DuPage author tells story of 'Addiction to Redemption'

DuPage County author Thom Wilder will mark the release of his new book, "One More Trip: Jon Wayne's Journey from Addiction to Redemption," during a Dec. 14 appearance in Chicago.

Wilder will sign copies of the book, which tells the story of musician Jon Wayne's struggles with addiction and sobriety, at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, at Reggie's Rock Club, 2105 South State St.

With "One More Trip," Wilder seeks to peel back the layers of addiction and sobriety to ask the most important question: Why?

As Wayne's music career was taking off in the summer of 2008, his life was falling apart. Homeless and begging on the streets, he was addicted to heroin, cocaine, alcohol and other drugs.

He overdosed three times that summer before embarking on his seventh trip to rehab. As he began his newfound sobriety, he finally understood that getting clean had to work because it was no longer a choice of whether or not to get high; it was a choice of life and death.

"One More Trip" is one man's story of survival and redemption set against the backdrop of a nonstop music career in a drug-prone work zone in which Wilder tells the tale of Wayne's moment of truth in overcoming addiction, changing his life, correcting his mistakes and making amends.

Following the book signing, Wayne will perform with his band, Jon Wayne and the Pain. The blues/roots rock fusion band Frequilibrium will open the show.

"One More Trip" is available from Dog Ear Publishing for $19.95 through Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com and select bookstores.