Available in early fall
Chasing Control
A memoir about the illusion of control, the cost of hidden shame, and the fight to rebuild a life in the truth.
About the book
On paper, Kyle Layne’s life looked ordinary. He grew up in a loving Midwestern family, built a solid career, married his college girlfriend, and tried to do right by the people around him. But underneath it all, he hid a secret shame: alcohol had become the center of his life.
What began as a way to take the edge off became a slow-building fire, until the illusion of control fractured and the blaze consumed his sense of self, his marriage, and everything he claimed to love. Then came the fight for life: rehab, hard reckonings, amends, and the daily discipline of choosing sobriety when it would be easier not to.
Chasing Control stretches far beyond addiction. It is the story of shared struggles of shame, isolation, lost identity, and slow, daily decline. It’s not about the climb from some proverbial rock bottom, but the intentional building of a foundation that was rapidly put to the test by real, unforeseen, and unimaginable hardship.
Reader reactions
Anonymous short excerpts from early readers. These are reader reactions, not formal endorsements.
“Really well written and engaging.”
“Totally absorbed.”
“It’s raw & real.”
“It’s not a fairytale story… there is hurt, fear, pain, & struggle, there is hope.”
“It really speaks to the soul.”
“The plot and progression… sucked me in.”
“Hard to put down.”
Reader reactions
Anonymous short excerpts from early readers. These are reader reactions, not formal endorsements.
“Really well written and engaging.”
“Totally absorbed.”
“It’s raw & real.”
“It’s not a fairytale story… there is hurt, fear, pain, & struggle, there is hope.”
“It really speaks to the soul.”
“The plot and progression… sucked me in.”
“Hard to put down.”
Featured praise
“This isn’t a story about addiction—it’s a real life journey about identity and redemption.”
Bryan Schwartz
NFL Alumnus, Mentor, Author, Speaker
“Chasing Control is the story of us all, amplified through the brutally honest telling of one man’s battle with addiction.”
Dustin Diefenderfer
Founder/CEO of MTNTOUGH Fitness
“Real, raw, and powerful.”
Eric McCormack
Professional Fitness Coach, Founder of Outlaw Strength
“This isn’t just a story about getting sober. It’s a sobering reflection about everything that makes us human.”
Zachary Craig Hanson
Best-Selling Author, Turning Feral & The Trade Gap
“Kyle took me on a journey into his life with Chasing Control that I couldn't put down.”
Brian Tenclinger, MSEd
University & National Fraternity Leader, Mentor
Read full advance praise
“This isn’t a story about addiction—it’s a real life journey about identity and redemption. Chasing Control reveals the daily, subtle drift that pulls you away from who you were created to be—the isolation, the pressure, the silent suffering that can lead to unraveling. But the story doesn’t end there. This is a testimony of breakthrough—of facing reality and choosing to lean into another, superior one.
Because freedom isn’t found in control…it’s found in surrender.”
Bryan Schwartz
NFL Alumnus, Mentor, Author, Speaker
“Chasing Control is the story of us all, amplified through the brutally honest telling of one man's battle with addiction. It confronts the good and evil that exist within and around us at all times, and exposes the descent into isolation, shame, and erosion of potential that so many fall prey to.
I have personally witnessed Kyle's journey—from years of internal struggle, to hard-won relief, to facing one of the greatest tests a father, husband, and human being can endure. His story is the example we all need, demonstrating the power of embracing life's challenges as opportunities for growth and becoming who we're capable of being.”
Dustin Diefenderfer
Founder/CEO of MTNTOUGH Fitness
“Kyle is one of the most genuine, open-hearted men you’ll ever meet. The way he shares his journey through loss, addiction, and rebuilding his life through faith is real, raw, and powerful. Chasing Control can help others find hope, healing, and a deeper connection with the world around them.”
Eric McCormack
Professional Fitness Coach, Founder of Outlaw Strength
“This isn’t just a story about getting sober. It’s a sobering reflection about everything that makes us human. Whether you’re battling alcohol addiction or simply navigating life’s highs and lows, Kyle’s journey will stay with you. An exploration of family, friendship, grief, and the quiet search for faith in the middle of it all.”
Zachary Craig Hanson
Best-Selling Author, Turning Feral & The Trade Gap
“Kyle took me on a journey into his life with Chasing Control that I couldn't put down. He writes from the soul and addresses things many men don't discuss as they navigate life.
From the outside looking in, Kyle is like many successful men I know—solid career, strong nuclear family, beautiful wife who is his best friend, athletic—but from the inside looking out, it's an entirely different view. He's a hidden figure of a man coming to terms with his addiction, the calculations he made to hide what was consuming him, and the missteps and mistakes he made along the way. His story made me pause and reflect on some of my own struggles and how I have faced them. Share Kyle's journey with those in your circle who need to hear it.”
Brian Tenclinger, MSEd
University & National Fraternity Leader, Mentor
Launch interest
Be notified when Chasing Control is available.