you will pick up a copy.
I would like to applaud you for writing this book dedicated to spouses of drug addicts. Yeah we never heard their sides, and always misjudged them. It’s time to listen and hear their side of story.
Thank you so much. their voices need to be heard, I hope this book achieves that.