Staying Sober in Community

Meet sober writers and connect in the comments!

Welcome! As part of celebrating and growing the Sober App Substack community, this periodic feature showcases recent guest contributors. Check out their bios and publications below, find their guest posts on the homepage, and share your own sober publication or say hello in the comments.

Elizabeth Austin’s work has appeared in Harper’s Bazaar, Narratively, HuffPost, Today.com, Jenny, and others. She lives outside of Philadelphia with her two kids and their many pets. Find her on Instagram @writingelizabeth and at writingelizabeth.com. You can also subscribe to her newsletter at: Writing Elizabeth.

Whitney Combs is a nationally board-certified health and wellness coach with nearly a decade of experience guiding women to reclaim control over their relationship with alcohol. Through her personalized one-on-one coaching, Whitney empowers women to create a lasting, sustainable recovery with a clear, structured approach. You can find Whitney on Instagram (@whitney.combs) and you can read more about her approach to recovery and schedule a discovery call on her website, www.whitneycombs.com.

Kristen Crocker is a mother, stepmother, and advocate for normalizing the discussion of alcoholism among strong, smart women. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Idaho in 2013, and now makes a living selling tree work. Kristen writes about sobriety and parenting in her newsletter:

Recoverettes.

Nick Dean is the founder of Neurokindness, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to supporting the adult neurodivergent community. Diagnosed as a late-stage adult with co-morbid Complex Autism, ADHD, and OCD after a lifetime of masking, Nick now focuses on creating community-driven initiatives that provide meaningful support and connection for neurodivergent individuals. You can find Nick’s newsletter at: The Neurokindness Club. A journal & community of AuDHD & OCD.

Allison Deraney lives in Massachusetts with her husband, two kids, and two rescue dogs. She is a woman in recovery from alcohol who credits sobriety for waking her back up to her first passion—writing. Allison is a licensed real estate attorney who is looking to pen more creativity into her days. She spends her free time wandering in nature with her dog and cheering her kids on from the sidelines of the basketball court. You can find more of Allison’s writing in her newsletter: DARE TO BE.

Grace Alexandra Hayden was born and raised in Minnesota and now lives in Minneapolis with her three dogs, two daughters, and one feral cat. When not at a dog park or helping people buy and sell real estate, she is either fishing, playing pickleball, or writing. Her first book, Fish Food: A Feminist Moby Dick, is available on Amazon, Ingram, or at www.grace-hayden.com. You can find her newsletter at: Grace’s Substack.

Shana Hormann is grateful for her loving family, friends, and colleagues. She is passionate about working with organizations and communities that have experienced trauma, with the intention of promoting health and resilience. She enjoys life! Some of her favorite activities are coaching leaders, sharing stories about miracles, dancing, and laughing. Find Shana online here and here, as well as her newsletter at: Healing Circles.

Chris James is a 36-year-old debt adviser from England who works for a charity and is passionate about educating others on the dangers of alcohol. With a wonderful partner and an eight-year-old Bucovina Shepherd, Chris is dedicated to helping people who, like he once did, believe their drinking is normal simply because many others drink the same way. His mission is to raise awareness that alcohol doesn’t discriminate and can ruin anyone’s life, regardless of background or circumstances. You can read more from Chris on Medium.

Kimberly Kearns is the author of On the Edge of Shattered. She hosted The Weekend Sober Podcast, is the head writer for season 2 of the narrative podcast Fcking Sober: The First 90 Days, and founded the Boston-based social club Sober in the Suburbs. She lives with her husband and three kids in Needham, MA, and writes about addiction, parenting, and recovery in her newsletter: Unshattered Sobriety.

Dana Leigh Lyons is a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine and writer sharing heart-sourced, no-bullsh*t insights on addiction, sobriety, and being human. Currently, she’s exploring food-related addictions, including in her Quieting Food Noise (Without Ozempic) and Perfect Hunger series.

Jennifer L’Esperance began her sober journey in 2009 and, after a brief relapse in 2017, celebrated six continuous years of sobriety on January 1, 2025. A Registered Nurse with over 25 years of experience, her recovery centers around women’s AA meetings and authentic relationships with women in sobriety who are focused on healing from past trauma. Jennifer believes in the power of connection and support, finding strength in shared vulnerability and breaking the cycle of isolation through loving, supportive bonds. You can find her newsletter at: Soul Eruptions.

Liz Mendez was born and raised in the Midwest. Over the years, she has developed a portfolio career in wine, tech, and radio, spending three decades immersed in the restaurant industry. As a former award-winning sommelier, Liz is passionate about the immense opportunities within the zero-proof world and inclusive hospitality, which she writes about her newsletter, The Luncheonette. Liz is also the founder of Aldea Hospitality + Productions, an agency that works with businesses, retail, and restaurants to reimagine the power, reach, and impact of hospitality as a community-driven art and craft.

Rosemary Writes & Recovers is a recovering perfectionist writing to heal. She identifies as an anxious BIG feeler, HSP (highly sensitive person), empath, gray area drinker, binge and blackout drinker, and love addict who discovered she has ADHD in her 50s. Rosemary has been doing life sober since January 1st, 2020. You can find her newsletter at: Rosemary Writes & Recovers.

Gabriel Solomon is a trauma-informed master life coach, holistic healing practitioner, reader, writer, and fun uncle. He has a BA in Communications from Reichman University. In his spare time, he is either learning something new or scheduling tea with friends to talk about what he’s reading. You can find his newsletter at: Soul Seeker’s Station. You can also find him on LinkedIn.

Kelly Thompson’s work has appeared in Memoir Land, BOMB, LARB, Guernica, Proximity, Fatal Flaw, Yoga Journal, and more. She is the founding editor of The Rumpus Original Column: Voices On Addiction and an LCSW. You can find her newsletter at: There’s Nothing Wrong With You (And There Never Was).

Winged Victory began blogging their journey to loving life alcohol-free in March 2015. In 2016, on the one-year anniversary of their sobriety, they launched a blog called Boozemusings, which features the voices of many who have inspired them. A year later, they created a Mighty Networks community called Boom Rethink the Drink. Sobriety has become their superpower, and they are passionate about spreading the message that “sobriety offers everything alcohol promised.”

Lene Wipplinger was born and raised in Montana, and is a trail runner and former educator with a deep appreciation for the natural world. When not exploring local forests with her dog, Larch, she channels her love of language into writing poetry and essays. She draws inspiration from the western landscapes where she grew up and resides, and her passion for the places she feels lucky to explore. You can find Lene’s newsletter at: Veiled Larches.

Your turn!

We’d love to hear from you:

If you’re a sober writer, share your publication or latest article in the comments.
Or just say hello and share anything about your sober journey!

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