Dear James, I bought 6 copies.

I thought the writing was pretty good, especially when I belived it was born of real wounds.

I'm a pastor and a former drunk. I bought six copies of your book to give to various guys I meet with who are only sober for days at a time and who haven't (so far) been able to make the 12 Steps work for them. They loved your book, too. It gave them hope.

And that's why this whole episode is so sad. I'm guessing that those who have given you a pass on your charade are not those who are dealing with real addictions, personally or otherwise. They do not know how destructive false hope can be- how it can be seized on by the addict with a "Fuck it all, then..point me to the bar."

I've apologized to all of those who I gave the book to. I've apologized profusely, because now I have added to their already enormous bag of excuses for "not trying." I hope I can regain the level of trust with them that I had.

I do hope the sobriety part of your story is true. But since I now doubt your addiction story itself, then I may just be wasting more of my time even doing that. I don't want any money back, but if you can figure out a way to give me back some credibility, with guys who are starving for it, let me know..

Twelve years, three months, and counting,

David Weber

* Send letters for James to jamesfreyowesmemoney@gmail.com.