Author   Chris Volkmann, former Manhattan classroom teacher, a recipient of the 2001 Washington State Artist Trust GAP Literary Grant, lives in Olympia, Washington. She attended University of La Verne, Université d’Aix-En-Provence, and graduated with distinction in Elementary Education and French from Washington State University.

Her recent book, OUR DRINK: Detoxing the Perfect Family, (co-authored with her 24-year-old son Toren) was released August 2004. Their website www.OurDrink.com emphasizes honest talk about alcohol choices and the consequences of heavy drinking. It has assessments for family members to find out how well they are communicating about drinking choices. There are separate questions for teens and adults.

She has formerly published THE LAST STRAW: A HANDBOOK OF SOLUTIONS TO SCHOOL BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS, R & E Research Associates, Inc, San Francisco, CA, 1978. Chris plays viola with the Olympia Symphony Orchestra and has run ten marathons. Having raised three sons now in their twenties, she resides with her husband (still under original warranty).

Chris went to Toren’s college graduation having no clue her son was part of a not-so-hidden epidemic. She shares what every parent thinks but cannot always say.

Author Toren Volkmann graduated with a BA in psychology. He was a former Peace Corps Volunteer. He dabbles in music, both composing and performing.

His recent book, OUR DRINK: Detoxing the Perfect Family, (co-authored with his mom) was    released August 2004. Their website www.OurDrink.com features honest talk about alcohol choices and the consequences of heavy drinking. There are assessments for family members to find out how well they are communicating about drinking choices with separate questions for teens and adults, and also assessment tools to determine if someone has a drinking problem.

In Our Drink, Toren grips the story with the bite of an addict’s hidden desperation. His edgy writing wanders within itself, giving the reader the feeling of chaos and inner turmoil behind a demeanor of courage. Toren currently lives one day at a time after successfully completing six months residence in a Florida halfway house.