The Anniversary Edition
Step into the story that changed everything.
Anniversary Edition — February 12, 2026
However you enter, may you leave changed.
The Anniversary Edition
But stories—especially the ones that shape us—are rarely linear. They ripple. They deepen. They shift in meaning as we do.
In the years since this book was first published, I’ve grown. Grieved. Loved. Lost. I’ve stepped further into the light, and I’ve dared to stand taller in my truth. That journey brought me back to these pages—not to rewrite, but to re-see. To offer the reader something I couldn’t before: the quiet voice behind the words and the woman behind the story.
I also want to acknowledge the powerful voices woven through these pages—the women who shared my journey, who changed me, who taught me what it means to rise in the darkest of places. Many of their stories are still unfolding. Some are now complete. All of them matter.
And finally, there’s Lisa Montgomery.
Her presence in this story is no accident. Her absence, now, even more so. The last line of the original edition was a promise. One I have kept.
Thank you for picking up this story, whether for the first time or the second. I hope you find not only my voice in these pages, but also your own.
Because the truth is this: You’re not invisible either.
With fierce grace,
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Living with Conviction does not rush toward justification or resolution.
It does not simplify responsibility, nor does it ask the reader to absolve or condemn. Instead, it holds contradiction—regret, loyalty, accountability, and self-reckoning—side by side, trusting that truth can exist without hierarchy.
This is not a story shaped by spectacle, but by what remains after consequence has settled and the public narrative has moved on. Healing unfolds here not through erasure or redemption arcs, but through relationship, proximity, and shared endurance.
What emerges is quieter and harder earned: a reckoning that does not rewrite the past, but refuses to look away from it.
The writing is highly descriptive… the work successfully illustrates the injustices of the prison system, as well as the resilience and resourcefulness of incarcerated people. Although Dorr describes her background as ‘privileged,’ the prison experiences of her fellow inmates seem to vary only marginally, regardless of their backgrounds; as she points out, ‘prison budgets held no room for compassion.’ An earnest inside view of the prison system and one woman’s determination to thrive within it.” ~ Kirkus Reviews
What if your biggest mistake became the doorway to your truest self?
In a moment of unraveling, I stepped into a decision that would change everything. But the bars that followed didn’t confine me. Instead, they broke me open. This is not just a story of escape. It’s a story of awakening. Specifically, of falling apart and fiercely rising.
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This is not a story shaped by spectacle, but by what remains after consequence has settled and public narrative has moved on. The book resists justification or defense, allowing contradiction—regret, loyalty, accountability, and self-reckoning—to exist side by side. Healing unfolds here not through erasure, but through relationship, proximity, and shared endurance.
Book Club? Let’s Talk. If your book club chooses Living with Conviction as a selection, Toby would love to join you for a virtual discussion.
Living with Conviction is a triumph. Toby Dorr shows how, by telling your story with courage and compassion, you can reclaim your life.
– Jeannette Walls, author The Glass Castle, Hang the Moon
Toby Dorr and Jeannette Walls
Living with Conviction is a powerful testament to transformation and resilience. Toby Dorr’s story reminds us that meaningful change is possible—even in the face of overwhelming obstacles.
—Catherine Bell, actress JAG, Army Wives, The Good Witch, Lifetime’s Jailbreak Lovers
