This memoir is a riveting account of what it’s like to be a professional firefighter, from rookie to chief officer, over the course of a 31-year career. The anecdotes are funny, sad and grim: all serve to educate readers about a profession that many dreamed about when they were children but would never pursue or truly understand.

Howes is donating 10 percent of royalties to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, the nonprofit group dedicated to the development and expansion of programs to honor our fallen fire heroes and assist their families and coworkers.

The library is at 49 Spring St. More writers are being scheduled for the Fall Book Festival and will be announced in the upcoming weeks. To check on updates, visit www.auburnpubliclibrary.org.