I SAY A PRAYER FOR ME: One Woman's Life of Faith and Triumph

One Sunday afternoon in the 1980s, Anderson locked herself in her deserted office suite, prepared some heroin and, after searching 10 minutes for a usable vein, injected herself. Three days later she awoke in intensive care, recovering from an accidental overdose. A co-worker had found Anderson's nearly lifeless body and called 911. Though grateful for rescue, Anderson was hopelessly addicted. Even before leaving the hospital she was using drugs again, despite signing herself into the psychiatric ward for help. Today Anderson, clean for 17 years, is an author (12-Step Programs: A Resource Guide for Helping Professionals) and motivational speaker who credits God, a treatment program, AA and a circle of caring friends for her recovery and for the subsequent fulfillment of her deepest aspirations. Each of the more than 40 chapters in this book tells a gripping personal story, alternating devastating experiences of rape, abuse and failed relationships with inspirational accounts of miracles, forgiveness, successes and tough love. Following each story is a brief spiritual application, a prayer and a quotation from the Bible. Combining African-American preaching cadences and King James phrasing with a novelist's ear for dialogue, Anderson's stories bring to life her conviction that "when we ask God for a dream or a vision for our lives, our prayers will not only be answered with tailor-made dreams prepared in advance for us; but we will also be given absolutely everything that we need to realize the dream." (Nov. 19)