at The London Book Fair 2026
A raw memoir of addiction, survival, and transformation earns high praise and strong sales at Olympia London, with a national media tour now underway
CITY, DATE Author Ronnie M. Palmer’s memoir Finishing Stronger made a powerful impression at The London Book Fair 2026, held March 10–12 at Olympia London. The book drew enthusiastic responses from readers, publishers, and literary professionals at the fair, generating strong sales and earning high ratings and personal recommendations from attendees who connected deeply with Palmer’s extraordinary story of survival and second chances.
Readers at the fair praised Finishing Stronger for its unflinching honesty, with many describing it as one of the most compelling memoirs they had encountered at this year’s event. The book resonated with audiences across the publishing community, earning word of mouth recommendations throughout the three day fair and establishing Palmer as a powerful new voice in the memoir space.
Finishing Stronger is the raw, unfiltered account of a life defined by extremes. Born premature and abandoned in a hospital lobby as an infant, Palmer was adopted into a hard living Texas family where whiskey was medicine and bare knuckle fights put food on the table. What followed were decades of addiction, homelessness, incarceration, and relapse across cities from Dallas to Miami to San Francisco. The memoir’s turning point arrives when a mysterious stranger appears at Palmer’s hospital bedside and delivers six words that would redirect the course of his life: “If you don’t get some help soon, you are going to die.” From that moment, Palmer begins a painstaking journey toward sobriety, education, a career as a certified drug and alcohol counselor, and a new family he never imagined possible.
The book is dedicated to all Palmer’s brothers and sisters who fell prey to substance abuse and to all those who are still suffering. As longtime friend Richard Isaacs writes in the foreword: “What you’re about to read is the life story of a man who never gives up.”
Published by Parker Publishers, Finishing Stronger arrives at a time when addiction narratives are reaching broader audiences, and readers are seeking stories that prove recovery is possible regardless of how far one has fallen. Palmer’s willingness to share his story in full, including the humor, the horror, and the humanity, is what makes this memoir stand apart.
What’s Next for Ronnie M. Palmer
Following the London Book Fair debut, Palmer’s media tour continues with a growing slate of high profile appearances:
Television Interview: Palmer will appear on The LOCAList SD, the popular lifestyle and entertainment show on FOX 5 San Diego, on March 30, 2026.
National Print Feature: A feature article on Finishing Stronger is forthcoming in USA Today.
Podcast Appearance: Palmer will join host Nicole Karmine on the Your Happy Hour podcast for an in depth conversation about addiction, recovery, and the journey behind Finishing Stronger.
Additional appearances and coverage are in development, with more to be announced.
About the Author
Ronnie M. Palmer is a certified drug and alcohol counselor, a survivor of decades of addiction and homelessness, and a testament to the power of second chances. Born premature and adopted as an infant in Fort Worth, Texas, Palmer’s life took him through the streets of Dallas, Houston, Miami, and San Francisco before a mysterious encounter in a hospital set him on the path to recovery. He went on to earn multiple certifications from City College of San Francisco, build a career helping others overcome addiction, and start a family that gave his story its truest meaning. Finishing Stronger is his first book.
