For Immediate Release: May 20, 2011

Contact: Diane Morriss
Sono Nis Press
1-800-370-5228
www.sononis.com

Watch a video trailer for All That Glitters.

Download a pdf with more information about Margo Talbot and All That Glitters.

Download high resolution images.

Ice Climber Releases Moving Memoir About Addiction, Depression, and the Power of Nature to Heal

“The only thing I had to hold onto that was captivating, that I was passionate about, was the sport of ice climbing,” says Margo Talbot, recalling decades of addiction and depression during which her only relief was time spent in nature.

In her page-turning memoir, All That Glitters: A Climber’s Journey Through Addiction and Depression, world-renowned ice climber Margo Talbot recounts how she overcame a childhood of neglect that led to decades of depression, addiction, breakdowns and, ultimately, arrest for trafficking. Now in her forties and living in the remote interior of British Columbia, Talbot candidly describes the stark and brutal depths of out-of-control addiction and anger and the bleakness of the conversation with death that was the turning point in dealing with her crippling bouts of depression.

Starting in adolescence, drinking, drug abuse and an ever-deepening depression fuelled a vicious cycle that dominated Talbot’s life for several decades as she struggled to deal with the unrelenting pain and despair that plagued her.

It seemed almost inevitable that Talbot’s escalating drug abuse would find her involved in drug trafficking. Eventually, her luck ran out and she found herself alone in a jail cell. Forced to confront herself and the life she was living, Talbot made a decision. “Never again would I take any chances with my freedom. Some people go to church; others enter into the 12-step program. I go into the mountains to reconnect with who I am: that’s where I feel truly alive and free. To have had that taken away, to not know when I would next feel the warmth of the sun or the wind on my face, that loss of freedom affected me so deeply, I knew I’d come to a crossroads.”

Climbing and nature were the twin healing forces behind her recovery. “Climbing gave me a focus, a place to channel my energies when I didn’t have many positive choices or role models to follow. It also gave me a meditative time out from the rage and pain that had been fuelling my life up until that point.”

From the depths of debilitating depression to the tops of mountains and frozen waterfalls, from addiction and crime to the icy landscapes of the Arctic and Antarctica, All That Glitters chronicles Margo Talbot’s journey of self-discovery and, ultimately, her path to healing.

What People Are Saying...

“This inspiring real-life story shows us that our lives’ biggest challenges can also be our greatest opportunities for personal growth, transformation, and enlightenment. Margo is magnificent!”
--BILL PHILLIPS, AUTHOR OF THE #1 New York Times Bestseller, Body-for-LIFE.

“This disarmingly frank self-portrait of a life almost off the rails is a road map to redemption.”
--GREG CHILD, AUTHOR OF Over the Edge, AND Thin Air: Encounters in the Himalayas

“All that Glitters is a shining example of hope, and the words literally sizzle from the pages to one’s heart. This book will save lives.”
--ELAINE SPENCER, MSW, RSW, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK, RED DEER COLLEGE

“The glittering eye of the addict, the glittering gold of the drug runner, the glittering ice of the frozen waterfall—any of these can kill. How did Margo Talbot survive such fatal attractions? It’s one hell of a story.”
--BEN GADD, AUTHOR OF Raven’s End AND Handbook of the Canadian Rockies

“This is as much or more a story of climbing from the darkness to the light as it is of climbing mountains. Climbing is hard, but this remarkable story proves that the most difficult place to find is not a distant summit, but peace within the savage terrain between our ears.”
--WILL GADD, PROFESSIONAL MULTI-SPORT ATHLETE AND AUTHOR OF Ice & Mixed Climbing

More About the Book

All That Glitters: A Climber's Journey Through Addiction and Depression
by Margo Talbot

Margo Talbot's unflinchingly honest account of a childhood characterized by abuse and neglect, her descent into depression, addiction, and criminal activity is both heartbreaking and, ultimately, inspiring. Finding redemption and healing through her passion for the outdoors and, in particular, ice climbing, this memoir is a stirring testament to the power of the human spirit and the healing force of nature.
Memoir, 256 pp, $19.95
ISBN 13: 978-1-55039-182-4; 1-55039-182-8

Download a pdf with more information about Margo Talbot and All That Glitters.

More About the Author

Margo Talbot is a writer and climber who has published numerous climbing-related articles, as well as being the instigator and main contributor to the fourth edition of Waterfall Ice Climbs in the Canadian Rockies.

As a climber, her favourite medium is ice and alpine, and she has accomplished many first ascents of waterfall ice in Canada. She has competed in a number of climbing competitions, including the ESPN X-Games and the Ouray International Ice Festival. A sponsored athlete with Outdoor Research, she also guides for Chicks with Picks and runs an adventure guiding company for women, The Glitter Girls. Find out more about Margo by visiting her website.

Sono Nis Press publishes a small number of high quality books each year from modest offices in Winlaw, British Columbia. To request review copies or arrange author interviews, please contact Diane Morriss at 1-800-370-5228 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it