About the Author

Whiteley is a writer, musician, survivor, and unapologetic optimist with a restless streak. A founding member of post-punk cult icons Folk Devils, he has spent his life moving between creativity, activism, and scholarship. He has worked as a journalist, addiction counsellor, and academic, earning a degree in Social Policy, a Masters in Criminology, and conducting postgraduate research. He was also an Associate Lecturer in Social Sciences. Whiteley speaks openly about living with addiction for around 40 years, a truth that shapes both his honesty and his work.

In short, I've operated on both sides of the fence: I am a poacher turned gatekeeper, the black sheep who ultimately joins the flock as a full participant. An outsider, addict maverick who has chosen recovery and purpose as opposed to a slow, cowardly suicide. Without arrogance, I can safely say I was well equipped to write this book, having both years of professional experience and decades of so-called lived experience. For the pain and anxiety I've caused anyone who cared for me, in some small measure, I hope this book goes some way to repaying some of my karmic overdraft.