Dear Readers and Friends,
Many of you may not know this, but poetry is my first love. Before I even knew how to string together a sentence, I was writing fragments of poems in composition notebooks and blank sketchpads. Although only one of my young adult books is marketed as a novel-in-verse, all my titles somehow incorporate poetry and my tendency to play with form and yes, break the rules a bit too.
All this to say, that while I have many middle grade and young adult stories still brewing, I’m taking a leap into a different genre for a bit. Or rather, I am expanding my portfolio of work and going back to my roots.
(Don ‘t worry— I adore the KidLit space. I am not planning to abandon it.)
SOLITARY ANIMAL is my lyrical exploration of family separation, loneliness, love, and healing. I have been writing this book of poems since I moved to Kentucky in 2017, and finally, ten years later, I’m ready to send it out into the world. I am beyond thrilled and excited that Stalking Horse Press will be publishing, Solitary Animal, in Fall of 2027.
I can’t wait for you all to read it soon! (However, I must reiterate that this is not a young adult collection, so please keep this in mind when pre-ordering. The subject matter is mature and uncensored.)
Stay tuned for updates, cover art and pre-order links soon, and if you’re a poet or bookstore who would like to plan an event together, please reach out!
xoxo,
Mariama
