River Selby
Writer
Substack
Substack
Instagram
Instagram
Bluesky
Bluesky
Website
Website
Email
Email
Amazon
Amazon
Signal
Signal
Buy Hotshot: A Life on Fire
Buy Hotshot: A Life on Fire
A Life on Fire
About River
About River
Podcast and Radio Appearances
How working on a hotshot crew helped saved this writer's life
How working on a hotshot crew helped saved this writer's life
River Selby had a tough time in their teenage years. But that started to change once they decided to give wildland fire fighting a chance.
The 'hotshot' life | On Point
The 'hotshot' life | On Point
River Selby served as a hotshot – an elite wildland firefighter. Selby shares the reality of the life and work of firefighters trying to save America’s western forests. And how despite fire seasons getting longer and longer, fewer people want to join hotshot crews.
Live Wire Radio with River Selby, Edgar Gomez, and Hunter Noack
Live Wire Radio with River Selby, Edgar Gomez, and Hunter Noack
Edgar Gomez, River Selby, and Hunter Noack
Life With Fire Interview
Life With Fire Interview
Rangers of the Lost Park | Episode 17: A Life on Fire: Interview with Author and Former Hotshot River Selby
Rangers of the Lost Park | Episode 17: A Life on Fire: Interview with Author and Former Hotshot River Selby
Author and former Wildland Firefighter River Selby (they/them) wrote and published their memoire Hotshot: A Life on Fire on August 12, 2025. In this episode, River talks about what it was like bein...
River on Kirkus Fully Booked
Podcast
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Podcast
River on Kirkus Fully Booked
Event/Speaker Request Form
Event/Speaker Request Form
Hotshot Reviews and Interviews
"Hotshot" Is a Fiery Take on the American Western - Electric Literature
"Hotshot" Is a Fiery Take on the American Western - Electric Literature
River Selby on fighting fire and finding authority as a marginalized writer
River Selby on Wildland Firefighting, Processing Trauma, and Writing For Your Younger Self ‹ Literary Hub
River Selby on Wildland Firefighting, Processing Trauma, and Writing For Your Younger Self ‹ Literary Hub
Early on in River Selby’s riveting memoir, she describes being on her first burn, in Angeles National Forest, the only woman on a crew sent to light a new fire along the road to burn into the main …
Memoir ‘Hotshot’ exposes harassment, hardship and hope in wildland firefighting
Memoir ‘Hotshot’ exposes harassment, hardship and hope in wildland firefighting
A hotshot’s search for belonging among the flames - High Country News
A hotshot’s search for belonging among the flames - High Country News
What Happens When There Aren't Enough Wildland Firefighters?
What Happens When There Aren't Enough Wildland Firefighters?
REVIEW: Hotshot: A Life on Fire by River Selby | Hippocampus Magazine
REVIEW: Hotshot: A Life on Fire by River Selby | Hippocampus Magazine
Book review: River Selby's 'Hotshot' is much more than about fighting wildfires
Book review: River Selby's 'Hotshot' is much more than about fighting wildfires
Two hotshots, two memoirs - High Country News
Two hotshots, two memoirs - High Country News
Events!
Events!
Help Palestine
Middle East Children's Alliance – Meca for Peace
Middle East Children's Alliance – Meca for Peace
Gaza Emergency After 2 years of brutal attacks on Gaza, MECA team and partners are still providing emergency assistance to children and families to help them survive. Create your own personalized fundraising page to help MECA provide more aid in Gaza! Start fundraising now! Make an emergency
Gaza Funds Spotlight Campaign
Gaza Funds Spotlight Campaign
Find vetted fundraisers for Gaza here
The Sameer Project | Instagram | Linktree
The Sameer Project | Instagram | Linktree
We are a donations based aid initiative for Gaza led by Palestinians,
Donate to Hot meals 4 Starved Palestinian Kids in north Gaza, organized by Hani Almadhoun
Donate to Hot meals 4 Starved Palestinian Kids in north Gaza, organized by Hani Almadhoun
Do you know what it’s like to watch your family starve? I do. My… Hani Almadhoun needs your support for Hot meals 4 Starved Palestinian Kids in north Gaza
Newsletters and Writing
Gathering Newsletter
Gathering Newsletter
A newsletter devoted to storytelling, narrative, and demystifying the writer's life, from a queer, working class perspective. Click to read Gathering, by River Selby (they/them), a Substack publication with thousands of subscribers.
Wilderness Newsletter
Wilderness Newsletter
Historical and current perspectives on conceptions of wilderness, ecology, and fire-suppression, written by River Selby, author of HOTSHOT, doctoral candidate, and former firefighter. Click to read WILDERNESS, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.
How Fire Healed My Childhood Trauma and Led to a Radical Life Change - Vivid Minds
How Fire Healed My Childhood Trauma and Led to a Radical Life Change - Vivid Minds
Being Nonbinary essay
Being Nonbinary essay
Without constantly being around people who immediately assume I’m a woman, I feel stronger in the magic and beauty of my nonbinary identity.
You Have Such A Pretty Face essay on The Unpublishable
You Have Such A Pretty Face essay on The Unpublishable
Book Lists
Environmental Writing
Environmental Writing
My favorite environmental writing
The Educated Activist
The Educated Activist
Signal
Signal
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