I have been persuaded that the story of how the book arrived might be of interest, and perhaps of inspiration to others.

For years I have wanted to write a book about the road of recovery - believing that I had something to say. But no matter how often I started the book it did not work the way I wanted it to. Mind you if I had spent less time dreaming about what I was going to say to Parkinson when interviewed about the book and more time putting words on paper the result might have been different!

For years also I have had in my sub-conscious a belief that poetry had something to say - but somehow no matter how often I read poetry it always passed me by.

Then in late 2004, for reasons which now escape me, I bought a poetry book - Staying Alive, an anthology of contemporary poetry edited by Neil Astley. In that book I found poems which spoke to me directly - in particular two by Mary Oliver - but lots of others as well.

I became a voracious reader of poetry - encouraged and abetted by a close friend who discovered poetry at the same time. We read poetry to each other, we recommended books to each other and fed off each other's joy at the discovery of poetry.

I started to write poetry. The first poem I wrote in earnest was written on 3rd February 2005. It is in the book, but which one it is you will just have to try to work out for yourself.

I joined various poetry groups, got involved with the poetry scene and the more involved I got and the more poetry I read the more I learned.

I started to use poetry in the work that I do - first other people's poetry and then my own. I began to realise that the poetry I wrote had something to say to other people as well as myself.

Then in November 2005 it was suggested to me that I could publish a book and as I considered that suggestion it suddenly became clear to me that the book I had for so long wanted to write was there in the poetry.

That synchronicity was only the start - it has continued in the people I have met when I have needed them and the opportunities which have opened up when I have looked for them.

I am kind of aware that that level of synchronicity has probably always been present in my life - the joy is that I am now awake enough to notice.

David