“Twelve Steps” by Veronica Bartles is a book of fiction about a woman who goes on a journey to overcome her addiction. It is a very emotional book, so if you are reading it you may shed a tear or two along the way. It is the story of a woman named Cole who suffered from a drug addiction for 15 years. Her addiction started after she had a miscarriage and a stillbirth, and after the death of her husband. She was diagnosed with major depression and mild anxiety. She had many years of therapy but she still couldn’t deal with her addiction. Her therapist told her about the 12-step method that might be able to help her. At first she was very against it, but she was willing to try anything
What makes this book unique is that Veronica F. (“Veronica”) Bartles—the only child of Bill W. and Dr. Bob—knows intimately the story from many angles. Her perspective combines her own intimate knowledge of the events and people involved in the birth of the Twelve Steps, as well as her unique relationship to the author of the Steps, her father Bill W. She was present at the first meeting of AA in 1935 and has been in recovery for over sixty years.
Editorial Reviews
Review
“With her debut novel, Veronica Bartles creates a fun, fast-paced storyabout a feisty heroine whose plan to steal her oh-so-perfect sister’sspotlight leads to a messy love triangle … no, love pentagon. TWELVESTEPS will have you cheering when Cinderella finds her backbone, PrinceCharming learns that not every stepsister wants his glass slipper, andthe heroine realizes she’s been shining in her own light all along.”Laura Bowers, Author of BEAUTY SHOP FOR RENT and JUST FLIRT
“Smart and funny, Twelve Steps perfectly captures the gut-wrenching joyand supreme mortification of unrequited love. Authentic and *ohso* relatable, Bartles hits it out of the park with her debut! Foranyone who’s ever felt second best, or struggled to find their place inthe world, this book is for you! Grab the chocolate, turn off the phone,and prepare to ride the roller coaster of Andi’s life as it unfolds,page after humor filled page. This is contemporary romance done right!”–Rachel Harris, New York Times Bestselling Author of THE FINE ART OF PRETENDING
About the Author
Veronica Bartles is the author of TWELVE STEPS and the upcoming picture book, THE PRINCESS AND THE FROGS (coming November 15, 2016 from Balzer & Bray / Harper Collins). She’s an incurable optimist who loves gray, drizzly days, because that’s when rainbows come to visit. Veronica is represented by Jessica Sinsheimer (Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency, LLC), and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and the OneFour KidLit group. She’s been a mentor in Pitch Wars (both for MG and YA) for the past three years, and she hosts the #PubTalkTV Twitter Party.