“A gritty and courageous story of one woman’s journey to make peace with her past. Powerfully written. A compelling read.”
Join us for the launch of Lorrie Jorgensen’s book!
First Gear: A Motorcycle Memoir is a compelling story of childhood physical, emotional and sexual abuse that unrolls as the author, at age 50 and living with Multiple Sclerosis, rides her 2009 Harley-Davidson - named Thelma D. - from Ottawa to Winnipeg and back with a stop off in northern Ontario and a detour in Quebec. During her ride through the stunning landscape of the Canadian Shield, she shares stories of her childhood growing up in the 1970s in the Ottawa Valley with her three brothers, a violent father and an alcoholic mother. Told with a frank openness and humour, First Gear is ultimately a story of courage, survival, and recovery.
About the Author
LORRIE JORGENSEN has been a tradeswoman for over 30 years, loves working with her hands and creating art with found objects. Her passion is the almost 20 year journey of building a home on a nearby private lake that she shares with her partner, four dogs and a cat.
Some years ago, Lorrie took a summer workshop with Helen Humphreys, during which time she worked on her memoir. It is our great pleasure to host this launch and to welcome both Lorrie and Helen back to Wintergreen to celebrate Lorrie’s book together.