Originally from Syracuse, New York, Ms. 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 her 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 Master’s 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.

Snacks will be served. $15 per lecture. Inside the 1885 Old Schoolhouse.  A portion of the proceeds supports our education and preservation programs.  Please email, or call, for reservations <info@tubacpresidio.org> 520-398-2252.