John & Tonic: My Big Brother’s Battle with Alcoholism is my second book. I chose to publish this book in 2024, twenty-five years after the death of my big brother John Hoover, who died of alcoholism at the age of just thirty-two.

This book will help you get to know John through the stories of those closest to him. How did we lose this brilliant, loving, and gentle soul just from alcohol? Why couldn’t we save him? Follow our lives as we each filled the role of the co-dependent, while he played his role by minimizing, denying, and lying about his alcoholism. You will learn that you cannot control another person, and you cannot “be enough” to get them to stop drinking, no matter how hard you try. You can, however, learn about addiction and get help for yourself. We have included our recommended resources in this book.

Gypsy Ray is a trauma therapist, but her entire career has been dedicated to helping people. She has been married 32 years to her high school sweetheart and has two incredible adult children, with a grandbaby on the way! Gypsy enjoys everything sports and outdoors, especially fishing at their cabin in Montana.