I Published a Poetry Collection

I mean, I published it 5 years ago but I don't think I ever really told y'all about it so the time has come!

TL;DR - I self published a tiny poetry collection years ago, before I was ever in the bookish community. You can buy it here or read it free with Kindle Unlimited.

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I’m sure it seems strange that I haven’t talked about my self published poetry collection on here yet. It is a book, after all and this is my bookish newsletter aka the corner of the internet I carved out specifically to have a place where I can discuss all things books. Yet, I haven’t talked about my own book.

It isn’t surprising to me, because I know myself and I know that this poetry collection is one of the more vulnerable things I’ve ever released onto the internet. Sure, I can complain about crappy books and make jokes, put on my serious cap and discuss things candidly. I even create vulnerable pieces of art from time to time c/o The Crybaby Club.

…but poetry? Poetry I wrote?! Poetry that I wrote about feelings I usually don’t share with that many people?? Yeah, it is a little more nerve wracking. But tonight, I don’t know. I feel brave tonight, so I thought this would be the perfect time to share this with y’all before I lose my nerve.

Snap c/o my buddy Brit McDaniel

Where Does the Dark Live? is a collection of poems about life that I collected over 5+ years. In 2019, I randomly decided to attempt to organize the chaotic ramblings in my notes app and random notebooks in my house and turn them into a book. This is how I have created some of my best work over the years - deciding on a whim that it will be done and then working on it until it is. No plan, no outline, just a gut feeling pulling me along after it. So I got to work sifting through all of my little scribblings - finished and unfinished - and started focusing on seeing this project through to completion. I don’t remember how long it took me. All I know is that I did it.

The title - Where Does the Dark Live? - comes from my uncle when he was a little boy. He asked his mom this one day, “where does the dark live?” and ever since I heard that story, I thought it was such a cool question. Kids always say such interesting things and this was both funny and unintentionally deep that I just knew it was perfect for this book. I also wrote a poem around the same question (see below.)

Even though it is scary to share something so personal with everyone, I am very proud of this collection. My grandmother always wanted me to write a book and she got to read this and hold a copy in her hands before it was too late. That alone is a personal achievement to be proud of.

This project also took a lot of time and effort. I had to learn how to format a book and an ebook. It was a passion project that I am happy to say I did, cross it off the list. I would like to revisit this book and go back through it, update the artwork, add some new pieces in, etc. and release a special edition one day.

One day…

Until then though, you can enjoy my book on Kindle Unlimited or you can buy the ebook/paperback on Amazon.

Also, this is my official promise to not act like a fool if you should pick this up, read it and review it. I understand those boundaries and promise not to act up!