In Honor of WHO World No Tobacco Day...

Time to find a way of out that canyon...you can do it!

Our gift to the world for WHO No Tobacco Day Friday, May 31

Romancing The Smoke wants everyone 
to quit for WHO World No Tobacco Day
so...
please download the Kindle version of 
Romancing The Smoke FREE for yourself 
or a loved one. It's the book that has people 
snickering their way to smoke free...

Your FREE Kindle version of Romancing The Smoke May 31

A post from the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids...thanks!

The best anti-smoking tagline...out of Australia
great article!
Cigarette: The Killer That Travels in Packs

What they're saying on Amazon about Romancing The Smoke....

1.		Sonia Nordenson reviewed Romancing The Smoke: Reflections of a Nicotine Addict (Volume 1)  A Book to Give to a Beloved Smoker in Your Life May 11, 2013 Romancing the Smoke is wonderful--even (especially?) for a nonsmoker. Besides being enthralled and entertained, I now have a much better understanding of this most formidable of all addictions. This book makes a loving gift for those who "can stop any time"--but haven't. Add a comment View this book's reviews on Amazon.com
2.		Aleen M. Smith reviewed Romancing The Smoke: Reflections of a Nicotine Addict 1 of 1 people found the following helpful  The gory details of quitting, with lots of humor! April 25, 2013 John Aaron has put together the pain and misery of getting off nicotine in a funny and delightful book. I already had more than "60 days clean" when I downloaded the e-book, but it was worth the read. I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to be smoke-free. Add a comment View this book's reviews on Amazon.com
3.		Jane Derry "Addiction Specialist" reviewed Romancing The Smoke: Reflections of a Nicotine Addict 1 of 1 people found the following helpful  Authentic and Honest Portrait of Nicotine Addiction January 7, 2013 This is a fantastic book that faces the denial of addiction head on. John Aaron recounts the history of tobacco use in America with insight and great copies of advertising past. This marketing past is the platform for John's own tobacco use history, and he documents his own use and ultimate un-use, with wonderful paintings of his own. Although there is great change, nicotine addiction has remained a somewhat socially acceptable behaviour, being downplayed especially if the user is facing other addictions. Although John is able to quit cold turkey on his own, this is not the case for most hardcore nicotine addicts. Many people are now accepting that nicotine addiction qualifies for drug rehab. All serious and quality drug rehabs today address nicotine as a lethal substance to be dealt with on the same page as all other addictive substances and behaviors. Nicotine Anonymous works for many where nothing else has. John has provided a very valuable addition to first person nicotine addiction literature. By John sharing his experience, strength and hope with others, he will hopefully continue to keep himself an un-smoker. Thank you Mr Aaron, for your contribution to facing nicotine addiction head on. An honest, gritty and painful piece that is entertaining and informative. One day at a time, congratulations. Jane DerryShow Less Add a comment View this book's reviews on Amazon.com
4.		CJ reviewed Romancing The Smoke: Reflections of a Nicotine Addict  Very readable account of one man's struggle January 1, 2013 Very illuminating about the early history of advertising by big tobacco. Great personal memoir, with some potentially useful pathways for those desiring to quit smoking towards the end of the book. Add a comment View this book's reviews on Amazon.com
5.		MSut reviewed Romancing The Smoke: Reflections of a Nicotine Addict  A must read! November 30, 2012 Although I have never smoked a day in my life...I was absolutely addicted to this book! What a great read. I couldn't put it down and read it all in one sitting. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone! Add a comment View this book's reviews on Amazon.com
6.		Fred reviewed Romancing The Smoke: Reflections of a Nicotine Addict  Witty and Helpful November 28, 2012 Aaron's book is an enjoyable read that will definitely make you want to quit your nasty habbit! I loved the illustrations and the use of old time ads! Add a comment View this book's reviews on Amazon.com
7.		Ken C. Lee reviewed Romancing The Smoke: Reflections of a Nicotine Addict (Volume 1)  Fantastic read - whether you smoke or not! November 7, 2012 I don't smoke. I never have. Nonetheless, this captivated me from beginning to end. Like life - and particularly, the life of a nicotine addict - this book is alternately hilarious, tragic, touching, fascinating, heroic, frustrating, and beautiful. And speaking of beautiful, the illustrations are sumptuous, entertaining, and amazing, supporting the text beautifully. A high quality book, this definitely gets my recommendation.Show Less Add a comment View this book's reviews on Amazon.com
8.		Randy Graham reviewed Romancing The Smoke: Reflections of a Nicotine Addict (Volume 1)  Great Read November 5, 2012 The author's memoir tells a poignant story about his addition to nicotine and the journey he made out of Nicotine Canyon. It benefits greatly from the fifty-plus illustrations and photos, all in full color. His combination of humor, art work and easy-to-read writing style make this book an important read for smokers and non-smokers alike. Add a comment View this book's reviews on Amazon.com
9.		Linda reviewed Romancing The Smoke: Reflections of a Nicotine Addict (Volume 1) 2 of 2 people found the following helpful  Romancing the Air August 17, 2012 From what I have read I am very proud of the author, for it is through art he has escaped 40 years of smoke. I am proud of his wonderful feat to recover his lung capacity and breathe again. May all smokers find a pathway to express themselves that allows them to unlock this stronghold on their hearts before they cannot beat. The art work, the humor, the sad reality is all there as you turn the pages. John has shared apart himself to help others guide through Nicotine Canyon. Step up one and all and be alive, reach that goal, jump on that wagon. You too can relish the feeling of air sifting into your body and knowing you have done something important. The choice is yours....a good read no doubt. Breathe healthy, live happy.

Domestic Cigarette Smuggling is Big Money...

The New York Times reported that last week,
the New York Police Dept. busted a smuggling 
ring that was bringing cigarettes from Virginia 
to sell them in New York where profit margins
made the practice more lucrative than selling drugs.
The NYPD Intelligence unit uncovered the ring
while investigating suspects for possible counter-
terrorist activities. They were making millions.
16 accused of smuggling cigarettes worth millions into New York

1000 days smoke free...

...but who's counting...?
Please join me in a smoke free day today...
even if only for one day.....
Portrait a month after quitting

According to the Wall Street Journal....

... 69% of adult smokers said they wanted to 
quit smoking in 2010. Nearly 50% attempted 
to do so...only 6.2% succeeded. I am lucky to 
have gotten out of this alive... please join me 
to NOT SMOKE tomorrow, May 20th.

If everyone quits, what a breath of fresh air that 
would be!

998 days and counting. Please join me in making May 20th a No Smoking Day worldwide

On Monday, May 20th, 2013, I will have been 
smoke free for 1000 days. Please encourage all 
smokers that you know to refrain from smoking 
on that day, if just for one day.

Thank you for joining me in helping the world 
be smoke free. Breathe that fresh air!

Smoking ban in Wales upheld: crews on TV and film sets still not allowed to smoke

Link: Smoking ban in Wales upheld; TV and film industry will just have to deal with it...
















BBC reports that Wales does not yield to pressure 
from the entertainment industry to allow smoking
on sets, despite veiled threats that the economy will 
suffer as  the TV and film industry seeks other 
locations that are more smoke friendly. The Welsh 
government stands by its policy that smoke free is 
the way to be. No matter how cool it looks....

This is me before I made the breakthrough....

It's been 994 days since I last had a cigarette.
I will celebrate one thousand days... please 
celebrate with me by not smoking that day...
May 20....

Happy Mother's Day

In remembrance of all Mothers on this day;
and to my mom Mary Jane, whom I'm sure 
wished she had quit smoking long before 
she did. To her credit, she quit at a younger 
age than I; and, like me, she quit cold turkey.

She lived to be 78; smoke free for the last 
twenty-eight years of her life. Nice work, ma! 
Happy Mother's Day to you and all mothers
of the world. 

One drastic method to quit smoking....

This is amongst the most drastic methods of 
quitting smoking I've come across. This report 
from Yahoo comes out of Sacramento, CA.
The officer's nickname has become Nick O'Derm...

Woman slugs cop to go to jail where she can't smoke...

Transcendental Meditation helped me to quit smoking....

Transcendental Meditation helped me to quit smoking...

A combination of T.M. and self-hypnosis were the 
dual energy forces that helped me breathe a sigh of 
relief and become smoke and nicotine free after 
battling the addiction of forty years.  T.M. has kept 
me balanced and inwardly calm since I began the 
practice in 1968. It's crucial to disconnect from the 
habit 100 per cent. As long as one is connected to 
nicotine in any way, the danger of returning to the 
full blown habit will always exist. No excuses.
Refuse to use...Break these habits...NOW!

A thousand words...

This guy doesn't smoke anymore....

Order Romancing The Smoke for a loved one TODAY!

Here's how to order Romancing The Smoke NOW!
Available in paperback and Kindle, this memoir
tells the story of a battle to become smoke free
in the height of the Big Tobacco era. A little black
lung humor mixed in with a race to fresh air...

"I don't know about you, but I always smoke in the water...and I inhale..."

An Opinion that Pharmacies and Tobacco don't mix...

If pharmacies promote health, then why do many of them sell cigarettes?
Dr. Marvin A. Chinitz offers his opinion 
in the New York Times...May 6, 2013 

UCLA is first UC campus to ban smoking...

UCLA is first UC campus to ban smoking...
check out the great cartoon in the link above
by Anibal Santos from USA Today College....
twitter post by Smoke Free North State

just think...it used to be like this...

WE'VE COME A LONG WAY...

The Affirmation that helped me quit smoking...

The "Inconvenience" of smoking...a story....

Ann Arbor 1979

Sometimes the simple act of buying cigarettes 

doesn’t go as planned.  I lived a block from a 
Stop n Go convenience store while I went to 
school in Ann Arbor. Near the corner of Packard 
and Stadium, it wasn’t far from Michigan Stadium 
and it was the beginning of the outskirts of town. 
A smoker then, it was where I picked up my 
cigarettes. Pack a day.

This was part of the 
ritual with Rennie 
the Labrador, who 
followed me 
everywhere. 
I was never able 
to teach him to run 
this errand on his own; 
he never brought back 
the change. Sometimes 
he'd wait, or he'd take 
off- home or elsewhere.

Saturday night. 
Out of smokes.  A moment later we were at 
the store.  The dog spun around and left when 
I went in.  As I said hi to the clerk, a commotion 
erupted near the back  beer cooler. Some guy was 
rolling around on the floor when shots rang out 
from outside. The clerk yelled, “38!” hit the lock 
on the door and dove behind the counter.

I was hiding from a gunman behind a wall of 

chocolate. Was the last thing that I would ever see 
be a Snickers bar? We  breathed once we saw red 
and blue lights roll towards the store. When the 
officers got to the door, the clerk tossed me the keys. 
As I opened it, they grabbed me, shoving me up 
against the counter, hands behind my back.

“Wait!!! He’s not the guy! In the back! Shots in 
the parking lot.”

Cops let go, kind of dusting me off as they went. 
They got the guy, things settled down, and all 
was sort of clear.  Buying a pack would never 
be the same. Convenience stores can be 
hazardous to your health.

You’ve just been shot at by the bad 

guys and roughed up by the cops! 

Welcome to Marlboro Country!

As I walked back, I remembered what Sir

Winston Churchill said about his experience 

in WWI-

Nothing is quite so exhilarating as to be shot at 

to no effect. 

The dog was waiting on the porch.

from Romancing The Smoke: 

Reflections of a Nicotine Addict 

photo: Jerry Downs

I thought I'd NEVER be able to quit...

Sometimes it felt like I'd never be able to quit...
but I did...take heart-the end (of smoking) is near...
You are now in a SMOKE FREE ZONE

Concerning negative graphic advertising as the only way to smoke free...redux...

Recent ads created for the anti-smoking campaign 
feature people with terminal health issues caused 
by their addiction to nicotine and cigarettes. This 
strategy embraces fear as the only tactic to affect 

change. This was tried in the 80s when the actor 
Yul Brunner made the PSA about his lung cancer. 
Scare tactics don’t have long-term impact. 
Intimidating people with visions of carcinogenic 
horror only works short term. People block images 
they don't want to remember. Who decided that 
fear works?

Why is there no focus on the positive aspects of 
being smoke free? Why hasn't this approach 
been tried? Why, when people get free from this 
addiction and come through it in a healthier state, 
is this NOT news? Why is the promo ONLY about 
cancer, strokes and heart attacks and the 
"it's too late for me" syndrome... these ads show 
only grey smoke, never blue skies...

I stopped three years ago after a three decade 
habit, and regained most of my lung capacity, 
my sense of smell, and have saved $9,000. 
My friends say I look healthier, smell better and 
stopped the constant coughing. Their unwaver-
ing encouragement is what worked for me. 
Anti-smoking advertising should focus at least 
some of their campaign on the personal success 
of those who get smoke free. This alternative 

approach would certainly be a breath of fresh air.

It's time that good kicked the ass of the bad 
and the ugly...

I believe this now more than ever. Do you?