LEWISTON – Author Suzanne Johnson of Buckfield will be the Great Falls Forum’s featured speaker Thursday at the Marsden Hartley Cultural Center at the Lewiston Public Library from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Johnson is the author of “Til Death Do Us Part,” recently published by Just Write Books in Topsham.

She has agreed to take the place of The New York Times best-selling author Tess Gerritsen, who had to cancel because of a death in the family.

Also appearing with Johnson will be John Mauro of Auburn, whose wife, Deborah, died Feb. 15 after an eight-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Deborah Mauro was a former physical education teacher, marathon runner, downhill skier and bicyclist.

Her husband is an advocate, traveling to Washington D.C., and elsewhere meeting with state representatives to try to get $1 billion to research and find a cure for what he calls an ‘epidemic’ in today’s world.

‘Til Death Do Us Part’ tells of the struggles of devoted husband, Raymond Legendre, with his wife, Beatrice’s, 15 years of living with Alzheimer’s. It is a story of respect, endurance and love.

While sometimes sad, Johnson says her attempt was to also capture the caring, tender relationship between her parents and also the lighter sides of her mother’s disease. The book started as a journal and was offered to help family members cope as they grieved. It is Johnson’s first book.

Johnson teaches in a local child learning center with infants and toddlers and has also worked with special needs children. She lives in Buckfield with her husband, Kenneth. The couple has two grown children.

The forum is a monthly public platform for thought-provoking speakers and discussion. It is sponsored by the Sun Journal, Lewiston Public Library, St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center and Bates College. Everyone is welcome. Reservations are not necessary for this event. Bring your own lunch. Water and dessert will be provided at a small cost.

A question-and-answer period follows each talk.

Books will be available for purchase and will be signed by the author following this event.

This season’s remaining speakers are Mike Brady, professor of adult education at the University of Southern Maine on April 19, and Lewiston High School teacher Joan Macri on May 17.