Born in Quebec and raised in Ottawa,[3] McFarlane graduated from York University in 1982 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts,[1] and was working as a librarian at the time of her Crohn's diagnosis.[3] The novel began life as a journal that she kept during her hospital stays,[3] and later submitted to CKLN-FM after Arnie Achtman's documentary series Life Rattle broadcast a story about another woman battling chronic illness.[3] Achtman helped McFarlane organize her notes into a novel,[3] and later became McFarlane's partner.[4]
The doctor in the novel, known only by the name "The Prophet", was based on Mount Sinai Hospital surgeon Zane Cohen.[5]
At the time of her award nomination, she was working as a program coordinator for Windfall, a charity organization that distributed clothing to needy women.[3] She subsequently published a number of short stories in literary magazines, but has not published any further books.
↑ "The zany side of Zane, Rob Ford's doctor: Eminent surgeon cut a rug in charity dance video and inspired a fictional character". Toronto Star, September 19, 2014.
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