Timely New Book About Quitting Three (3!) Addictions

SANTA BARBARA, CALIF. – January 1, 2009 – A new book targets not one, but three addictions, in a tell-all journey entitled I Quit! Cigarettes, Candy Bars & Booze (Dovelin Publishing) by an author hoping to inspire others that yes, they can quit, too.

Author Linda Joy Allan offers a frank, and sometimes humorous, exploration of hitting bottom many times as a 210-pound, chain-smoking alcoholic. I Quit shares how she confronted herself and each one of her addictions.

“Living as an addict of any kind is hard, too hard -- much harder than being free,” Allan, who now is addiction-free, writes in her book.

“I hope that others recognize themselves in my story, and that I can help them overcome their addictions,” she said.

The book -- written for addictions, former addicts and also friends and families of addicts – has attracted praise from experts and others who relished the honest story told inside the pages of I Quit.

“I Quit will motivate and inspire,” Laura Schlessinger, best-selling author and host of the nationally syndicated Dr. Laura program, wrote about the book.

"I Quit is a powerful memoir and self-help book written by Linda Joy Allan on how she took her life back,” wrote USA Book News. “Linda shares hard won advice and takes you on a journey to health and wholeness."

"Her story is both moving and inspiring,” wrote Hal Urban, author of Life’s Greatest Lessons.

“I Quit is a bone-deep, gut-wrenching account of one woman's struggle. Linda Joy Allan's courageous account -- ultimately victorious -- provides hope for everyone caught in this trap,” wrote Dr. Larry Dossey, author of The Extraordinary Healing Power of Ordinary Things.

I Quit is especially timely in an economy that several new studies shows is causing people to return to old addictions or not let go of bad habits due to the extra financial and lifestyle stress in this recession.

The national public health think tank, the American Legacy Foundation, reported the results of a new survey this year that linked stress over the current recession to more smokers increasing the number of cigarettes smoked – and those who had quit returning to their old habit.

Another recent study published in the journal Physiology and Behavior showed a link between high stress and over-eating.

“When there’s a bad economy, that’s just one more reason people who are addicted will say, ‘I’m too stressed to stop now.’ But there’s never a good excuse for it,” Allan said.

“If you’ve already quit an addiction, then just recognizing that hard times will tempt you is the first step. The second step is to take proactive steps that will stop you from returning to your old addictions,” she said. “The good news for those who have already quit is that they have that same inner strength that can help them stay addiction-free. When times are tough, it’s time to call on that inner strength.”

I Quit! Cigarettes, Candy Bars & Booze is available at bookstores, Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Barnes&Noble.com.

For more information about the book, "I Quit! Cigarettes, Candy Bars & Booze," contact Linda Joy Allan at (805) 705-4784 or by e-mail at LindaJoyAllan@aol.com.