Dr. Lawrence Dorr is an internationally respected orthopedic surgeon, one of only two surgeons to be president of all three prestigious knee and hip replacement societies. He was honored in 2005 by the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons as Humanitarian of the Year for founding Operation Walk, which provides pro bono surgeries in the developing world. A native of Iowa and a graduate of the University of Iowa Medical School, Dr. Dorr, with his wife Marilyn, established a chair for hip surgery at the University of Iowa and founded the Dimensions Program for healthcare students at Cornell College in Iowa. Dr. Dorr has written 300 scientific articles, as well as the definitive book on hip replacement surgery, but it's his talent at storytelling, and his fascination and passion for medicine that drove him to write his first historical novel. He and Marilyn live in La Canada, California, and he practices at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles. 

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WHY I WRITE
by Dr. Lawrence Dorr

Ever since my college days at Cornell College in Iowa, I have wanted to write a novel. I loved reading and I wanted to have the amazing gift to be able to fascinate and inspire people through storytelling. I even worked with my favorite English professor, Winifred VanEtten, writing some chapters and learning the craft. Then I went off to medical school.

I enjoy a wonderful, fulfilling career as a surgeon, making miracles happen every day, but have still always thought about combining the miracle and mystery of medicine with the miracle and mystery of creating a novel. Four years ago I decided to pursue this lifelong dream. The topic was a natural – medicine. What attracted me was the mystery of how medicine-by-chance became Medicine the profession. The transformation was a time of miracles and profound discoveries for the doctors. People saw how their loved ones actually survived, stayed alive and thrived, because of a medical treatment. Medicine could provide a second chance to live. It was then I knew the name of my book: Die Once, Live Twice.

Die Once, Live Twice is the story of the Sullivan and Specht families as they live through this transformation of medicine from just being able to give hope to one that could fulfill hope. Doctors were scientists and medical treatments were scientifically based. In my novel doctor scientists unravel one mystery after another by hard work, suffering, and continual learning. Sometimes their reward is saving someone! My reward as a physician has been to save many people. My reward as a novelist will be to entertain, inspire and perhaps make my readers laugh and cry! Even teach a little of the amazing history of my ever- fascinating profession!

Die Once, Live Twice, will reinforce readers' beliefs that medicine can find the miracles, or solve the mysteries necessary for us or our loved ones to live twice if illness or injury jeopardize our lives. Many of you reading this may have already experienced the miracle of medicine. Those readers will understand my novel in its deepest meanings.

I am thrilled that my dream will finally came true when my book was published on October 1st of this year. It is available in your local bookstores as well as on Amazon, as an e-book after November 1st, but I'm hoping to meet my readers at various book signings and events around the country. Please check my tour schedule to see where I'll be. Come out and say hello, and share the excitement and the miracle!

Dr. Lawrence Dorr