In this episode, Linda Strader and I talk about her being a woman pioneering the field of Forest Service fire fighting and her experience being one of the first women in a career that had previously been only for men. Linda shares her love for her career that ended way sooner than she had wanted and how she had to pivot in her thinking of how she would earn a living, keep her house, and bring a service to others that she had not considered before.   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. The prequel to Summers of Fire, Uprooted: A New Life In The Arizona Sun, was released by Bedazzled Ink Publishing on December 1st, 2021. Linda 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.   I am your host, Marci Nettles. I have had a lifetime of opportunities where I had the choice to Breakdown or Breakthrough. It is my hope this Podcast may become your light in the darkness, as you listen to the stories of people I consider “heroes.” Each one had a point where they too had to choose to either Breakdown or Breakthrough! Working from home, with my husband/business partner, helping people around the world find new levels of success in their health and wellness, is part of what makes me tick! If you are open to opportunity, let’s connect!    Thank you for listening! Please connect with Linda:   Find Marci at   Don’t forget to claim your FREEBIE from Linda by going to marcinettles.com/freebies While you are there, make sure to subscribe to receive the YBWN Podcast Newsletter, “Making Mondays” that will give insight to each episode and give you a heads up on what is coming next!