Shannan Mondor holds up her finished works (Photo Courtesy Bob Schneider)

By Gates Guarin

'We all have a story'

Local author shares story of addiction, abuse

Jun 1, 2022 | 4:06 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – A local author has published her first book, which emphasizes her struggles with trauma and substance abuse.

Shannan Mondor wrote How in the hell did I get here? in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. After seeing how high the rate of suicides and drug abuse was getting during the pandemic, it inspired her to tell her own story of addiction.

Mondor says the book was written to bring the issues stemming from trauma and abuse to the forefront in order to increase the dialogue and find solutions. She hopes after reading her book, people start having more open and honest conversations.

“We all have a story,” Mondor says. “It doesn’t matter where you came from, who you are, what level of society, if you’re black, blue, purple – everybody has a story. If we don’t start talking about our trauma and our sadness and our fear, that is what causes addiction, because addiction very much is within our society, and we can’t hide it anymore.”

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Mondor also said it was important for her to self-publish the book.

“It was quite the process, but at the same time, it was the most amazing process,” Mondor says. “All those words in that book are mine.”

Mondor has plans for author readings for the community starting in September at the Cypress Club. More information on her book can be found on her website.