I finally published my debut poetry anthology - AMA about writing, editing, or self-publishing.

“I would define … the poetry of words as

The Rhythmical Creation of Beauty.”

Edgar Allan Poe

I finally published my first poetry anthology, something I’ve been working on quietly for a few years. It’s filled with pieces about growth, healing, shadows, self-reflection, and those little moments that stay with you longer than they should.

For years, my poetry lived in scattered places, such as, in notebooks with bent corners, in phone notes written late at night, on scraps of paper tucked between books, and in quiet thoughts I never imagined I would share. I wrote through heartbreak, growth, confusion, self-reflection, small joys, and the moments that leave an imprint long after they pass.

Last year, I made a decision that felt both terrifying and freeing, I gathered everything together and created my first full poetry anthology.

It became a collection shaped by the things we all experience but rarely talk about aloud, the shadows we outgrow, the aches we learn to carry, the healing we step toward, and the light that eventually finds us again. Each poem belongs to a different version of me, but together they tell a story I hope will resonate with anyone who has ever felt too much, or not enough, or somewhere in between.

Today, I wanted to share a small piece from the anthology:

"No longer restricted by what’s told or expected,

my style and my soul are finally connected.

I’ve claimed my space, my outfits a statement,

in the crossing of fabrics, there are no laws nor labels.

And I’ll keep questioning, pushing the line,

for fashion is freedom, and my body is not yours to design.

A voice of courage echo’s as each day’s outfit is served,

I hear a teen whisper, “I’m finally seen, I’m finally heard.”"

From "The People I've Been" poem within anthology, written August 2024.

Releasing this book into the world has been one of the most vulnerable and rewarding things I’ve done.

As well as a large collection of poetry, my anthology includes my very own photography that adds to certain poetry pieces within the book. An extra creative touch that I believed added to the written art.

And because the holiday season always feels like a time for connection, comfort, and sharing the things that bring us warmth, I’ve decided to offer the eBook at a special half-price Christmas discount for a limited time. Between 28th November to the 31st of December wherever you tend to get your eBooks; Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Everand, and many more stores.

If you’d like to take a closer look, you can find it here: https://natachaalexandramartins.carrd.co/

Thank you for being here, for reading, and for supporting this creative journey. I hope the poems find you gently and exactly when you need them.

Bucket list goal #296 Publish my own poetry ✔️