Simply put, On Fire is about me and my daughter and our journey through extraordinary circumstances. Over the years, interactions with many different people have all led to the same conclusion that she and I could be the Gilmore Girls. Lorelei and Rory incarnate. And I agree with that notion.
When you start to dig into the story and walk with us through the 18-year journey from her birth to her high school graduation, you start to see many other layers unfold in front of your eyes. The complicating factor throughout all of it is that I was raising her as a single mother. While she was coming-of-age and I was dealing with my own quarter-life crisis, we faced issues specific to single mothers that I didn’t realize would be part of our lives. It was all unexpected.
From attempted sexual assault to lost opportunities in New York and everything in between, we battled chronic illness, misperceptions, workplace issues, homelessness, and getting lost in a world that wanted to leave us behind.
We were lucky, too, in many ways. We had unexpected encounters with folks who were under the influence of angels (Chapter 8) and those moments restored my faith in humanity. We had women who intervened at just the right time to help us through (Chapter 9 and 16). And there was love, too. A big love (Chapter 13).
Was it all worth it? You’ll have to read the book to find out. Especially if you’re a mother or father to a daughter, or the child of a single parent.
I would love to have you join us on this journey.
On Fire was released on Feb. 7, 2023. You can purchase on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Apple Books, or Kobo. Coming soon to a bookstore near you.
Stephanie A. West 