Laurie Bellesheim, a published poet, belongs to several writers’ organizations including Writer’s Digest, Authors Den and Goodreads.com. Laurie began writing at a young age, starting with poetry and short stories. In 2008, shortly after becoming a stay-at-home mother to three children, she decided to fulfill a dream of hers, and she began to write her first novel. Laurie was inspired to write Surviving Emily because she lost a close friend to Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) when she was a teenager. Not only does the story hold great meaning to her, but Laurie also hopes her novel will help raise awareness about epilepsy and the deadly condition of SUDEP. Before writing Surviving Emily, Laurie was a social worker for six years, including working with the Department of Children and Families. She graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with a bachelor’s degree in social work. She lives in Connecticut with her loving husband and three children.

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