Library hosting Montana author talk on June 26
Montana author A.J. Otjen is speaking at the Great Falls Public Library to discuss, and sign copies of her newest book “Burned Over: The Survival of Montana Fireman Dan Steffensen” on June 26.
Her talk is from 4-5 p.m. in the Cordingley Room in the basement of the library.
Otjen’s book takes the reader inside one firefighter’s solitary struggle with life and loss and how it intertwines with the job and communities he loves and serves, according to the library. Her book covers Steffensen’s recovery in the summer of 2021 after being badly burned while fighting the Harris Hill fire north of Joliet.
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Steffensen is joingint Otjen to answer questions and speak about his experiences.
“He was really struggling internally whether he wanted to live or die and trying to get that captured and put it on the page was very difficult,” she said of writing the book.
Otjen lives in Laurel, but grew up in Oklahoma.
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Before becoming a writer, she spent 23 years as a corporate executive in the food, housing, and technology industries, followed by working as vice president of marketing operations at Sprint PCS. She is now also a professor at Montana State University in Billings, according to the library.
