by anesamiller_wuhi6k | Apr 20, 2015 | Blog, OMG—It's CELEBRITIES!
This post is part of an ongoing series, OMG—It’s CELEBRITIES!, presenting well-known actors to play parts in (a fantasy) movie version of the novel Our Orbit. Click here for other items in the series.
Feisty?
Maybe I have mentioned that Our Orbit has a good-sized cast. In fact, I’ve been accused of featuring an ensemble at the expense of any one main character. That may be a discussion for a highbrow coffee klatch, but frankly, I fail to see the problem. There is no dead wood among the dramatis personae, by which I mean there are no characters who stand about like posts for the plot to race past, no so-called supporting figures who merely play straight man to the stars.
At least, that’s what I was aiming for. As to the outcome, you be the judge—please!
More to the point, the character I’d like to introduce today is one who plays a crucial role in several key scenes of the novel. She reveals a major secret, struggles to protect her loved ones, and stays true to herself as a nonconformist amid the staunch traditions of small-town Ohio. Her name is Claire Winslow, the only living first cousin of lead characters Miriam and Rachelle.
Cover design by Renee Garcia
Our Orbit has a new cover, fully re-designed for the Booktrope edition!
My difficulty in casting the part of Claire for the imaginary film of Our Orbit lies in a notorious Hollywood tendency that one of our commenters noted a couple of weeks ago: Women are expected to please the eye and avoid expressing too much personality. This doesn’t suit Claire one bit! She tends to flaunt her inability to quite fit into social expectations: a fashion maven who wears a little too much gold jewelry but doesn’t boast a pretty face or sexy figure in the customary sense.
In short, women who might be a shoe-in for the part have largely been kept out of the American film industry, or have at least been kept off-screen! Even so, I considered the “available” talent, and here’s what I came up with—
Star of Orlando, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Grand Budapest Hotel, the amazing Tilda Swinton has an unconventional face, angular form, and spiritual quality that would fit Cousin Claire to a T. Ms Swinton (pictured above) manages to convey inner strength even in scenes of remarkable vulnerability. I would LOVE to see her bring Claire Winslow to life…except for the inconvenient fact that she is simply too gorgeous! And maybe not feisty enough.
No doubt a more obvious choice would be Taryn Manning who portrays the colorful meth addict Pennsatucky in Netflix’ hit series Orange is the New Black—
A definite maybe
Taryn’s got the Appalachian chops, no question, and she has done dramatic work in Hustle & Flow and other films. I’m just not sure those big plusses are enough to outweigh the fact that, while she can certainly do feisty, she’s quite a tiny woman. Claire needs to be an imperious figure, certainly taller that her 14-year-old cousin Rachelle. So the creator of my favorite ONB player might not fit in the movie, after all.
Which brings me to that 2nd-youngest-ever Oscar winner (for The Piano, 1994), as well as most intrepid X-Woman and vampire, Anna Paquin. Talk about range of acting ability! I think Ms Paquin has surprised us all by her skill in appearing lovely and graceful while sporting such unconventional features (in Hollywood, at any rate) as gap teeth. These are promising qualities for the woman to portray Claire. Definitely my best candidate!
Chills!
~ ~ ~ ~
I must add a brief tribute to one of the world’s most beautiful actresses, who hid her own dazzling eye-candy for the sake of a challenging role. Kudos to Charlize Theron for revealing the frightening humanity of Aileen Wuornos in the film Monster. I’m sure it was a tough job, but she had the courage to do it. (Sorry, I can’t seem to find a “non-proprietary” photo of the actress as herself. Better google it!)
~ ~ ~ ~
What do you think? Share your thoughts, impressions, complaints, and candidates for these movie roles in the Comments section below. Thanks for visiting my blog today! Feel free to nose about the website and let me know if you like what you see, or if you have suggestions. You can reach me by clicking the Contact link at upper right (or just click here). And please consider subscribing to my blog or newsletter. Stop by again soon!
by anesamiller_wuhi6k | Apr 17, 2015 | Blog, Issues in Our Orbit -- Substance Abuse & Recovery
Imaginative writing is often inspired by the conflicts of everyday life. In our society, where we may find ourselves stressed to a breaking point, conflict can reflect pressures we don’t even understand. In an effort to reach beyond fiction toward the real-world tensions that inspired my novel, Our Orbit, I’m introducing a few new topic categories here on the blog. You’ll continue to find items on the craft of writing, literature, and publishing. But since Our Orbit delves into the challenges of family life, I’m also branching out to parenting, including addiction and recovery among teenagers. Here is an offering on this topic, along with links to sources of help and information.
The painful question in the title of this post is one that worried parents ask each day in thousands, if not millions, of homes across all continents. This timely article is was written by Mr. Robert Hunt, a youth recovery coach and wellness advocate, re-posted from SoberNation by permission of Mr. Tom Stoddard, founder of that website, which is dedicated to building community by and for people in recovery from addictions and related problems.
From Recovery Coach Robert Hunt —
Adolescent drug addiction treatment can incorporate a number of different approaches, procedures, and timelines, depending on the adolescent. In our experience, the most effective treatment plans are those that are holistic and individualized, meaning they incorporate different approaches and therapeutic processes, all dependent upon the specific adolescent’s individual symptoms, needs, and unique situation. Three of the most important aspects of an adolescent’s experience that should always be incorporated into a treatment plan include Co-Occurring Disorders, academic struggles and support, and family support.
CLICK THE PIC FOR DETAILS.
First of all, it’s extremely common for adolescents who struggle with drug or substance abuse to also suffer from a Mental Health disorder or learning challenge. At times, these symptoms may overlap with those of the drug abuse addiction and effects, thus making it difficult to know which symptoms are attributed to which disorder. Because of this, unfortunately it’s common for teen Co-Occurring disorders to go undiagnosed and consequently untreated. In these cases, teens may recover from their addiction and abuse but still be suffering from the other disorder, which will leave them vulnerable to stress that can trigger relapse. Therefore, the importance of careful evaluation and thorough diagnoses in Adolescent Drug Addiction Treatment can’t be stressed enough, as it’s the foundation upon which recovery is built.
Secondly, adolescents living with addiction and/or abusing drugs often are struggling in school. Because school is such a central part of adolescents’ lives, experiencing such struggles or failure can quickly lead to serious loss of self-esteem, and together with drug use, can add to the adolescents’ withdrawal from others. These academic difficulties will hopefully be realized within talk therapy sessions and careful consideration of possible learning disabilities should be made as well. While in treatment, adolescents should be provided real-life academic support such as tutoring, to help get the students back on track. For adolescents, success at school is pivotal to success in their lives.
Lastly, Adolescent Drug Addiction Treatment plans should include the family members, to help heal what damage and hurt has been done, re-build relationships, and create a healthy environment for everyone to thrive in together, amidst the adolescent’s recovery. In our treatment plans, we always provide parents with individual and group family sessions, in order to provide parents the support necessary to move forward.
Again, because Adolescent Drug Addiction Treatment is different for every adolescent, there is certainly no one right way for it to be done. However, in our experience these three aspects prove consistently important in supporting our adolescents to achieve true and lasting sobriety.
About the author – Robert Hunt is a recovering addict of 20 years. He has devoted his life to helping others suffering from chemical addictions as well as mental health challenges. Robert maintains many blogs on drug addiction, eating disorders and depression. He is a sober coach and wellness advocate and a prominent figure in the recovery community.
Visit Robert Hunt’s blog | Follow him on Twitter @RecoveryRobert
Visit SoberNation | Follow @SoberNation
Visit Parent Treatment Advocates
♥ Don’t forget to sign on for the great GIVEAWAY through April 2015: Win $50 in free books from Powell’s of Portland! Support indie writer & bookstore.Click here! ♥
by anesamiller_wuhi6k | Apr 14, 2015 | Blog
Author, author!
Take heart, Gentle Reader! Author and recovering print & broadcast journalist Sarah Scott is here to rap all our knuckles, er, to provide a pep talk on proper English. “Read & Lerrn”: that’s my motto!
Sarah Says —
What grammar goof sets your teeth on edge, makes you seethe with snobbish intolerance? If you’re coming up with nothing, then you might want to stop reading at the end of this sentence. If you are in the other camp, the one pitched on the temple grounds of correct usage of our mother tongue, then please read on and offer your own grimace-inducing examples in the comments section below.
Throughout the month of April, each comment on the blog earns a chance to win $50 in free books from Portland’s indie store, Powell’s City of Books. Over 4 millions titles to choose from — no downside! Click for details—
Before I list mine, let’s begin with the (yeah, yeah) agreement that English isn’t sculpted in marble, never to be improved upon, revered in its fixed state forever. We all know that what once was acceptable (e.g., “ain’t” and double negatives) is no longer considered appropriate. It’s also true that the stickler choice isn’t always the best. If I were to say, “It’s not I,” you might well think I am a pompous tush, with said tush as stiff as a week-old cadaver’s. “It’s me,” just sounds better, doesn’t it?
That caveat out of the way, I offer my grammatical equivalents of nails on a blackboard:
1) “More unique” or “rather unique” or any qualifier at all before unique. Either it is or it isn’t.
2) “More (or most) importantly” rather than “more (or most) important” in a sentence such as this: “Most importantly, we have to consider that we should be grateful people still use the spoken word to communicate anything at all these days.” Most important, it’s not an adverb we’re after.
SUPPORT INDIE WRITERs & BOOKSTORE! CLICK THE PIC FOR DETAILS—
3) Okay, here’s a really picky one. I was reared to make a distinction between “healthy” and “healthful.” (And I was reared to say one rears children and raises tomatoes.) Back to my whine. A human being is healthy, because his or her diet is healthful, full of vitality. I suppose a carrot could be both healthful and healthy, depending on its condition.
4) “Who” when “whom” is warranted. This blunder appeared in a recent online article in The New York Times: “Ms. Lazarus, who [sic!] New York magazine called ‘the Martha Stewart of weed baking’ makes confections….” Perhaps this writer should be excused for delving too deeply into the subject matter. Some grammarians claim this one doesn’t matter anymore. My retort: for whom?
5) “Less” when “fewer” is correct. The most pervasive usage of that goof, of course, is at any grocery store’s checkout section: “Express Line: 12 or Less Items.” If anyone knows of a grocery that uses “fewer,” please gladden my heart by telling me. I’ll write the manager a thank-you note.
6) This last one probably is on your list too. It’s the one NPR’s listeners chose as their most detested grammar peeve. Yep, it’s using “I” instead of “me” as the object of a preposition. “Would you like to come to dinner with Jim and I?” “She sat next to Mary and I.” “Could you bring around the car for Ed and I?” Sadly, the mistake is made by people who want to sound intelligent and literate, poor dears, and are convinced “me” is substandard English. These well-meaning folks would never say, “Come to dinner with I” or “Sit next to I.” In a phone call not long ago, I heard myself say defensively, “That will work for my husband, and it will work for me too,” just so the customer service guy on the other end wouldn’t think I was ignorant and stupid to boot!
If you’ve read this far, you too might be aware of a recently published book by Mary Norris, copy editor for The New Yorker, titled Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen. It’s said to be as funny as Eats, Shoots & Leaves by Lynne Truss, but presumably with fewer punctuation errors than that book on punctuation contained.
My blog host Anesa might want to throw in a few of her own grammar gripes in the comments, and I know we both want to hear yours. As for any errors you might find in this guest blog that you think are my failings, they were inserted by the NSA during email transmission.
Sarah Scott is the author of the mystery Lies at Six: “A thriller’s pacing. Vivid Southern locales. Witty dialogue and wry observation about what passes for news on TV…and truth in our lives,” available as an e-book and in print. She lives in remote Ashford, WA, at the entrance to Mt. Rainier National Park. Her husband Bill Compher has been recognized worldwide for his imaginative treehouse designs: Visit cedarcreektreehouse.com for lodging and tour information.
♥ Don’t forget to sign on for a great #GIVEAWAY through April 2015: Win $50 in free books from Powell’s of Portland! Support indie writer & bookstore.Click here! ♥
by anesamiller_wuhi6k | Apr 13, 2015 | Blog, Issues in Our Orbit -- Substance Abuse & Recovery, OMG—It's CELEBRITIES!
This post is part of an ongoing series, OMG—It’s CELEBRITIES!, presenting well-known actors to play parts in (a fantasy) movie version of the novel Our Orbit. Click here to see other items in the series.
But does he give a damn?
♥ ♥ ♥
As mentioned last week, yours truly has fallen “book,” line & sinker (ha-ha), for the People Magazine approach to literary fiction. Indeed, my collection of celebrity photos of talent I’d like to see portray characters from Our Orbit has become a local obsession. Local at my house, that is. I especially enjoy the alternative candidates that readers have suggested and whole-heartedly encourage everyone to share those in the Comments section below.
♥ ♥ ♥
Today we turn to the vital supporting role of Pete Deluca, beloved teacher at North Milton High School. In my novel, Pete is a dedicated, mid-career instructor of biology & health as well as assistant basketball coach. As our story begins, Pete is divorced and single, but a new romance lies in his future!
♥ ♥ ♥
Who better to portray Pete in the movie version of Our Orbit than the dashing Chris Messina? He’s the star of popular TV comedy The Mindy Project, the foodie movie 
Julie and Julia (a big fave of mine), and Oscar-winner Argo. For the cultural snobs among us )))) he is also active nationwide in live theater, including Broadway and Tribeca.
Chris is especially noted as a terrific ensemble actor, as attested by numerous awards and nominations. Thus it comes as no surprise that his acting style conveys an appealing amiability and easy-going manner. What more could I ask from the man to bring Pete Deluca to life on the screen? After all, Our Orbit has a large cast with no dead wood whatsoever. I call that an ensemble!
♥ ♥ ♥
Check out my imagined interview with the character Pete Deluca to see what other important qualities Mr. Messina can bring to the role—
Character Interview with Pete Deluca
AM: Hi, Pete! Thanks for being with us on the blog today. I have to tell you, since my work falls mainly in the realist tradition, I feel strange about what we’re doing here. That’s why I chose you for my first-ever imaginary interview—you’re such a likable guy (if I do say so myself as your creator).
Pete: Glad to help out!
AM: Our Orbit takes place in what I call “the Appalachian corner” of southern Ohio, where you were born and raised. Your heritage is especially interesting. Could you tell us about that?
Pete: Sure. I’m from Youngstown, Ohio. It’s a place with quite a checkered reputation. Way back when, tons of Italian immigrants came to Youngstown for jobs in the steel mills. Not so many years later, the mills started shutting down. That depressed the economy, which has a lot to do with how we got associated with the Mafia and organized crime. Bad stuff does happen when your local employer goes down the tubes.
AM: Are you Italian-American yourself?
Pete: Oh, yeah! We get a bad rap, but that’s not fair for most of us. When my grandparents came over from Genoa, they did farm labor in eastern Ohio and struggled to buy their own land. They got here at a young enough age to make that happen—older folks mostly sacrificed for their children, did manual labor their whole lives.
One hat-tip to Youngstown that I really love comes from The Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen. He always tells a great story!
AM: But don’t you also identify with your Appalachian heritage?
Pete: Definitely. I grew up in the foothills of the mountains, went hunting with my grandpa—all that backwoods stuff. He was never a moonshiner, by the way, but like a true Italian, he always made his own wine. That was part of the gig! And legal, too, even back in Prohibition days. So long as you made it strictly for home consumption, you were within the law. That was important to Grandpa.
AM: Speaking of alcohol and Prohibition, I know that one of the issues you’re involved in as a teacher is substance abuse among your highschool students. Could you tell us a little about that?
Pete: Well, as basketball coach, I see kids on an extracurricular basis at practice, night games, and parties I chaperone—all that. So I’m on the front line with stuff that goes on. Underage consumption is rampant out there. Unfortunately, a lot of parents and even school officials fool themselves about what a serious a problem it is.
For information on this serious problem, visit the Harvard Help Guide at http://www.helpguide.org/harvard/the-dangers-of-teenage-drinking.htm
AM: In the book, Our Orbit, you’re able to help a young couple deal with the discovery that one of their foster daughters has developed a drinking problem. I’d like to share a brief clip from that scene—
Cover design by Renee Garcia
The new calendar year was barely two months old, but the planning season was already in full swing for end-of-term festivities at the high school: the all-choir concert, prom, after-prom, and various awards ceremonies. That Thursday evening, Deanne was about to get ready for bed, when she heard a pair of bantering voices approach the front door. Rick and Pete came in, blowing off steam after the Sports Recognition Committee meeting.
“Bo-ring!” Pete declared. “Thank God there are no more faculty meetings for at least two weeks.”
“This calls for a drink,” Rick said.
“Rum and Coke,” Pete ordered.
Rick found beers in the back of the fridge for himself and Deanne and a can of Coke in the pantry. He pulled the bottle of rum from the bottom cabinet by Deanne’s desk.
“What’s this I hear about a romance in your future?” Deanne asked. “Who’s the lucky lady?”
Pete laughed… [Spoiler alert! More on this another time.]
… Just then Rick turned away from the counter, his face perplexed. He handed Pete a shot glass half-full of amber liquid. “Smell this,” he said.
“What’s wrong with it?” Pete sniffed the glass. He took a tiny sip and smacked his lips. “Apple juice. None too fresh.”
“What?” Deanne said.
Rick shrugged. “The rum bottle’s full of juice.”
Deanne’s mouth dropped open.
“Oldest trick in the book,” Pete said. “I remember one year before you came on board—” He nodded at Rick. “We caught the whole team with vodka in their water bottles. In the locker room—school premises!” He laughed. “Kids get brazen.”
“Which kids?” Deanne said. She shot Rick an anxious look.
“Half the school has done this kind of thing,” Pete assured her. “Athletes, honors students, debate stars…”
“School premises are one thing. This is our house. My kitchen.” Deanne gave a visible shudder.
Rick returned to the cupboard and pulled out the vodka bottle, still three-quarters full. He opened it and sniffed, handed it to his wife.
Deanne tipped the bottle for a sip. “Water!” she said.
“It’s a phase for most kids,” Pete said. “They have to try it because adults make it seem so special. They usually wind up okay in the end.”
“You figure this is Rachelle’s doing?” Rick asked Deanne.
“Who else?”
They thought back over the previous months and recalled a couple of weekends when they’d found less beer in the fridge than there should have been. Times when Rachelle had lumbered off to bed early or they discovered her drifting around the kitchen for no apparent reason.
“Rachelle has more issues than we thought.” Deanne’s voice rang with dismay.
“We need a plan here,” Rick said.
He and Deanne both looked to Pete.
Pete raised a finger. “Intervention. And I know a very smart lady who can tell you how to do it.”
AM: That was a scene from Part Three of Our Orbit featuring today’s character, Pete Deluca. Thanks again, Pete, for lending us your voice and for helping us understand some of the problems parents and teachers face these days.
Pete: It’s my pleasure. See you at the movies!
Many thanks for visiting my blog today! Please feel free to nose about the website and let me know if you like what you see or if you have suggestions. You can reach me by leaving a comment in the box below or by clicking the Contact link at upper right (or just click here). I hope you’ll stop by again soon. And please consider subscribing to my blog or newsletter!
by anesamiller_wuhi6k | Apr 10, 2015 | Blog
Several serious topics drive the story of my novel Our Orbit. Childhood traumas play a major role in the plot, as does the difficult issue of substance abuse. To open the way for a conversation on these matters, I offer the following guest post that first appeared on Gabbertsite, the blog of mental health professional Gail Gabbert. These themes are so important to my fiction that I plan to share information about their real-world consequences and treatments throughout the coming months. Many thanks to Ms. Gabbert for making her expertise available.
Gail Gabbert writes—
I recently read a Huffington Post article entitled: “The Likely Cause of Addiction Has Been Discovered, and It Is Not What You Think.” The author states “the opposite of addiction is not sobriety. It is human connection.” This piqued my interest in reading the book, “Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs” by Johann Hari, who is also the author of the news article. I highly recommend the book as an interesting account of the history and progress of the war on drugs.
The author cites trauma as a likely culprit of addiction. But the concept of connection as an antidote to addiction is easily misunderstood. A quick reading of the article might cause some parents to blame themselves for a child’s addiction because they didn’t love them enough. Although relational trauma has been documented to be a potential underlying factor in predisposing one toward addiction, unconditional love as an antidote is over-simplifying a very complex issue.
A more accurate description of social connection is found in the book. It is referred, not simply to a bond with one’s circle of friends and family, but rather connection that includes jobs, housing, a sense of worth and dignity. Many of these things are lost to people who have been incarcerated for drug use. Upon release from prison, felons are denied access to public housing and have difficulty securing jobs. They lack many resources to rebuilding a stable life, thereby increasing the odds of return to addictive behavior.
I did my own amateur research on the role of social support in the lives of eleven people who are in treatment for opiate (heroin and/or pain killers) dependency. Ten of the eleven perceived themselves to have had family support prior to their dependency. And ten of the eleven perceive themselves to have family support for their recovery. Therefore, the vast majority of these people feel positively connected to their families and developed a dependency in spite of it. For them, family support didn’t cause their addiction. And family support isn’t sufficient to cure it.
I asked them to complete ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) questionnaire to assess child abuse, neglect and household dysfunction. This study was referenced in the book as an indicator of trauma, leading to negative consequences such as substance abuse. The majority (8) of the eleven people in my sample had low scores which could indicate that there are other factors that contributed to their addiction besides trauma. Granted, this is not a scientific study and should not be taken as such. It was my way to satisfy my curiosity on a small scale.
The author ends with advice to unconditionally love people with substance dependencies, rather than isolate them from their community or incarcerate them. Those who promote “tough love” demand that the addict cease all use of their substance or suffer the consequence of isolation, loss of resources and loss of freedom.
It seems to me that early childhood trauma may or may not have caused substance dependence. But I agree with the author that the consequence of social isolation will only deepen their addiction.
Visit https://gabbertsite.wordpress.com/ for more information and ideas from psychotherapist Gail Gabbert. Leave comments below to share your thoughts on the topic of substance abuse and treatment, or other matters of interest. This item is re-posted with much gratitude to the author.
♥ Sign up to win $50 in free books from Powell’s of Portland! Support indie writer & bookstore. Click here! ♥
by anesamiller_wuhi6k | Apr 6, 2015 | Blog, OMG—It's CELEBRITIES!
I have to kick this off with a big disclaimer:
I am something of a cultural snob. For many years I read nothing but classics (comes with the Ph.D. territory), and did not own a TV throughout my 12-yr. grad school career. So please understand that I’m bringing a dose of embarrassment to this project—a blog page devoted to celebrities!
Wild dreams….
True confession: I have created a Pinterest board on the CELEBRITY actors I would most like to see in the movie version of my novel, Our Orbit.
Why be embarrassed? You may well ask. After all, even snobs love and respect talented actors. Lots of them do Shakespeare! Yes, I know, but it’s awkward to admit how much I have fantasized about seeing my novel made into a film. Not exactly an uncommon dream among writers, but we all know it’s just that: a dream unlikely to survive in waking life.
But so what? Make like a fantasy writer and live a little! Indulging dreams costs nothing. And “casting” these roles turned out to be the most fun I’ve had on a computer since…well, since I finished writing Our Orbit! Here are a few samples of the terrific talent I’d love to see bringing my story to life —
Yikes—this side of Jeff Bridges conveys the deadly serious aspect of his oh-so expressive facial assets! But the creator of cult hero “The Dude” (in THE BIG LEBOWSKI) has a humane and hilarious side as well. That’s why I need him to play the part of Uncle Dan, who claims to be sole survivor of an alien abduction. Jeff, I see another Oscar in your future!
Who is Uncle Dan? A decorated Korean War veteran and brother to the Winslow family patriarch, Levi (more on him later). Dan is uncle to Levi’s four children, all of whom are key characters in Our Orbit. Starting with the youngest, there’s Miriam—
Forever 9!
If only we could go back in time to the era of LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE (2006), there’s no question that Abigail Breslin would bring the perfect blend of sweet sadness to the character of Miriam, who enters foster care at the age of 9 years. Regrettably, as we’ve all had occasion to realize, time waits for no one! Abigail has gone through many changes, like we all do, growing up. (Hey, that’s a big theme in the book, too.) So how about casting Miss Breslin—still-adorable at 18—as Miriam’s sister Rachelle—
Great country-girl look in a gingham shirt! But can Abigail bring the sullen, a crucial quality for the part of angst-ridden teenage Rachelle? After all, the back cover of Our Orbit reveals that, “Rachelle harbors many painful secrets.” So how about Morgan Saylor who amply demonstrates her skill as a tormented young woman on the hit series HOMELAND…?
Looks like a shoe-in to me!
What do you think? Share your thoughts, impressions, complaints, and candidates for these meaty movie roles in the Comments section below. Many thanks for visiting my blog today! Feel free to nose about the website and let me know if you like what you see or if you have suggestions. You can reach me by clicking the Contact link at upper right (or just click here). And please consider subscribing to my blog or newsletter. Stop by again soon!
The painful question in the title of this post is one that worried parents ask each day in thousands, if not millions, of homes across all continents. This timely article is was written by Mr. Robert Hunt, a youth recovery coach and wellness advocate, re-posted from 
About the author – Robert Hunt is a recovering addict of 20 years. He has devoted his life to helping others suffering from chemical addictions as well as mental health challenges. Robert maintains many blogs on drug addiction, eating disorders and depression. He is a sober coach and wellness advocate and a prominent figure in the recovery community.
I recently read a 
