Burning Woman

Memoirs of an Elder

By: Sharon Strong

Narrated by: Sharon Strong

At 65, artist, writer, and psychologist Sharon Strong doesn’t fit into the cultural stereotype of “senior citizen”—and she has no desire to. Instead, she claims the next decade as the most transformational years of her life. At 66, she erects the first of what will become a series of monumental sculptures on the Black Rock Desert at Burning Man. At 67, she treks in the Himalayas. At 70, she meets the love of her life and begins a new life with him. To honor her 75th year, she delves into an inward journey with psilocybin mushrooms.

But life has its own seasons and time. The Great Recession necessitates the closing of Sharon’s gallery. She comes to the end of Burning Man. A wildfire destroys her home and, most devastating of all, completely incinerates her art studio and 20 years’ worth of work.

Through it all, Sharon honors her experiences—even the most painful ones—because she knows that each one helps shape who she is. Ultimately, Burning Woman is a passionate love story about the adventure of aging that will inspire listeners to feel their strength and commit to living their lives to the fullest, and with a sense of pride and purpose.

©2022 Sharon Armstrong (AKA Strong) (P)2022 Sharon Armstrong (AKA Strong)

Courage and compassion

For Sharon Strong, the decade from sixty-five, traditionally labeled “retirement”, contains more discovery, challenge and change than many people experience over a lifetime. Pushing past boundaries of many kinds to reach ultimate experiences, this artist and psychologist embraces life in all its manifestations with limitless, courage and compassion. Full of adventure and insight, Burning Woman will keep smoldering in my mind for a long time to come.

Deeply Moving

Burning Woman is so thoughtfully written, full of depth and beauty. It’s a very personal story and you feel honored that the author is willing to share her journey into “elder-hood”. I would sincerely recommend this wonderful book for any woman looking for inspiration or encouragement in her life. The book is relatable in many ways for those of us in the elder season of our lives. You can feel the love and care that went into the writing of her story. Well done!