Finding the Phoenix

by Judith Lepore

244 pages, Paperback

Published June 15, 2025

About the author

Judith Lepore wrote and edited for years in film, radio, and television. An avid reader since early childhood, she always gravitated toward fantasy.

Pursuing her lifelong dream of becoming a fiction author, Judith published her debut novel in 2021, garnering rave reviews. Where the Moon Has Been is a thrilling epic fantasy tale, first in The Magic of Miraven series. It is available in eBook, paperback, and audiobook.
The eagerly awaited sequel, Mirror of the Sea, was published in 2022, in ebook and print format. And now the third in the trilogy is available: In the Hall of Shiftings.

After moving to Kelowna, B.C. in 2022, Judith and her husband endured the horrifying ordeal of being evacuated from the McDougall Creek wildfire, and was compelled to chronicle her month long odyssey in the riveting memoir "Finding the Phoenix."

Reviews

[Kim Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Finding the Phoenix" takes readers on an emotional journey through the harrowing experience of the 2023 McDougall Creek wildfire in West Kelowna, BC. Through Judith's eyes, we are immersed in the disbelief, panic, and terror of possibly losing everything to the wildfire. The narrative vividly captures the helplessness of displacement, the frustration of losing control over one's life, and the devastation upon returning to a changed landscape.

The author skillfully weaves personal insights with factual excerpts, creating a riveting rollercoaster ride that is both heartwarming and heart-wrenching. The stories of survival and revival are particularly touching, as Judith finds her "phoenix" amidst the ashes. The book is well-written and descriptive, allowing readers to follow the journey from evacuation to return, experiencing all the emotions and personal upheaval along the way.

If you want to understand what it's like to be part of a major wildfire, "Finding the Phoenix" delivers a powerful and insightful account that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.

[Rick Albus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you think that you are prepared for when a natural disaster strikes, after reading this book I believe that no matter how well we think we are, the reality of the situation far exceeds anything we can imagine. Everyday all over the world people are being impacted by disasters similar to the one the author describes in heart wrenching detail, the lesson for those of us yet to experience an event such as this is, no one is immune. If you are one of the hundreds of thousands of people who have faced a similar event, then first of all your bravery is exemplary and second, if you do read this book then I hope you will find some comfort knowing you are not alone. I'm sure this was a difficult story to relive and I sincerely hope that the experience for our author was somewhat cathartic. If there's one lesson we can take away from Judith's and Lorenzo's harrowing ordeal is that education is the key to preparation.

[BC Cowling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Judith Lepore takes us with her as she and her husband face the unthinkable: their home destroyed by wildfire. The flames drive them from their idyllic neighborhood into an uprooted existence from one temporary refuge to another. Nearly as stressful as the prospect of losing everything, their weeks long wait of not knowing if their home will be there when the all clear is given, endured hour by hour, is agonizing. They first learn one neighbor's home has been reduce to a pile of ashes. Then another's home is seen from a helicopter to be standing, only to find out that it's interior was gutted before firemen saved the structure. But what of their home? The book is very well written and engages the reader, faint of heart or not. BC Cowling.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Among the many things I loved about “Finding the Phoenix” is that it gives a human face to these sometimes mainly statistical disasters. You hear about them, read about them, see the numbers of acres burned, and the number of people evacuated, but you just have no concept of what it’s like. This memoir made me feel the anguish, the fear, the challenge to one’s sense of fairness, one’s despair of ever being able to feel secure again. The survivor’s guilt, and the way that the ones whose houses were burned down and the ones whose weren’t were eventually able to find a way to be together. And the language is so approachable—I felt like I was talking to the author in a coffee shop...”

​​Beth Johnson, former mayor of Delta, B.C.

[Jewel · Rating 5 out of 5]

“What a compelling read! In ‘Finding the Phoenix’ I gained an in depth understanding of what the author and other evacuees of the McDougall Creek wildfire went through. The mesmerizing photos bring the story to life even further, making this an unforgettable memoir.
It was heartwarming to read about the communities’ connection as they faced each day: from hearing about the fire, to evacuating (sometimes to multiple locations) and finally hearing about the status of their homes. This is a must-read story, not only to understand the impact of wildfires, but to prompt all of us to become smart and think about fire preparedness...”
Julie W

[Judith Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Judith Lepore has written a powerful account of a harrowing time. It relives the mass destruction wreaked by the McDougall Creek wildfire of 2023, including the devastation of her neighbourhood, Royal Heights Properties, a small, gated community in West Kelowna, B.C. This story is filled with fear, anger, disbelief, and sorrow - of unimaginable proportions. This is a must-read, sharing her intimate thought: raw, emotional, and very personal. Ms. Lepore bravely allows the reader to enter her mind ass she navigates the nightmare she faced.

[Vicki Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding the Phoenix is the realistic story of Judith Lepore who experienced the McDougall Creek wildfire and lived through its catastrophic destruction. She provides a human perspective about the emotions and dangers experienced by the evacuees, survivors, community, and those who put their lives at risk fighting the fire. I highly recommend this excellent personal overview of this fiery disaster.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Judy Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this excellent book for so many reasons
The writers shared of this tragic event touched this reader's heart as it was so real and made me feel as I was there experiencing an event that had happened with them. The story was shared as if I was there too
Incredible to be able to share and bring us worth our authors experience