Yours Truly, Kalliope

by Kalliope Kay, Keller Makemson (illustrator)

Kalliope Kay’s debut book Yours Truly, Kalliope is a collection of poems and prose about navigating the challenges and lessons that come with one’s early loneliness, love, loss, heartbreak, mental illness, trauma, etcetera. Divided into four sections, The Breaking, The Baring, The Becoming, and The Blossoming, this book documents the author’s ongoing healing journey through raw and poignant poetry.

Life ebbs and flows , and it’s okay to not be okay– and it’s okay to talk about it. Take what you need, and leave the rest.

Designed and Illustrated by Keller Makemson ( @kmakemson.design ).

176 pages, Paperback

Published October 13, 2023

Reviews

[Carroll Makemson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This young poet uses words to create vivid emotions as she explains life changes: easy and hard, good and bad, expected and unexpected. She opens her soul and heart to share pain and recovery. Great relief comes as the reader finds self redemption and self love. The titles are at the end of each poem and are perfect matches to the content. The hand drawn illustrations by kmakemsondesign add to the poetry’s message.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tender portrait of love and heartbreak and the chaos of the early 20's. The author bares her heart to the reader and shares the experiences that shaped her adult life. Her pain is beautifully conveyed through her words. I related to so many of her poems.

I cannot recommend this poetry collection enough!

[Mae Setrova · Rating 4 out of 5]

this collection, ugh. i love poetry, always have and always will and this collection is one of my favorites EVER!! the writing, the variety of topics and the illustrations were beautiful. it perfectly captures adolescence and what it means/feels like to be in your 20's.

[Lyra Wren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book truly gets at what it means to be in your twenties. Your hopes, triumphs and heartbreaks. I loved it.