Dianne Sangster
Author & Poet
Kickstarter Success!
Kickstarter campaign - 8pm Sunday 17 November to 8pm Sunday 8 December 2024 (times in UTC)
I am thrilled to have reached my Kickstarter target! Thank you to all my generous Flutterers, my book is on course for publication this year.
I am hoping the book can help someone, perhaps many, maybe you, identify the puzzling problem of gambling addiction which still seems lesser known than other addictions.
Please join my mailing list if you would like updates on the book's progress.
Thank you.
Dianne Sangster
Dianne Sangster is an artist and writer who has been a community worker and teacher. Born in Melbourne, she lived in West London most of her adult life until moving to Frome, Somerset, seven years ago. She walks everywhere and is pleased to be dancing and body pumping at an age that would astonish Shakespeare.
She has poems and stories in anthologies and collaborated on Feathers in My Path, a book of poems and drawings with award-winning artist David Daniels. Flutter is her first full-length work.
Flutter
A story of love, hope, and recovery.
For him, gambling was more than a flutter, it stole his life
Roulette!
I had come home.
I never wanted to leave.
'I've written a book called Flutter about how I fell in love with a secret gambler and our journey to be free of that addiction. I've recreated Tony's voice from his diaries and notes, and my memories of him, so the story has two points of view.
For Tony, gambling was more than a flutter, it was his life. But we sought help and learned how important other people are on the road to recovery. We were happily married for thirty-four years.
Ours is just one story, but compulsive gambling affects thousands of people every day. It's a difficult problem to pin down as it has no obvious physical symptoms.
It's horrible living with an addict and not having a clue what's going on.
I feel this book could help someone, perhaps you, perhaps someone you know, to identify the problem of addiction, and be able to seek help.
It's not just about gambling, we face challenges and joys that may be just like some of yours. No one can escape loss and grief, and I write about that too.
Readers have said that I write with a light touch, and there is laughter and love and fun.
Update 7 June 2025
Great news!
‘Flutter’ is now available for sale in bookshops and online, in paperback and on kindle.
Available at the usual outlets, including Blackwells, Waterstones and Amazon
The Australian newspaper on Saturday 19th July had a whole-page extract of Flutter by the literary editor, Caroline Overington.
I will put it here when I work out how. Do look it up online.
It’s all very exciting, and hopefully may result in a few people getting help for the gambling problem in their families or friendship groups.
I can never thank you all enough for enabling this to happen! THANK YOU, with all my heart.
Dianne
Update 10 May 2025
I am pleased to reveal the final cover, below!
Dianne Sangster
Update 15 April 2025
It's difficult to predict how long final preparations for a book will take. However I am excited to announce the official publication date for 'Flutter' is June 5th 2025. I will post a copy to those Kickstarter Flutterers who requested it during that week. It will be generally available from bookshops and Amazon from that date.
Update November 2024
Due to the wonderful generosity of my Kickstarter supporters, in December I reached my crowdfunding target, and Flutter is now published and available.n early this year. Thanks so much to all kind 'Flutterers.' Literally, it couldn't have happened without you!
Reviews
Just fabulous. A close-up, beautiful, raw and joyful account of life as it is really lived, through feelings; delight, grief and, most of all, love. Dianne is a poet and artist and the writing is visual and beautiful. While telling of their life together, she allows Tony to trace his journey through his gambling addiction to recovery, and eye-opening story which spares nothing and ends with great positivity as Tony goes on to help other gamblers. I keenly felt Dianne’s innate love of people and her creativity in art, her nurturing of extended family and many friendships – and her devastating loss when Tony dies. And even then, there is beauty and hope. A truly moving book.
Frances Liardet - Author
WE MUST BE BRAVE &
THINK OF ME
I can only say how much reading your book Flutter spoke to me. It sometimes brought me to tears. Pete was a fruit machine gambler, but the traits of lying and so on were just as prevalent. It’s written in a way that’s easy to read and will help people realize that gambling can be overcome by going to GA and Gam-Anon and that people can find a new life together with love.
Jill C - Gam-Anon member
Fascinating. Style is light and easy to read.
Brian O'Reilly
EDUCATOR
Flutter is a memoir of a life well-lived and a recovery journey that touched many hearts and minds. Dianne’s tribute to her husband Tony, Gamblers Anonymous and the twelve-step recovery programme beautifully showcases the energy and warmth that must have radiated from her husband during his many years of dedicated service to his fellowship. I hope this story of how Tony and Dianne recovered from co-dependency and gambling addiction finds its way into the hands of the people who need it most.
I am deeply touched to realise that by writing it, Dianne is enabling Tony’s legacy of service to his beloved fellowship to continue from beyond the grave. We twelve-steppers stand on the shoulders of giants who have gone before us, and we owe it to them to keep passing it on.
Flutter is a fitting tribute to the memory of Tony, the fellowship of Gamblers Anonymous and the power of the twelve-step programme. It is also an important piece of UK recovery history and especially the history of Gamblers Anonymous and Gam-Anon which ought to be preserved for posterity. I am grateful to Dianne for her service in writing it.
Dr Samantha Duggan
CHAIR OF ALL PARTY PARLIMENTARY GROUP ON TWELVE-STEP FELLOWSHIPS, CO-FOUNDER VISIBLE RECOVERY
More Flutter reviews:
A beautiful book – evocative, poetic and deeply moving. By weaving together the hard-won lessons of Gamblers Anonymous with intimate stories of life with her beloved Tony, the author offers a resource that will help many. This is a powerful tribute to love, resilience, and the challenging journey through problem gambling.
Sandra Parker, PhD. Psychologist, and author of Embracing Unrest.
Read it in two sittings. I could hear the love and honesty in your voice on every page.
Bob
I found Flutter a moving and life-affirming read. Some of the scenes were conjured up so vividly – I almost felt I was there at the funeral. I enjoyed references to places I know too – Barnes Wetlands Centre which my mum used to visit, Kew where my friend works, Corrour where I’ve stayed at the YHA by the Loch and Lymington where I lived for a couple of years. A lovely book.
Nat
I read your book in twenty-four hours. It was instantly accessible and immediately drew me in. It felt like a privilege to be allowed to share your story, told with such honesty and vulnerability. I was moved to tears at your description of Tony’s suffering and last days – it triggered my own memories of losing family and friends. Your poems were lovely to read. It’s a wonderful tribute to Tony.
Bridget
I’ve just read Flutter in one sitting! What a love story shines through the book and demonstrates how you can recover from gambling addiction and co-dependency if you seek help, especially support from GA and Gam-Anon. Your very honest account will give hope to many. It also has a mighty ripple effect on those like me who were involved with a gambler.
Angela
A gem of a book, beautifully written by the wife of a compulsive gambler who saved him from a terrible addiction. A true love story with many tears and heartaches and laughter along the way.
Kay
This book is a must-read for everyone, not just those affected by gambling. It is moving, honest, a really heartfelt story which will move you to tears, have you laughing and is thought-provoking. Highly recommended.
Sarah Spencer Chapman
I have just finished Flutter by Dianne Sangster. It was an excellent book; very moving and thoughtful. It’s not just a portrayal of the conflict and tension of living with a secret gambler; it outlines everyday moments, triumphs, sadness, joys and in between. Highly recommend.
Eleanor Talbot
I read Flutter in 24 hours – it was instantly accessible and immediately drew me in. It felt like a privilege to be allowed to share your story, told with such honesty and vulnerability. Your lack of self-pity or victimhood is laudable. Your poems were lovely to read. I was moved to tears at your description of his suffering and last days. Tony sounds like a wonderful man, and it’s a wonderful tribute to him.
Bridget