A local woman has recently launched her new book, Flutter, at Winstone’s Hunting Raven Books, hoping her story will help others recover from gambling addiction.
Dianne Sangster’s book recounts how she fell in love with and married a secret gambler, following their journey to break free from the grip of addiction.
The launch took place on Friday, 20th June. Dianne said, “Through reading the book, I hope it can help at least one person towards recovery from this devastating addiction.
“Gambling addiction is very real and causes serious harm. In the UK, Australia and the USA, it has even been linked to suicides.”
Flutter, which has been produced by Brown Dog Books in Bath, has attracted international attention, with an extract due to be published in The Australian.
A reader described the book as “just fabulous. A close-up, beautiful, raw and joyful account of life as it is really lived — through feelings of delight, grief and, most of all, love. Dianne is a poet and artist, and her writing is visual and beautiful.
“While sharing their life together, she allows Tony to trace his journey through gambling addiction to recovery. It’s an eye-opening story that spares nothing and ends on a hopeful note, as Tony goes on to help other gamblers. I deeply felt Dianne’s love of people, her creativity, and her nurturing of family and friends – as well as her devastating loss when Tony dies. Even then, there is beauty and hope. A truly moving book.”
Manager of Hunting Raven, Tina Gainsford -Waller said, “Launches like this one, for dear friends and fantastic Frome writers, are the lifeblood of our bookshop. I’m so proud to be able to help this book out there into the world. ‘Flutter’ is a heartfelt, tender and important account of a life and a relationship in turmoil through gambling addiction. It would be a wonderfully healing and helpful book for anyone to read to gain insight, understanding and compassion for what it feels like to live as a gambler and to live with one. Well done @diannesangster for writing it and for @silvercrowbooks for your faith in publishing it so beautifully.”
To fund the self-published book, Dianne raised nearly £4,000 through the Kickstarter platform.
Pictured: Dianne delivering the book to one of her local readers Becky Dick
