Did you know I have a book?
“Sorry, Not Dead Yet!” tells the empowering story of Sven Paardekooper, a young Dutch immigrant living in Los Angeles. Seemingly well on his way to the pursuit of his own happiness, he gets stopped dead in his tracks with a devastating diagnosis. What follows is the chronicled loss of his identity, place in life and self worth. We bare witness as his life falls into despair, drug addiction and abandonment by his family and friends. We watch him rebuild himself, understand his lessons and rejoice as he conquers his demons and defies the odds. Written in the form of “editorials,” Sven is blatantly honest as he takes the reader on his journey through the good, the bad, the funny and the ugly parts of life. We read as Sven finds strength and survival in the unlikeliest of places and stand with him when, in the end, he stares down his fiercest demons and loudest naysayers and proudly proclaims: “Sorry, Not Dead Yet!”
Available for KINDLE at AMAZON.COM as well as ITUNES.
“Sorry, Not Dead Yet!” can be ordered directly at:
http://store1.creativehousepress.com/sorrynotdeadyet.aspx
And also now on Facebook.
My Name is Sven
I read the book and I found it quite wonderful, powerful, candid, and empowering. I can already think of several people I work with that would benefit from reading this. I plan on lending out the copy I have!
Hello:
I manage a recovery community for HIV positive chemically dependent adults. Just wanted to let you know how wonderfully relevant your book is. Thanks for opening your heart and mind. This helps other.
Bob Keck
Caracole recovery community
Cincinnati Ohio
A brave and inspiring book written from the heart. As a HIV+ man myself I found solace in Sven’s writing and this is a book I will return to. I identified with many of the themes here such as addiction,betrayal,loneliness,friendship, the self-destruction that is so endemic in the HIV+ community and the search for meaning and purpose. Thank you Sven and good luck with your journey.
Against All Odds
I am glad Sven Paardekooper wrote this book and glad I read it. After total rejection and betrayal from family, friends and from himself, the author takes us on a trip through hell. Depression, an addiction to crystal meth, an out of control sex life. What makes it possible for one person to find his path through the darkest labyrinth while so many others lose their way forever? In this case, his writing as much as anything sees him through, for it was his journal of this harrowing journey that helps bring him out into the light. That and his humor, sometimes just hilarious and other times mordant. And of course there is an element of mysterious grace, unearned blessings, that we can all receive if we are open. I say mysterious for who can understand why some are open to that blessing and others can’t seem to be?
The book is written as a journal, or “editorials” as the author likes to put it, to unnamed friends, and to us, his new friends, the unnamed readers who must become his friends as we read. Of course, we know how the book turns out for he has written “Sorry, Not Dead Yet.” Still, we are pulling for him as he goes through his living nightmare for basically he is a compassionate, sensitive and loving man. One who battled some tough starts in life to come out stronger and better in every way.
Don’t be put off by a few unique phrases and word choices and the occasional error in grammar or vocabulary. These are not the result of sloppiness or laziness. The author has a remarkable command of English for one whose native language is Dutch and who came to the US as an adult. These different ways of expressing himself add an extra element of charm to what could be a very depressing read. That and the irrepressible humor, even in the darkest night, will see you through. Like me, you will feel that you have found a new friend when you close the book. And you will want to change the title to “Thank all Goodness, he is alive and well.”