PRESS RELEASE:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 12/21/11

Forgiveness: the heart of the matter
Interfaith leader helps followers improve quality of life
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — "Never underestimate the power of forgiveness." It may sound cliché, but for interfaith leader and former psychotherapist Lorri Coburn, these are words to live by. A snapshot of Coburn's life today looks much different than it did 8 years ago, when her world was ruled by depression, despair and a disjointed romantic relationship. Once she began to understand true forgiveness and apply the concept to her own life, Coburn says, her life became happier and more fulfilling.

Today, Coburn is a successful inspirational speaker, role model and a "go-to" workshop leader on A Course in Miracles, a revolutionary spiritual teaching that synthesizes Eastern and Western thought with Freudian psychology. She shows readers how the act of forgiveness can lead to a better quality of life in her new self-help book, Breaking Free: How Forgiveness and A Course in Miracles Can Set You Free.

The book uncovers how most people are unaware of the degree to which they harbor anger, suffering and pain, as well as the toll it takes on their mental health. Challenging traditional Judeo-Christian definitions, Breaking Free reveals that unconditional love and forgiveness are the keys to lasting happiness and coaches readers through the steps in the healing process.

"Breaking Free calls us to take 100 percent responsibility for everything that shows up in our lives, both on a personal and macro level," Coburn says. "It's a must-read for those who have searched for answers to suffering and loss and come up short. It's a must-read for people who know there's something bigger than themselves, but can't believe in the Judeo-Christian God. And it's a must-read for anyone who wants to forgive someone, but can't."

Written also as a companion guide for A Course in Miracles, Coburn's Breaking Free serves as a spiritual guide for those seeking answers to some of life's toughest questions.

For more information, visit http://www.lorricoburn.com.

Breaking Free: How Forgiveness and a Course in Miracles Can Set You Free
By Lorri Coburn, MSW
ISBN: 978-1-4525-3305-6
Approx. 208 pages
Paperback 6x9
Retail price: $17.95
E-book price: $8.39
Available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Balboa Press, www.lorricoburn.com

About the author
Lorri Coburn received a master's degree in social work from the University of Michigan in 1981. She worked as a psychotherapist for 25 years, specializing in treating substance abuse, anxiety and depression with a spiritual focus. She now works as an interfaith minister, motivational speaker and workshop leader for A Course in Miracles. Coburn is also a hospice volunteer and a member of Washtenaw Toastmasters, and Interfaith Center for Spiritual Growth, and Unity Church of Ann Arbor. She lives
near Ann Arbor, Mich. with her partner of 11 years, Rod Rodriguez.
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**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
EDITORS: For review copies or interview requests, contact:
Amy Garber
Phone: 734.-358-0218

email: amyg@med.umich.edu or amybgarber@yahoo.com 
(When requesting a review copy, please provide a street address.)

BIO

Lorri Coburn received her Master's in Social Work degree from the University of Michigan in 1981. She worked as a psychotherapist for twenty-five years, specializing in substance abuse, anxiety and depression, which she treated with a spiritual focus. She is an interfaith minister who gives talks and workshops on A Course in Miracles.

Lorri is a hospice volunteer and a member of Washtenaw Toastmasters, and Interfaith Center for Spiritual Growth.

She lives near Ann Arbor, Michigan, with her partner of thirteen years, Rod Rodriguez. Together they study the workbook lessons of A Course in Miracles each morning, in English and Spanish.

10-Minute Interview with Michael Cohen, WILS, 1320am Radio, "Forgiveness" Lansing, MI  Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012

http://www.webwiseforradio.com/site_files/368/File/1-3-12_Lorri%20Coburn2.mp3

SAMPLE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS: Three Target Audiences: 1. Middle-Aged Women Interested in Personal Growth (The type who watches Oprah.) 2. Students of A Course in Miracles and Serious Spiritual Seekers 3. Intellectual Humanitarians (The type who attends Unitarian Church.)

Questions for Middle-Aged Women:

1. What is Breaking Free about?

2. You mention a paradigm shift. What do you mean by that?

3. You make the statement that we're dreaming our lives? What does that mean?

4. You indicate that forgiveness is the key to happiness. Say some more about that.

5. You mention there's a part of the mind that has all the answers? Do we all have this, and, if so, what is this part of the mind?

6. If we all have this part of the mind, this True Self, how come we don't act like it?

7. How can someone forgive really awful crimes or forgive when the other person isn't sorry?

8. What are some miracles you've seen?

Questions for Students of A Course in Miracles and Serious Spiritual Seekers: 

1. What is Breaking Free about?

2. What makes Breaking Free different from other books on A Course in Miracles?

3. What is A Course in Miracles?

4. Why should someone read your book instead of just reading A Course in Miracles?

5. How is A Course in Miracles different from other metaphysical spiritual teachings?

6. What are some miracles you've seen?

7. What's one of the important points in Breaking Free?

8. How can someone forgive really horrible crimes?

Questions for Intellectual Humanitarians:

1. What is Breaking Free about?

2. Why did you write this book?

3. What are the main principles of the new thought system you outline in Breaking Free?

4. Why do we need to forgive?

5. Why do negotiations for peace rarely last?

6. What about people who have tried to forgive and simply can't?

7. Can you give an example of forgiveness?

8. You say the world is a dream? That sounds ludicrous to a lot of people. Can people who don't accept this idea still benefit from forgiveness?