James Siddall is well-known in media and motoring circles, having been a journalist for 25 years, including stints with some of SA’s most successful titles. His byline has also been seen in The Crest over the years.
In 2013, James had his first book published – a searing memoir of his own battle with addiction, called Dystopia. “Dystopia has had almost universally excellent reviews both here and abroad, and for that I’m grateful, of course,” says James. “A lot of people have also said kind things, calling the book ‘courageous’ and ‘one of the finest written on addiction’. But I do know that to ‘civilians’, as I term non-addicts or ‘normal’ people, a lot of the content is deeply shocking.”
Dystopia earned James a nomination for the South African Literary Awards (SALA) in the First Time Published category. “It’s naturally wonderful to be nominated. I’d even say it’s humbling, except that’s a terribly trite cliché, isn’t it?”
Keep an eye out for James’ second book, provisionally titled Trazodone Dreams, which takes a more reflective, spiritual look at life in deep recovery.
To read a review of Dystopia by James Siddall, click here.