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LAUGHING THROUGH THE STORM
by Jane Rogers
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GENRE: Memoir
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BLURB:
Diagnosed
with epilepsy at 13, Jane's life took a wild turn full of seizures,
specialists, and some seriously strange hospital adventures. But instead of
letting it break her, she learned to laugh—at the chaos, the cringe, and even
the curveballs. Laughing Through the Storm is a hilariously honest memoir about
finding resilience, ridiculousness, and unexpected joy in the middle of life's
messiest moments.
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EXCERPT:
It was a frosty January morning in 1981 when I
decided to make my dramatic debut in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. As
the latest addition to the family line-up, I was a calm and easy-going baby,
quietly lulling everyone into a false sense of security. Classic me— always
setting up for a twist.
My dad worked for the Health of Animals, a
branch of the Canadian federal government, as a veterinarian in Prince Edward
Island. They were responsible for the control, prevention and eradication of
certain animal diseases. As the district veterinarian for the entire province,
he had responsibilities for the health and well-being of all livestock, from
pigs and cows to chickens. His days were a mix of travelling to farms to test
animals for serious diseases like tuberculosis and rabies; visiting auction houses
to ensure only healthy animals were sold; attending meat-packing plants to
collect samples; and making safety diagnoses to ensure that animals entering
the food chain were safe for human consumption.
When I was two, my parents decided to move us to Riverview, New Brunswick, a town that became the stage for my happiest childhood memories. We lived on Hamilton Court, a little slice of suburban heaven with one particularly glorious feature: hills. Our backyard sloped gently, but our neighbours’ yards were even steeper, perfect for sledding. Every winter, kids from all over the neighbourhood would arrive armed with sleds, ready to turn those snowy slopes into the ultimate playground. We would shriek with laughter as we careened down the hill and tumbled into a snowbank. Gravity may have been our accomplice in the winter, but in the summer, it was the architect of our joy. My friends and I would roll down those same hills, giggling uncontrollably, dizzy from both the spinning and the laughter.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
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Jane
Rogers is an accidental expert in epilepsy, diagnosed at 13 and living with it
ever since. She's spent over three decades navigating seizures, side effects,
and hospital adventures with grit, sarcasm, and a solid sense of humor.
Laughing Through the Storm is her first book—a tribute to resilience,
ridiculous moments, and finding light in the darkest places.
She
lives in Ottawa with her supportive husband, Pascal, and their two mischievous
chihuahuas, Junior and Bailey.
Fun
Fact: Jane once had a seizure during a comedy show— and still insists the
comedian owes her one.
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/laughingthroughthestorm
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/jane.rogers.339999
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GIVEAWAY:
Jane Rogers will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN gift
card to a randomly drawn winner.
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