Fixed: Dope sacks, dye packs, and the long welcome back

by Doug Piotter

Fixed: dope sacks, dye packs and the long welcome back Is a darkly comedic memoir that spans my unsupervised youth, drug and alcohol addiction, bank robbery, life in prison and ultimately my release and re-entry into my life's new and sober orbit.

With the perspective gained from more than two decades of sobriety, I give an accounting of my debauched life with humor and irreverence.

I grew up with alcoholic parents trapped inside their own lonely skins, a painful childhood full of cold shoulders and broken furniture. I burst onto the drug scene at age eleven and thrived before slowly finding out that it wasn't all that it was cracked up to be. With addiction taking over and dictating my every move, I tried to make sense of it all while gathering five unwanted felonies along the way.

At thirty-three, after a long string of bank robberies and my bad guy impersonation had run its course, I was brought back to life with the gift of prison and given the opportunity to experience a new childhood that I could have only imagined while growing up in Manville. Upon release, I learned that the universe is a kind and forgiving place, often strange and funny with plenty for everyone as long as I don't forget where I came from.

Genres: Memoir

320 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2015

About the author

My first book, Fixed: Dope Sacks, Dye Packs, and the Long Welcome Back, received a Kirkus Reviews starred review, was included in the list of Kirkus’s best books of 2016. I’ve since moved to Paris where I work as a carpenter, play drums and write. I have completed three novels—including Shaving in the Dark—shortlisted for the 2023 Leapfrog Press and Can of Worms Press Global Fiction Prize. I’ve also completed a non-fiction project, titled: Paris Calling, what it takes to pull up stakes.

Reviews

[Sage Adderley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doug Piotter has written a memoir about his addiction, a sprint of bank robberies, and recovery. I like how clear his writer's voice comes through his story, especially his humor. He is able to discuss a rocky childhood and early drug addiction with brutal honesty and a few jokes. The love he has for his mother and siblings is evident. After numerous bank robberies he is busted and hauled off to serve 115 months in prison. The bulk of this memoir is about his prison life and stories about the other prisoners. Piotter keeps it real when talking about post-prison life and acclimating back into society. I found this to be an interesting read and recommend it to those who enjoy a good memoir.

[Roooy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating read

This guy sent himself to Hell thankfully he saw light and realized life is a precious gift not to be wasted. Well written easy read and quite funny too. Good luck to you Doug. Welcome back!.

[carlo]

Very touching memoir. Feels like it came at just the right time for me since I’m 20 and I’m starting to think about all the people I’ve known for a short period of time but still made a huge impact on me and wonder where they are in life (a list that I assume gets longer as you grow old).

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uplifting and humorous!

Really loved his style of writing! Laughed out loud a lot! Very relatable!! Its a feel good book with a great ending. Really enjoyed it.

[Kathy Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The journey to prison and back. Highly recommended look at overcoming a life of addiction, time in prison and the creation of a new life.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars. A pointedly witty book about intravenous drug use and the rebound after. I got this book as a goodreads giveaway. I would like to thank the author for giving me an copy. I some how was mistaken and thought that this would be a book about how the criminal justice system was flawed. I was wrong. It was a book about how the author spent ten plus years "fixed" as a a junky and is now "fixed" as a real person. With much humor he sharply describes is years of needle use. Colorful language then describes the drabness of prison life. Then those two styles of writing are merged in to an fresh breath of clean air to describe his life now out side leading an normal "fixed" life. As a six year veteran criminal defense attorney I have consoled many a family member who lost a loved one into the abyss that is drug use. I have encouraged a many a young person to get clean before they end up where Doug did. This book was pleasantly devoid of blame, and woe-is-me that is typical of heavy drug users who can not come to grips with their own illness. You owe it to yourself to read this arrestingly funny tale of one mans metamorphosis from caterpillar to moth. You owe it to yourself to get "Fixed."

[Devon H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Piotter certainly has lived a whirlwind of a life. He seems to be doing well for himself as a recovering addict ex-convict with his wife, job, and dog. It's certainly wonderful that he's been given the chance to redeem himself after he scorned that chance time and time again.

His memoir shows his life through an objective lens while he interjects with what he learned along the way.

However, I found the flow of the story very difficult to navigate. The book was comprised of seventy-seven chapters, and each was a short narrative about an event in his life. Perhaps because these were written in a short story style, each story did not necessarily relate to the story before or after it. Additionally some of the sentences were choppy and the word choice proved difficult to follow.

That being said, the moral of the story was a prevalent theme, and Piotter presents that to his readers effectively. He challenges the idea that people can't change, and is constantly willing to give people a second chance, including himself. It is miraculous to me how accepting his whole family seems to be.

I love the way he talks about his dogs. Doug Piotter says, "One of my most haunting regrets was that I gave away my dog Tork. As a living amends, I rescued Zinc, just like my wife had done for me. We've both never had it so good." Again, Piotter seeks to give others the second (or third or fourth) chance that he was given. It's apparent that no matter how many times people do things wrong, they deserve the chance to redeem themselves and still have it within themselves to change.

I received a copy of this book from Sage's Blog Tours for an honest review.

You can read more of my reviews at https://showthisbooksomelovewordpress...

[Kendra Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can almost see Doug Piotter telling these stories dead-pan style. It is what it is: It was what it was: I'm much happier where I am than where I was. And always remember: This, too, shall pass.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book in the morning and kept reading throughout the day I was so engrossed I just could not put it down.

It’s graphic, sad, shocking, gripping, humorous and an absolute gem in human strength & emotion.

Doug had a difficult childhood to say the least & went off the tracks before he even knew what the tracks were almost .. the whole story is told as it happened, no cosy nice bits it includes all the shit he endured, whether that was self-inflicted or not. His rapid decline through the drugs, crimes, prison situation .. it is certainly an eye opener & so very brave of him to put it all out there.

If it had just been an account of what happened it could have become tedious but during this journey Doug learns from his mistakes, matures, realises life is short & a blessing & begins to give back to society. Even thought some of the things he did were awful & I can’t condone his behaviour I never once thought he was a ‘horrible’ person. He tells the tale with such sincerity I was almost in tears at times .. the fact he loves Zinc (his dog) so much nearly broke me!

This is more than a book, this is a man’s life once broken but now FIXED & a testament to his courage & will to survive. If I could give it more than 5 out of 5 stars I would without any hesitation. Thank you for shedding hope on us all.

Thanks to the author & Sage’s Blog Tours for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest review.

[James Hollomon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gritty, honest look into the life of a junkie following his downward spiral from abused and rebellious youth through the depths of hell in a haze of alcohol, cocaine, and finally crack, heroin and meth shooting galleries, serial crime rising to bank robbery, and escalating brushes with the law till 115 months in a federal prison help him sober up and turn his life around. This is an intensely personal, honest memoir. It's a book any kid contemplating drugs and alcohol as an escape from a painful youth would do themselves a great favor to read. Doug Piotter tells is stark, graphic terms just how degrading a life as a junkie can get. I want to thank him for having the courage to lay his heart open as this autobiography does. If you know someone at risk of sliding into addiction and a way of escaping reality, recommend it as reading. You just might save their life.

[Bradley Knox · Rating 5 out of 5]

FIXED is a gritty memoir about the cycle of addiction, plain and simple. This is a fantastic exploration into the mind and drug-crazed activities of an addict, from the beginning: serious family dysfunction, poverty, and heredity. I relate to this book deeply on a personal level as my own life has made very many parallel twists and turns in a location quite a ways to the south of Mr. Piotter’s Seattle locale. He exhaustively explores the demons in his own psyche, and is painfully honest about his actions, the resulting penalties for his actions, and ultimately, his recovery. I don’t think I’m being a spoiler here as this book would never have been written had it not been for Doug’s ability to recover. I loved this book, and encourage everyone to read it! A spectacular book of CHANGE. Yes, it is possible. Thank you, Doug. Five stars.

[Michele Layacan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Doug

Doug Piotter's narrative of his life experiences of dysfunction, addiction ,crime and prison life was at times harrowing and at times touching and humorous.
He pulled no punches and with raw honesty told his story of surviving the depths of chronic addiction and everything that comes along for the ride to his present life of recovery and self awareness.
Doug! For reasons I won't share here your story has given hope. I am a long time friend of Vicki's and just want to say thanks and best wishes to you both!

[Irene Moyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow great

Funny, profound, no ing, sad... I could add more adjectives. I picked this up thinking to read a few pages, hoping it would help w a child with similar issues. I was quickly consumed with finishing! It gave me hope, and some understanding. I laughed at loud in places. I am so amazed at, and proud of, the author. Wow.

[Kristina Trawick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

You have to love a guy who can be so open about his life, so messed up and yet so funny, the kind of guy you want to make friends with. Highly recommend for laughs and a look into the mind of an ex- con/alcoholic/drug abuser.

[Amor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read if you like addiction biographies. This one is slightly different then most, he robs banks to support his habit.

[Edna Barnes]

Doug Piotter: I found your book to be very interesting. A look into a side of life that I have never dealt with. I skipped the middle (something I have never done before) because it was too raw for me. I especially like the shortness of your Chapters. (Reminds me of James Patterson's style)

Keep writing. I believe you have a gift for it.

Edna J. Barnes

[Carolyn Abbott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! Poitter has a quick wit and wicked grasp of the absurdity of life. HIs chaotic descriptions of the realities of drug addiction caused me to think differently and with more compassion for individuals struggling with this horrible disease. Poitter humorously deals with one of our cultures hidden and misunderstood people. Read it and weep tears of humanized laughter and get a glimpse of the fascinating journey to recovery and the richness of a life once filled with spirituality and love.