My background is that I am a wife, mother, sister, daughter and friend.  I grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania, not far from Pittsburgh.  I then lived in Maryland for 20 years before moving to Richmond, Va where I currently live with my husband and my two sons, ages 14 and 16.   My motivation for writing this book is that someone very close to me became a gambling addict.  When I learned about it, I realized that gambling is addiction is not something that you hear much about, which is why I call it the Silent Addiction.  There's not a lot of information out there and I thought that even though the book is fictional that it might help someone understand a little more about gambling addiction.  It's such an emotional and trying time for all involved.   I'm hoping that this book will touch people in such a way that it will heighten gambling addiction awareness.