Today, we have author and poet Jeff Vande Zande with us in the studio Welcome to the Recovered Podcast studio. Jeff, I’m going to have Anna introduce you to our listeners. Anna take it from here Introduction Jeff Vande Zande teaches fiction and screenwriting at Delta College. His books include the novel Into the Desperate Country , the novel Landscape with Fragmented Figures and Threatened Species and Other Stories. His novel American Poet won a Michigan Notable Book Award from the Library of Michigan. In May of 2016, Jeff’s most recent novel was released, Detroit Muscle, which was influenced by Vande Zande’s screenwriting knowledge. He maintains a website at www.jeffvandezande.com. That link will be in the show notes Call us at 1-734-288-7510 or tap Speakpipe Join the Chat Room, Tap Live stream and Chat Room email at mark@recoveredcast.com Subscribe to Premium Get daily recovery messages Daily AA Emails.   Jeff welcome to the Recovered Studio In preparation for this interview, Jeff, I asked our audience about whether they ever wanted to be a writer like you. Guess what percentage of our audience have literary aspirations. https://www.surveymonkey.com/analyze/SNWwnxkqRtM6hnOeGeB3lWE_2FMFah_2F3L3HNY5hcwPJcA_3D As you know Jeff, the Recovered Podcast is intended to be a support for those of us in 12-step recovery program. Do you know anyone who had struggled with addiction? Are you in recovery? Your new book is Titled “Detroit Muscle”. Here is a brief summary of your book, Jeff. The main character Robby Cooper is an addict just out of rehab, Robby has debts to pay Robby has a pregnant ex-girlfriend. Robby is like everyone in early recovery, he has problems. During this stage of Robby’s early recovery, his grandfather Otto invites him on a fly fishing road trip to northern Michigan. Robby begins to understand how his family’s dysfunction spans generations… Jeff, I think the question is, can Robby break this cycle? Jeff, this book is ultimately a book of hope which sets it apart from other fiction recovery novels I have read. Anna says, “Why did you write the book?” But tell us about your characters, the setting you chose, and most interestingly, the literary style you designed. You are a poet, and that is evident in the novel. I’d like to read a portion…. (the part about Robby’s feet planted in the stream bed and the description up his body to the fish at the end of the line. Trust me, I’ll have the text in front of me). Tell us about this short poem. Do we ever know how old Robbie is? Robby drinks in the story, why? Why does Robby keep his drug of choice with him? Robby’s mom is classic codependent, was this intentional? What is the point of the woman at the cemetery with the other mourners and Robbie talking on the phone with Tiffany? Tell us about Robby’s dad and his Dad’s brothers. Interesting That Robbie's dad, the good one according to grandpa Otto, is the one that committed suicide. The two uncles are so different, yet agree about their father Otto, tell us more about these characters. The fishing destination Grand Marais, Michigan? What is the significance of this location? Your description of the local landscape was meticulous. You even got the details on the Mackinaw Bridge right in regards to the center lanes being steel grating. Tell us more about your home state. The act of Robby making amends is a big part of the beginning of the book. What do you know about the 9th step of recovery? Many say the amends step is the most difficult step in recovery, tell us about Robby’s experience of making amends. Why was it important for Robby to make these amends? Looks like Otto's apology is more about hearing them forgive him than truly apologizing. P 142 There is a saying in recovery to “Do the next right thing.” It seems to me that Robby is living this code. What are your thoughts, does this work for Robby? Interesting, the similarities between Robby’s and Otto’s addictions, such