★ AWARD-WINNING MEMOIR ★

• Honorable Mention, Next Best Reads Writing Awards
• Honorable Mention, Eric Hoffer Awards
• Finalist, 2025 American Writing Awards (Best New Nonfiction)

Deborah longed for horses in her backyard, the courage to create art, and a forever home that she’d never have to leave—a life where she could root and flourish. After meeting Greg, she found it slowly, beautifully, and sometimes painfully, diverting her journey to repay an unspoken debt to her brother—changing graduate programs, selling her Midwest home, and moving across the country with her husband by her side. As grief and upheaval escalated, a majestic horse came into her life and taught her to be still, to breathe, and to heal.

Dance While the Fire Burns tells the story of a woman who refused to settle for anything less than the life she dreamed of. With the steadfast support of her husband, Greg, and the quiet wisdom of her horses, Deborah navigates heartbreak and triumph and unearths the courage to dance fiercely through the fires of her life.

This debut memoir is raw, unflinching, and radiant—a celebration of imagination, resilience, and the courage to follow your heart.