Thank You, Your Book and Your Blog Saved My Life

Q: I don't really have a question to ask or anything. I just wanted to let you know that your book and your website saved my life.

Last year I was in debt up to my ears due to my gambling. I was in the process of losing my house, my wife, and seriously thinking of suicide. The gambling was so bad that I had to borrow to pay bills and necessities, but then I would end up blowing that money at the casinos. I was at least three months behind on everything including my mortgage.

I joined GA and started working on getting my life back together. I found a copy of your book in the bathroom at GA and asked the guy whose house we were having the meeting at if it was his. He said no. I asked a few other people and they said no. I opened it up and started reading it. I was very depressed, but the book cracked me up. I read the whole thing that night when I got home. I laughed most of the night, but some parts of it I found embarrasing. My wife came over the next day. We were (still are) separated because of my problem and she came over to yell at me about some money I was supposed to send to our son in college, and she saw the book and started reading it. She still yelled at me. But then a few days later she came over and we talked. She was a changed woman after reading your book. She said that the ending of the book had really scared her. She asked me if, like P, I was serioulsy thinking of killing myself, because she wanted me to know that in spite of our problems, she still loved me and thought the kids really needed me as their father in their lives regardless of my gambling.

I admitted to her that I thought about suicide every single day of my life. I told her that's just how it is with gamblers like me. She said that she understood that better now that she had read your book. She became very sad and serious and promised that she would always be there for me to help me though the hard times.

After that, we fought less and she tried her best to understand me. We are still not together, and sadly I did finally lose our house and some other things we owned, but she kept her promise and stood by me through it all. I did not take my own life, and I am well on my way to putting my life together. Life is hard, but life is better.

Your book helped me because it not only was funny and true, but it helped a non-gambler like my wife to understand what kind of creature a gambler is. Like I said, things are not perfect between us, but it is getting better.

I loved your book. It is the truest stuff I have ever heard or seen spoken on the subject of gambling.

Every gambler or everyone who knows a gambler should read your book and your blog; I love the honest advice that you give to gamblers.

A: Brother, thanks for your email. I do not really know how to respond to it except to say that I am proud of you and that I am pulling for you. Your wife is a wonderful person and you should count yourself blessed to have her. Keep on fighting. You will beat this thing.

Thanks,

Preston

Sex

Q: In your personal sex life, are you like the characters in your stories? If so, which character are you most like?

A: I do not discuss sex, politics, or religion with strangers . . . but I will say that the inspiration for my sex scenes, though they are sometimes born in the mind, are often taken from real life experiences.

Or from real good porno that I have seen.

Thanks,

Preston

Nadine's Husband

Q: Dear Mr. Allen,
How are you? I hope all is well with you. I was wondering what ever happened in "Nadine's Husband." I read the follow ups in BROWN SUGAR 2,3,and 4, but I was wondering if you were going to write a book because i was hooked.

A: Thanks for this email. It made my day, especially after so many emails about political things.

Well, I'm looking for a publisher. That takes time--but I am working on it hard. I will keep you posted.

Thanks,

Preston