Fallosophy: My Trip through Life with MS is nominated for the Forest of Reading 2026 Evergreen Award
Douglas & McIntyre is pleased to announce that Fallosophy, by Ardra Shephard, is nominated for the Ontario Library Association’s Forest of Reading® Award in the adult division,
Author Statement There’s nothing inherently funny about Multiple Sclerosis–MS is terrible. But finding the sick joke in a serious situation is a reprieve from the unrelenting. Fallosophy is a screw-you to MS and a refusal to be defined by whatever the world thinks disability is supposed to be. Fallosophy isn’t about fighting unwinnable battles with one’s own body or about overcoming impossible odds. There is no known cure for Multiple Sclerosis, but my hope is that, for those who live with MS, this book might take some of the edge off. – Ardra Shephard
Fallosophy is a memoir based on MS advocate Ardra Shephard’s life after doctors tells her she has MS, those two letters split her life into a Before and After.
Ardra confronts the inevitable. There is no cure for her disease. By her mid-thirties, she’s losing the ability to walk, and it’s terrifying. When she starts using mobility aids, she faces feelings of otherness and not belonging like never before. As Ardra’s deepest fears keep coming true, she starts to learn the most important lesson of her life. Having so far survived all of her worst-case scenarios, she begins to realize that a difficult life doesn’t have to be a joyless life.
Ardra Shephard is a trailblazing voice in the MS and disability communities, celebrated for her sharp wit and candid storytelling. She is the creator of the award-winning blog and podcast Tripping On Air, which has built an impressive social media following. Yahoo Lifestyle reported that “@ms_trippingonair is the number-one chronic illness account to follow on Instagram”. Named one of The Kit’s 2023 Changemakers, Ardra's work has been featured in FASHION, InStyle, WebMD, BezzyMS Healthline, and other magazine and online publications. As the host of AMI-tv’s Fashion Dis and a consultant on various TV projects, Ardra is reshaping the narrative around disability. Her acclaimed memoir, Fallosophy, (Douglas & McIntyre Spring 2025), continues to explore these themes with her trademark blend of insight and humor. Ardra lives in Toronto. Follow her on Instagram @ms_trippingonair, visit her website https://trippingonair.com/
The Forest of Reading® is Canada’s largest recreational reading program with a mission to instill the love of reading in people of all ages, while supporting programming in schools and libraries and celebrating Canadian authors, illustrators, and literature. The Evergreen Award™ is designed for adults of any age and the lists are comprised of Canadian fiction and non-fiction titles. Adult library patrons have the opportunity to explore these books by themselves, through their public library or in a book club format. Readers can submit their votes for the award during September and the winner is announced during Ontario Public Library Week in October 2026.. For a full list of the 2026 Forest of Reading Award nominated titles: https://forestofreading.com/nominated-lists/ and more information: https://forestofreading.com/. Forest of Reading® press release is attached.