Blake was a beautiful, energetic young woman with green eyes, a fit, surfy body, and the kind of charm that made people believe she could achieve anything. But beneath the surface, she struggled with untreated ADHD and anxiety, invisible burdens that would shape a life marked by rebellion, chaos, and addiction. From her early exposure to marijuana to heavier substances, and through years of volatile relationships, theft, and brushes with the law, Blake's story is a raw, unflinching look at how untreated mental health challenges can spiral into a life of self-destruction.
Her family fought tirelessly to save her, navigating hospitalizations, rehab attempts, and endless confrontations, only to watch her repeatedly spiral back into drugs, alcohol, and psychosis. Yet, amidst the chaos, Blake discovered glimpses of purpose through martial arts, self-defence coaching, and moments of discipline small lights in a long, dark tunnel.
Everyday Addictions: Breaking Free from What Holds You Back tells Blake's story with honesty, empathy, and human insight. It is a story of pain, resilience, and the far-reaching consequences of addiction not just on the individual, but on those who love them. Her journey is a stark reminder that recovery is possible, even when the path seems impossibly dark, and that hope, structure, and accountability can offer a way back from the brink.
Everyday Addictions: Breaking Free from What Holds You Back takes you inside Blake's world raw, unflinching, and deeply human. You'll witness her struggles, her violent outbursts, her moments of brilliance in martial arts and self-defence, and the devastating consequences of addiction on everyone around her. This is not just a story of substance abuse; it's a story of mental health, resilience, and the complex interplay of choices, trauma, and love.
Through heartbreak, chaos, and repeated setbacks, Blake's journey is a stark reminder that recovery is possible but never easy. For anyone affected by addiction, whether personally or through a loved one, this book offers insight, empathy, and hope that even the darkest paths can eventually lead toward healing.
Bryce, Marie: -
Marie Bryce is an author, researcher, and storyteller who brings everyday experiences to life, uncovering the lessons hidden in ordinary moments. With a background in coaching and neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), she transforms real stories into insights on personal growth, leadership, and emotional intelligence.
Her writing grew out of conversations, classrooms, and community spaces listening to people whose quiet courage often goes unnoticed. From these stories, she creates narrative nonfiction that is practical, heartfelt, and deeply human, showing how emotional courage and thoughtful leadership live in the moments we sometimes overlook.
Through her work, Marie invites readers to see the extraordinary in the everyday, and to discover tools for growth, connection, and self-awareness in the stories around them.
Brycw, Marie: -
Marie Bryce is an author, researcher, and story curator whose work bridges personal growth, leadership, and emotional intelligence through the power of everyday narrative. With a background in coaching and neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), she has built a distinctive career transforming real-life experiences into actionable, heart-led learning tools.
Her writing journey began not in a publishing house, but in community centres, classrooms, and quiet conversations with change-makers who didn't realize they were leading. Marie's first works emerged from her coaching sessions, handcrafted workbooks, reflection pages, and training guides that distilled complex concepts like strategic vision, servant leadership, and democratic decision-making into simple, relatable stories. Her mission: to make leadership feel human again.
Over time, Marie cultivated a deep practice of story-based research. She sat with nurses, teachers, parents, coordinators, and community leaders listening, noting, and pulling forward the invisible moments of emotional courage that rarely make it into textbooks. These became the roots of her signature author approach: narrative nonfiction with a practical soul.
Marie's storytelling style is grounded in:
- Emotional clarity: She writes characters that mirror real struggles burnout, self-doubt, quiet acts of courage and offers gentle insight through their choices.
- Practical transformation: Her books don't just inspire; they guide. Every story is followed by workbooks, EQ reflections, ripple maps, and leadership tools that readers can use immediately.
- Real-world research: Every leadership archetype from servant to strategic is informed by documented stories, interviews, and on-the-ground exploration.
