(KLZA)-- Lori Gottula of Falls City, wears lots of hats. She organizes parades, she has written screenplays, is writing and re-writing books, magazine articles, local newspaper stories, she has worked in radio and for Peru State College. She also helps publicize events for the Falls City Library and Arts Center and many other ventures we don’t event know about.

Lori was notified last week that she is one of 12 winners from around the world who have won a writing contest sponsored by Guideposts Magazine, a monthly magazine featuring inspirational stories. Lori and the eleven others won all-expenses-paid trips to New York City, to take part in Guideposts’ writing workshop, which is held every two years.

The contest is for stories of inspiration, based on how people’s lives were changed, or for stories that will inspire others to go great things.  There were thousands of entries from around the world in the contest.

Lori actually submitted two stories close to her heart for the contest. She talked about her very personal story of years of back pain leading to a dependence on prescription pain-killers.  Her story of entering a detox program on her own and making changes in her life, was selected as a winner. 

Another inspirational story Lori has worked on for several years for a book and hopefully a movie someday was also included in the competition. The second story is of Sissy Georges and her mother Angel Ralph.  Sissy is legally blind and has become a champion barrel racer.

For a writer, being published can mean many things. Lori is hopeful that one, or both of these stories will be published in the magazine with two-million subscribers.  

Lori says she is very excited about the selection and attending the workshop. She said winning the contest validates her stories are worth telling and others are interested in them.