Coloring Outside the Lines:

A Love Story in the Gray of Addiction, Recovery, and Redemption

the book

Told in two raw, unforgettable voices, Coloring Outside the Lines: A Love Story in the Gray of Addiction, Recovery, and Redemption is a gripping husband-and-wife memoir of addiction, codependency, trauma, and the winding road to recovery, braided together with heartbreak, resilience, grace, and unexpected surrender.

Chris isn't your stereotype of a struggling addict. He's a charismatic, funny, and successful entrepreneur whose pain ran deeper than anyone could see. Beneath the charm and achievements lived unhealed trauma, childhood abuse, loss, and grief that eventually spiraled into full-blown addiction.

Katie found herself trapped between choosing love and difficult choices, while trying to save her husband without losing herself. She became the keeper of secrets, the manager of chaos, and the detective in fighting for a life that felt like it was slipping through her fingers.

Together, they expose the often-invisible toll of living with addiction. But this isn't just a story of destruction. It's about what comes after. The rebuilding. The reckoning. The radical choice to heal, not only through traditional recovery models but also through alternative paths: plant/animal medicine, therapy, faith, and deep internal exploration. Through it all, what's tested, and ultimately redefined, is unconditional love. Not the romanticized version, but the gritty, unglamorous kind that shows up on the bathroom floor at 3 a.m. The kind that holds space without enabling, that forgives without forgetting, and that learns to draw boundaries without abandoning the heart.

Published by Landon Hail Press

the authors

Chris Bowick / Adrift

Chris Bowick is a husband, entrepreneur, and recovering perfectionist who spent over a decade building a highly successful insurance agency from the ground up.

He studied Business Management and Finance in university and has been widely recognized in his industry.

But behind the numbers and accolades was a man quietly struggling with addiction.

This book marks a new chapter for Chris, one where truth and vulnerability matter more than any award ever could.

Through resilience and recovery, he’s learned to redefine success not by titles, but by showing up, even when it’s hard.

He hopes this book offers courage to anyone fighting their way out of the dark and into a life that finally feels like their own.

“The Big Book is over 85 years old. Our book is for couples that challenge the notion that the first step is divorcing the person that led you to recovery.”

— Chris Bowick

Katie Bowick /Anchor

Katie Bowick is a wife, author, entrepreneur, and proud aunt. She was born and raised in Colorado and studied Communications at university.

Part memoir. Part play book. Her contributions to Coloring Outside the Lines are an invitation to others to consider alternative options to traditional recovery approaches that are often at odds with sustaining love.

When she's not writing, you can find her snowboarding, golfing, collecting art, or snuggling up with a good book and a glass of wine. As a child of God, Katie finds peace in her faith. She is driven by a deep belief in magic and the beauty that exists in both people and the world around her.

Katie has spent over a decade building a successful career in marketing, communications, and client storytelling. Known for her creative problem-solving and strategic thinking, she brings the same energy and empathy to the page that she brought to boardrooms and brand campaigns. Whether she’s crafting a heartfelt narrative or helping others feel seen through words, Katie writes with clarity, vulnerability, and purpose.

“We wanted to update the language of how we speak about addition through love. We chose the framework of anchor and adrift to empower others like us weathering the storm.”

— Katie Bowick