Decades ago, J. A. Jance published some poems in a thin chapbook, not yet ready to tell the world directly about the terrible struggles in her life. At last, she's telling the whole story, in a narrative that explains what was happening in her life as she created each poem. She explores her past with burning words set in the dust of the Arizona desert, revealing in the process how her trying experiences helped her shape Detective J. P. Beamont, a character in 16 of her novels. After the Fire will surely inspire others who are struggling, even as it allows fans of Jance's mysteries to better know the mind — and heart — of a favorite author.