Luray resident now uses life-changing experience to help and inspire others
WARREN COUNTY, Va. — Page County author Lauren Canaday is partnering with the Front Royal Women’s Resource Center and Friends of Samuels Public Library to present a free wellness talk and book signing event in March.
Lauren, an epilepsy warrior and cardiac arrest survivor, first gained attention via the Reddit forum: “Hi, I was clinically dead for 24 minutes. Ask me anything.”
The conversation sparked a nationwide interest in her story, which was covered by several major media outlets, including Newsweek.
In November, 2023, Lauren published her book “Independence Ave: How Individualism Killed Me and Community Brought Me Back” (available in both paperback and Kindle formats).
Amazon Overview:
Written in the months following a near-death experience, Lauren Canaday leverages her rich understanding of brain science and diverse spiritual traditions to come to terms with her own post-traumatic stress, neurological disorder, and burnout.
In this intimate account of relationship turmoil, drastic career changes, and the most notorious events of a generation, Canaday demonstrates a unique approach to confronting chronic illness.
From statistician to hairstylist, entrepreneur to organizational consultant, Canaday builds experience in several fields while using her creativity and wealth of behavioral science research to fashion a personalized, full-system approach to wellness.
Going beyond the fads and defying her culture’s push towards materialism and isolation, Canaday offers readers courage, companionship, and a fresh perspective for understanding the role that American individualism plays in chronic stress.
Searing and snappy, wise and tragic, Independence Ave will inspire even the most independent souls to rethink what it means to be a self in our modern world … and to explore building a more fulfilling and connected life while there’s still time.
Save the date for Lauren’s upcoming talk and book-signing event!
March 6, 2025, at 5:30 p,m.
Samuel’s Library – 330 East Criser Road, Front Royal, Meeting Room B.
Copies of Independence Ave will be available for purchase during the event. Copies are also available (via Kindle or paperback) on Amazon.
Lauren is the voice behind “Cognitively Intact” on Substack.
She currently lives with her devoted husband and dog in a historic farmhouse in the Shenandoah Valley. She loves to hike, bake, write, and practice yoga. She’s trying to love to garden.
This page contains affiliate links. If you buy something using one of these links, we may earn a commission, at no cost to you.