Literary & Lyrical: A meditation on memory, desire, and the truths we speak only to ourselves.

A haunting meditation on love, loss, and the complexities of memory, Who By Fire is the acclaimed novel from literary master Mary L. Tabor. Originally praised for its lyrical structure and emotional depth, this reissue brings a quiet yet resonant story to a new generation of readers.

Told from the perspective of a male narrator unraveling the tangled threads of his past, Who By Fire explores the fault lines of desire and betrayal with rare restraint and intimacy. In luminous prose, Tabor captures the unspoken truths between people—the things we hide, the moments we revisit, and the love that refuses to let go.

Critics and authors alike have celebrated the novel’s beauty and complexity. Pulitzer Prize–winner Robert Olen Butler calls it “a lovely, innovative, deeply engaging novel about how it is that human beings make their way through the mysteries of existence.” Lee Martin describes it as “a lyric meditation on love and desire,” while Marly Swick hails it as “intricately layered… this is beautiful truth.”

Part of Empress Editions’ Spring 2026 list, Who By Fire reflects the publisher’s commitment to literary fiction that explores midlife reinvention and intellectual power. This edition will be released across all formats and supported by a robust campaign, including potential for podcast adaptations, film/TV development, and immersive reader experiences.

Mary L. Tabor, known for her deep emotional intelligence and elegant craft, retains full ownership of ancillary media and will collaborate closely with Empress Editions on the book’s relaunch