Janine Shepherd

On a warm Autumn day in 1986, Janine Shepherd’s life was changed forever. Her dreams of representing Australia in the Winter Olympics were shattered when she was hit by a truck during a cycling training session in the Blue Mountains. Her neck and back were broken in four places, as were her right arm, collarbone, and five ribs. Her right leg had been ripped open, she had sustained massive internal injuries and?severe lacerations to her abdominal area, and had lost five liters of blood. The bleeding alone was enough to kill her. Doctors warned her parents that she was not expected to survive her ordeal; if by some miracle she did, she would certainly never walk again. But "never" was a word Janine Shepherd refused to hear, let alone believe, and her remarkable recovery, recounted in her book Never Tell Me Never, was a testament to Janine’s indomitable spirit and extraordinary courage. Now Janine’s story continues in Dare to Fly, a heartwarming and inspirational account of her journey of recovery—not only physical, but also emotional and spiritual—and of the people she has met along the way who were inspired by Janine and who, in turn, continue to encourage and inspire her.

Janine Shepherd is the author of Never Tell Me Never, On My Own Two Feet, and Reaching for the Stars. She is a commercial pilot, aerobatics flying instructor, and motivational speaker.