Georgian College

LORRI-ANN CHAMPAGNE Writer of a series of books Lorri-Ann Champagne was born with Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus. In spite of these obstacles, she returned to school as a mature student and graduated from Georgian with honours at the age of 34. Lorri-Ann later became a mother and grandmother and for five years was the volunteer head of the public relations auxiliary at the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre until she was no longer able to perform her job due to her illness. It was during this time that Lorri-Ann thought about writing a novel – a long-held dream of hers. She had so many ideas swimming in her head, she decided instead to write a sweeping epic story. Lorri-Ann started writing the Common Threads trilogy nine years ago. The story takes place in Africa, Scotland and on Southern Ontario farmland in the 1850s and focuses on one family's tale of overcoming challenges, obstacles and slavery to become the owners of one of the largest potato farms in Canada. The story spans multiple generations. Lorri-Ann says she was inspired to pen the tale after facing difficulties in her own life, and her parent's insistence that she could do anything an able-bodied person could do. Despite being told that she would never walk, Lorri-Ann says she one day grew tired of waiting for her mother to fetch a toy for her, so she simply stood up, walked over to get it, and returned to her previous spot on the floor. This same determination compelled her to return to college as a mature student and become an author. "My life has been one miracle after another, and so I can honestly say that I'm just inspired by life itself," says Lorri-Ann. The Common Threads trilogy will be featured in the New York Times later this year, and Lorri-Ann says she will continue to write as her health allows, much to the delight of her many readers. Learn more about Lorri-Ann or buy her trilogy at commonthreadsseries.com. ADVERTISING, 1996 AUThOR 19 GEORGIANVIEW 2016 ALUMNI IN ThE NEWS ALUMNI IN ThE NEWS

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