During the 2 years following publication of my first book, Shards of Ice, there were many times that I thought my journey was over, but then something would come up; I would chat to someone online or I would offer to donate some books to town and school libraries and before I knew it I was back giving talks to high school kids and passionate people in the community who were determined to help stop the scourge of meth infiltrating their towns any more than it already had. Everyone agreed it was about pure determination & education.

Most of my marketing and exposure for my book was done by ME - I realised very early that if I wanted it out there, then I would have to put it out there. I would have to contact libraries and schools and shops myself, and there were many set-backs, caused by government departments, unprofessional professionals, and people with unsubstantiated personal agenda's, but I did not let it deter me from my path. I realised that for as much as there were people out there who didn't agree with my book being written, there were a whole lot more people out there who did; and those people were passionate and determined to help me get the word out into the community. They had witnessed terrible things, seen loved ones succumb to meth's grip, and they willingly put their hands up to support me. They understood that this book was more than one mans journey, it was the means for our kids to learn; it was a voice for women and people with mental health issues and it stopped this story from being just another set of statistics in a long line of statistics related to crystal meth.

I have learnt so many lessons from this journey - About editing and the publication process, and about myself and other people. I have learnt that total strangers can be deeply affected by the written word and become united in one cause, one hope for a future. Their support of an unknown like me has opened up a whole new world of confidence and determination for me. I have learnt that friendship is a fragile thing that can be dissolved in a second or strengthened for eternity - and that sometimes you will be surprised by which friends take which road. I have learnt that no matter how much you strive to treat a sensitive subject with care and sensitivity, or how much you try to give a voice to those who cannot speak, there will always be those who condemn. May they one day realise where my heart lies.

As is so often the case with first books by new authors, 'Shards of Ice' was published on a limited print run. It sold out three-quarters of that run within the first 3 months, and the remainder in the next 6 months. There are now no copies left to buy in paperback form. But you can buy it in E-Book form as of March 2018. Go to my 'BOOKS' page and see how.

I want to thank everyone who bought my book, or followed my Facebook page and shared and liked my posts; all those who came to see me at book signings and talks, all those who spoke to teachers and schools and gave endlessly to help me achieve this. I even want to thank those who condemned and misjudged me- you too have made me a stronger person and a better writer. I am proud to know that there are copies of Shards in libraries all over Australia, schools all over Australia, and homes all over the world. Those of you who have one, you now own a limited edition - A collectors item!

If you no longer want it - Please donate it to your local High School.

I am not finished yet though - I am currently working on my next manuscript. It's another true story and I will be putting an excerpt up as soon as it's ready.

Onwards and Upwards..............

“Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand.”

George Orwell

#AlisonSampson #Normie #ShardsofIce #Ice #MethAmphetamine