At the age of 29, Holly Deane-Johns was found guilty of attempting to post 15 grams of heroin to Australia from Bangkok.

She narrowly avoided the death penalty but received a 31-year prison sentence.

She spent seven years in a notorious Thai women's prison, where staying alive was a daily struggle.

She learnt Thai and formed enduring friendships with fellow inmates, but faced heartbreak and anguish when some did not survive.

Holly overcame her drug addiction for good while she was in prison.

After a lengthy battle to obtain a prison transfer, Holly was transferred to a Perth prison in 2007, where she remained for another five years.

After her release in 2012, Holly was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

This is the first time she has shared an in-depth account of her life with the world, and it begins with a childhood home that turned violent and dysfunctional.