It’s 1972, and seventeen-year-old Linda Strader’s parents do the unthinkable—they move from Syracuse, New York to Prescott, Arizona. At first, Linda is furious and doesn’t want to move. True, life in Syracuse isn’t perfect, but all her friends are there. Then she has a thought: maybe this move won’t be so bad. What if she can make herself into someone new?
Expecting a desert, Linda is surprised to find Prescott surrounded by pine-covered mountains, lush canyons with clear, cold creeks, and best of all, several new friends willing to show it off to her. Her new friends also share her love of music and even provide some romance in her life, although she holds out hope for a boy she had liked in Syracuse who joins the Navy.
When her father begins a new job in Tucson, he moves there until the house in Prescott is sold, taking Linda with him so she can job hunt. She learns about a Forest Service job on Mt. Lemmon and jumps at the chance, realizing the one constant in her life is her love for the outdoors and nature.
In this prequel to Summers of Fire, Linda learns, in her quest for independence, she’s not made for mediocre employment. That fateful move to Prescott sets her off on a career path that not only changes her life forever, but helps open the world of fighting forest fires to women.
"Uprooted is a memoir that you'll read in one sit! With an engaging voice and interesting narrative, Linda shows us the ups and downs of being human." — Josie Baron, Goodreads Review
Bink Books
260 pp. ● 6×9
$19.95 (pb) ● $9.99 (eb)
ISBN 978-1-949290-73-8 (pb)
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Personal Memoirs
YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Inspirational & Personal Growth
YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Topics / Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance
Publication date: December 2021
Originally from Syracuse, New York, Linda Strader moved to Prescott, Arizona with her family in 1972. In 1976, she became one of the first women hired on a U.S. Forest Service fire crew.
Summers of Fire: A Memoir of Adventure, Love and Courage, was released on May 1st, 2018 by Bedazzled Ink Publishing. Her publishing history includes many web articles about writing memoir, her publishing and marketing experiences, and wildland firefighting. She has given talks on these topics to many clubs, including the American Association of University Women. Parade Magazine published an excerpt in 2018, and the PBS show Arizona Illustrated featured her segment “Wildland Firefighter,” in the fall of 2019.
The prequel to Summers of Fire, Uprooted: A New Life In The Arizona Sun, was released by Bedazzled Ink Publishing on December 1st, 2021.
Ms. Strader holds two degrees: a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, and a Masters in planning, from the University of Arizona. In addition to writing, she is a landscape architect, certified arborist, and watercolor artist. She currently lives in the same area where her Forest Service career began.