Brad Lamm knows a lot about addiction, and his new book delves deep into some pretty tricky terrain. Below, our chat about the book, and writing under umbrellas!
JD: Tell us about your background as a writer, and what your writing practice is like.
BL: Yesterday a large box arrived from Oregon, from my parents' garage, and in it was a rich collection of creative writing projects from over the years spanning from grade school through high school. Mom saved everything! It was cool to go through the box and find early examples of writing something down! The coolest for me were the fifth grade "books" as they had a laminated cover for each, and were real stories. My teacher was Mr. Lofton and he he inspired us to dream up an idea, then write it down. My writing rhythm today is I tend to write during the summer at the beach. "How to Change Someone You Love" came to life over two seasons at the beach. Under the umbrella, with my laptop, pouring it out onto the page.
JD: What can you share with us about how you came to the subject of addiction and recovery?
BL: I was addicted from that first cigarette, that first trip on acid, that first line of crystal, that first drink of alcohol. All these occurred before I was eighteen, so I had many years of research in the field on addiction as I was soaking in it. When I started getting better back in the summer of 2002, everything in my life changed and I had the chance to stand at a precipice and ask, "What might I do with my life?" I went back to school. Became a family therapist and interventionist, and the book came from that work. How might I help others, help themselves? I tried to answer that in my book.
JD: How did the title, "How to Change Someone You Love" come about?
BL: It's what we do. We rub off on others. And LOVE is the greatest rub of all. Plus it goes against what we've been told for so many years - that we have to let someone "hit bottom" or they "have to want to change" to save a life. My book's about enabling change, but not enabling someone's dangerous or harmful behavior.
JD: You took a chance with this book, Brad, and it paid off. Many writers want to know more about the process of getting a nonfiction book published on a subject that is near and
dear to their hearts. How did your book evolve from idea to publication?
BL: I wrote and wrote. Had 180 pages down before I shared it with a guy who became my literary agent. He gave me some pointed instructions on shaping the manuscript and opening up the topic in specific ways. He was amazing really. I sent the completed manuscript, finally at 278 pages out to publishers the day I went on my honeymoon. The responses began to trickle in. Eleven of the eighteen I submitted to wanted to meet. An auction ensued. Nine publishing houses saying they wanted it. It was thrilling I have to say. The process encouraged me, and voila! a book on the shelf was born.
JD: What authors have influenced you the most?
BL: Fiction folk. They inspired me dream and write it down. Madeleine L'engle, C.S. Lewis,
Frank Herbert. Stephen R. Donaldson. I loved reading as a boy. Have less time to do it as a man, but love it. The act of sitting down and falling into someone's story - their world. Finding points of resonance, that's the ticket, fact (non-fiction) or fiction.
JD: Indeed!
And for more on writing with resonance check out my book, Bang the Keys, and my site, http://bangthekeys.com.
Until next time, I leave you with this question:
Do any of your behaviors -- good or bad! -- influence your reading or writing?
