'Round the Bend
A memoir of survival, forgiveness, & grace.
At fourteen, life in Catahoula Parish was simple, layered with lake days, porch swings, and the kind of small‐town comfort where everyone knew your people. In one terrible night, that sense of safety was shattered when Valorie was taken from her home and held captive for twenty‐four harrowing hours. Her escape was only the beginning of a much longer journey, which would test her strength, her family’s faith, and the ties that held her community together.
Told through the voices of those who lived it with her, including her family, her friends, and Valorie herself. This memoir traces decades of healing as she rises from the shadows of trauma to discover that grace can bloom in the unlikeliest places.
Through God‐given signs, quiet miracles, and the steady love of Southern kin, she confronts the past she once outran and finds the courage to offer forgiveness to the man who took so much.
Set against the backdrop of Louisiana farm fields and backroads, this is a story of loss, resilience, redemption, and the kind of forgiveness that only Heaven can teach.
Meet Valorie
Valorie Stafford Lurry was born and raised in Louisiana, shaped by the quiet strength and deep roots of her delta land upbringing.
Writing a book was never part of her plan until God made it clear that her story was meant to be shared. Offering her testimony has become one of her greatest joys, a source of blessing for both her and those who hear it.
In her spare moments, Valorie gravitates toward creativity, often painting, decorating, or crafting something new. Among her many blessings, her husband, Brent, and their two children, Ava and Dierk, are at the top of the list.
The chapters of wife, mother, and proud survivor keep her days full, but it is sharing her story, with humility, courage, and unwavering faith, that keeps her grounded in the purpose God placed on her life.
Upcoming Events
Come meet Valorie, hear her testimony, or grab a signed copy of ’Round the Bend at one of these upcoming events.
October 30
Book Signing
Time: 6:00-8:30pm
Location: Sicily Island High School Reunion
November 1
Sharing My Testimony
Time: 6:00–8:00 PM
Location: Eastvue Baptist Church — Jena, LA
November 15
Abide Women’s Night of Worship
Time: 5:00–6:15 PM
Location: Trinity Methodist — Ruston, LA
November 22
Sharing My Testimony
Time: 10:30–11:30 AM
Location: Pleasant Grove Baptist Church — Jonesville, LA
December 1
Book Signing
Time: 7:00–9:00 PM
Location: Hemingway House — Pineville, LA
December 2
Speaking at MomCo
Time: 9:30–11:30 AM
Location: Calvary Baptist Church — Alexandria, LA
December 5
Book Signing
Time: 12:00–1:00 PM
Location: Dixon Books — Natchez, MS
January 7
Speaking at Women of Courage
Time: 6:00–7:00 PM
Location: Shane’s Seafood & BBQ — Bossier City, LA
January 20
Speaking at Book Club
Time: 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
Location: Christ Memorial Episcopal Church — Mansfield, LA
March 6
Hope Women’s Conference: Wrecked but Not Destroyed
Time: 10:00 AM–2:00 PM
Location: Santa Claus, IN