Patrick A. Roland

A new voice in self-help, author Patrick A. Roland, in partnership with Az Publishing Services, has released his new memoir about grief and recovery, Unpacked Sparkle, now available on Amazon.

Unpacked Sparkle chronicles Roland's transformative journey upon finding his partner Pack dead in January 2014. It begins on the day of the funeral that he was uninvited to by Pack's homophobic family and details the nearly two year journey back to a now thriving, joy-filled life he experienced after attempting to jump out of a twenty-six story Vegas casino after a weekend of intended Britney Spears and Mariah Carey concerts that he mostly missed in the throes of grief and addiction. He was instead hospitalized there after his mother miraculously found him. There, he began to take the vital steps necessary to take back control over his life.

The book discusses addiction and the recovery from it, grief and the journey to acceptance that ensued, the family dynamics and DNA that resulted in a live-saving bi-polar diagnosis, and the importance of civil rights and marriage equality. This miraculous journey is threaded together by a tapestry of amazing friends who helped him find his way back to happiness, as well as signs from beyond that his partner is still with him spiritually, even though his body is not.

As a result of his experiences, the now-thriving Roland continuously puts his hand out to others in search of their own sparkle by leading 12-step panel meetings, attending and leading recovery-based convention and committee meetings, sharing his story at meetings and events, doing outreach to the homeless and pulling people out of drug houses and helping them become sober.

Phoenix-native Roland is an award-winning journalist, author and editor with 21 years of mainstream media, specialty publication, corporate and public relations experience. He celebrates his status as a bi-polar, drug addict, alcoholic, widow because he is sober, happy and healthy. He hopes that by sharing his experience and strength with readers, they will find hope. He believes everyone deserves to sparkle. Let's take this journey together so you can unpack yours.

For more information, visit www.unpackedsparkle.com. To reach the author for interviews or appearances, write patrick@unpackedsparkle.com.