Dianne Sangster
Author & Poet
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 was 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.
Early readers have said that I write with a light touch, and there is laughter and love and fun.
Update November 2024
Due to the wonderful generosity of my Kickstarter supporters, in December I reached my crowdfunding target, and Flutter is heading for publication early this year. Thanks so much to all kind 'Flutterers.' Literally, it couldn't have happened without you!
Update April 15 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.
Dianne Sangster
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
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