In August of 2020, Nicole Sallak Anderson lost her home, all her belongings, as well as beloved pets, bees, trees, and gardens that had been her sanctuary for thirteen years. As the disaster unfolded, starting on the day she found out her home had burned, she began to chronicle her survival and recovery, ending on the one-year anniversary of what would come to be known as the CZU Lightning Fire Complex. What has resulted is a collection of essays that are part eco-disaster handbook and part climate refugee chronicles, but also a love story about a piece of land and a family rebuilding together from scratch.

“Nicole Sallak Anderson is a free spirit who connects with trees, fairies, and other ethereal and timeless beings. She is able to see the beauty and depth that is present underneath the shallow outer layers of life, which proves itself to be a valuable gift. Anderson presents the reader with a powerful collection of essays regarding falling in love with a space, watching it literally burn to nothing, and then rising from the ashes.” ~2023 BookLife Prize

“Nicole has written a magnificently intimate tale of staggering loss and trauma, rebirth and self-discovery filled with fairies, magic, and most importantly, angels that arrive in the post. As a fire survivor, I cried often reading her book, sometimes with remembering, but also with the gratitude she expresses and the lessons learned from the land and trees. I might have written this book myself if I had her courage and mastery of language, but I have neither, so I will require my family and friends to read her book so they understand.” ~Nancy Lynn Jarvis author of Regan McHenry Real Estate Mysteries and PIP Inc. Mysteries

“One part ode to a place, one part critique of disaster capitalism, and one part call for inspired regenerative action, this book is a beautiful recipe and reminder to practice active hope and continue to turn towards love and life despite extreme loss in this time of uncertainty and ecological unraveling.” ~Della Duncan, Renegade Economist and Work that Reconnects Facilitator