by Deborah Santana (Author)
When a woman decides to choose herself, everything changes.
In Loving the Fire: Choosing Me, Finding Freedom, author and activist Deborah Santana shares a deeply moving memoir about awakening, resilience, and reclaiming a life of purpose after decades of living in the shadows.
Born to pioneering interracial couple Jo Frances and Saunders King, a popular jazz musician, she learned the strength of family. Deborah married legendary musician Carlos Santana, supporting his career and raising their three children, eventually carrying expectations and roles that diminished her power. When the weight became impossible to bear, she made the brave decision that would transform everything: she chose truth over appearances, freedom over fear, and her own voice over quiet acceptance of what no longer served her.
Across stories of motherhood, heritage, faith, global activism, and spiritual growth, Deborah takes readers on a journey through heartbreak, healing, and the powerful process of becoming whole. From working with Kenya's Daraja Academy to the Museum of the African Diaspora, from family loss to profound reinvention, she reveals how the fire that nearly consumed her became the source of her rebirth.
Equal parts inspirational memoir, spiritual teaching, and women's empowerment, Loving the Fire is for anyone standing at a crossroads-- ready to shed old versions of themselves and step into a fuller, freer life.
For readers of Viola Davis, Glennon Doyle, Cheryl Strayed, Michelle Obama, and Suleika Jaouad-- this memoir is a testament to what happens when a woman rises.
Loving the Fire is published in partnership with Studio 33 Books and Broad Book Press.
Author Biography
Deborah Santana is an author, activist, and producer whose work champions social justice and women's voices. Her previous books include the memoir Space Between the Stars: My Journey to an Open Heart and the anthology All the Women in My Family Sing. Founder of the Do A Little Foundation, she supports education for girls and global empowerment initiatives. She serves on the Advisory Council of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Board of Directors for Violence Intervention Program, and as co-chair of the Steering Committee for the Courage Museum in San Francisco.
Number of Pages: 220
Dimensions: 0.88 x 9.3 x 6.23 IN
Publication Date: April 21, 2026
