“Feel like your gonna die / But you don’t / You think that the world will stop / But it won’t / And it’s the darndest thing I know / The sun comes up / It’s another day / And your heart still beats / And you’ll say, “Hey, I’m still breathing” / Take it from me / These little victories / Are all a heart needs”  – Blue Sky Riders, “Little Victories”

 

These words above are far more than simple song lyrics to author Chris Akin.  They stand as the lyrical map to a time in his life when he needed every positive bit of motivation to make it from minute to minute, day to day and onward to a new way of living.

People that know Chris Akin publicly are aware of him for being a no-nonsense type of person who seemingly has no sense of personal feelings other than anger and rage.  As a respected hard rock and heavy metal critic in both print and online mediums, Chris has long been known for crucifying bands and releases for doing anything which he feels is substandard.  On radio, Chris Akin has seemingly no remorse for anything he says or does.  His willingness to attack has become not only notorious, but the signature element of his public life which has seen him gain great attention over the last 15 years.

Like anyone else though, there’s a personal side to Chris Akin – one that has rarely been exhibited publicly, and one that will almost certainly surprise people that have followed his career in the public forum.

LITTLE VICTORIES: A TALE OF DIVORCE, DEBAUCHERY AND FINDING HAPPINESS is a real time outline of a time in this seemingly invincible person’s life where all the bluster of his public persona is stripped away in the wake of the traumatic events that took over his life.  Starting with his divorce from his wife of 23 years and combined with the death of his father who he had just rekindled a relationship with after a 12 year feud, LITTLE VICTORIES outlines the day to day struggles of an emotional transformation.

In LITTLE VICTORIES, Chris Akin says:

A decision has been made.  Georgetta has decided to divorce Chris Akin.  You know what?  I’ve decided to divorce Chris Akin too.  I’ve decided that while the road to Hell is paved with good intentions, the road to Heaven is paved with struggle, hard work and commitment.  As far as I’m concerned, the old Chris Akin has been packed away with the stuff Georgetta is taking with her out of my life.  It’s my hope it never gets unpacked.

Outlining in startling detail the pain of divorce, the emotional wreckage of losing both a spouse and a father, showcasing how sinking into alcohol further complicated things, and finally detailing a startling emotional change that found Chris Akin happy for seemingly the first time in his life, LITTLE VICTORIES: A TALE OF DIVORCE, DEBAUCHERY AND FINDING HAPPINESS is a surprisingly honest statement of how low emotions can take someone, and how the choice to fight back can lead to a much better future if you’re willing to do the work.