Patty Steele’s The Gift of Second Chances is a painful and heartfelt story that will touch all affected by alcoholism and addiction. Steele’s memoir is a story of addiction, recovery and renewed hope.

Patty’s drinking began socially and progressed into a powerful addiction gaining control of her adult world. As an addict she drank to medicate the pain of life, desperately trying to numb feelings of shame and defeat.

“I hope by disclosing my personal dysfunction, my mental malady, during and after my active drinking days, that I can put in simple words the experience of addiction,” Steele says. “I hope my story will benefit addicts, loved ones and all affected by addiction.”

Steele was responsible for a car accident that took the life of the driver when she was 48. She was sentenced to seven years in prison. “Because of me, a man lost his life,” Steele says. “I cannot change what happened, but I can go forward honoring his life by sharing the painful and shameful truth of my experience.”

Steele eventually achieved recovery with the support of family and friends, and after prison, she finished college and interned for three years at Addiction Treatment Services in Traverse City. Steele is a state-certified drug and alcohol counselor. She remains active in the recovery community by attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, sponsoring and sharing her experience and hope. Patty speaks publicly of her personal involvement with active addiction along with her road to recovery. She gave a TED Talk on her experience at the 2017 Traverse City TEDx. Her talk can be seen here.

“This book could only have been written by an addict who has walked the walk through the labyrinth of addiction, recovery, relapse, the criminal justice system and the horrors and humiliation of prison,” says Michael J. Haley, retired 86th District Court judge, of Traverse City. “This book itself is a gift to any of us who want some understanding of the inner conflict and outer chaos that marks the life of an alcoholic. For her crime, Patty enters prison as the victim, full of guilt and shame, and emerges as the victor, uniquely equipped to share her experience for the benefit of any of us whose life has been touched by the behavior of an addict.”

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book will go to Addiction Treatment Services of Traverse City. The book is published by Mission Point Press of Traverse City.

The book launch is scheduled for Saturday, September 7 at 3 p.m. at Kensington Church (6880 Secor Rd., Traverse City).

Upcoming appearances:

Rethinking Addiction/Supporting Recovery Conference – Book Signing
The Park Place Hotel
300 E. State St., Traverse City
Thursday, Aug. 22, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Families Against Narcotics (FAN)
Central United Methodist Church – Speaking Engagement
222 Cass St., Traverse City
Thursday, Sept. 5, 6:30 p.m.

Book Launch/Book Signing
Kensington Church
6880 Secor Rd., Traverse City
Saturday, Sept. 7, 3 p.m.