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Michael Deagler had read a lot of stories about alcoholism before he wrote one on sobriety.
Going sober himself made him interested in the topic, but he didn't want to add to the growing stack of memoirs - instead, Early Sobrieties follows a 26 year old man attempting to get his life back on track.
Narrator Dennis Monk doesn't get a 'happily ever after' from giving up booze - instead he finds himself couch surfing, doing odd jobs for old college friends, and tagging along on adventures.
He acts as an outsider to the Philadelphia city he's just moved back to, criticising the growing population of hipsters and newly built houses.
Michael Deagler speaks to Kathryn.
