Too Jagged to Hold is available for sale now, but my goal isn’t to make money, it’s to reach the right readers. Did you know that book reviews are crucial for helping readers find a book? Without reviews, my poetry collection will be lost in the sea of books on Amazon. Think about it, when was the last time you bought something that didn’t have ratings? Would you pick up a book by an author whose name you didn’t recognize? When was the last time you paid to read poetry? Most publishing houses don’t even bother publishing contemporary poetry because poetry collections typically sell far fewer copies and therefore don’t turn as big of a profit.

Given how small the poetry market is, and how expensive it is to self-publish (I paid for a professional cover design and professional trauma-informed editing and would 100% do so again), why did I bother self-publishing? First of all, I write poetry not because I choose to or want to, but because my inner world must write poetry.

Poetry is a sacred (not religious) practice for me. Through symbols and images I’m able to express what I normally can’t, and fresh perspectives, meaning, and emotions emerge organically when I play with words on the page. I write poetry because in my heart, I’m a poet, even if I’d rather be a novelist. I chose to self-publish my collection because I decided to value my poetry and I think it could resonate with fellow trauma survivors out there in the world.

All of this being said, I’m willing to share the ebook of my poetry collection for free during the month of September with readers who are open to providing an honest review of my work and who seem like a good fit. If you’re open to reading and reviewing my work, please email me and share a little about yourself and why you’d like to review it.

My book is also available now to read and review through NetGalley.

Thank you for helping me reach new readers.

I am so excited to share the cover for my debut poetry collection, Too Jagged to Hold, which was designed by Jessica Cvilo. Collaborating with Jessica was a rewarding experience. She is such a gifted artist and it was great seeing her derive inspiration from my poetry and translate it into art.

What do you think of my book description? It will be available for purchase soon!

Too Jagged to Hold is a luminous and intimate debut that traces the long, spiraling path of recovery after sexual violence. With poetic clarity and fierce tenderness, Kristen Hornung writes from within embodied memory, mapping the shifting terrain of dissociation, grief, attachment, and the slow, alchemical process of healing.

These poems use vivid imagery and lyrical precision to draw the reader into the paradox of life after trauma: where self-protection meets vulnerability, where despair gives way to resilience, where even the sharpest edges can become sites of connection.

Hornung offers no easy resolution; instead, this collection gives presence, honesty, and understanding. It is for anyone who has ever asked themselves, Am I recovered yet?

Today I finished creating my author newsletter sign up in order to help me reach readers who may be interested in my debut poetry collection (coming soon!) that is inspired by my long-term recovery from sexual trauma at age seventeen. In honor of my seventeen-year-old self, I took two of the poems that I wrote back then, revised them, and uploaded them as bonus content. One is a heart-break poem and the other is a love poem, so I feel like they go together well. If you’re interested in reading them, then sign up for my newsletter below.

Debut update: my collection is currently out with an editor and I have started collaborating with an illustrator for the cover design. I hope it will be ready for publication early this fall. Deciding to self-publish this collection was a big move for me and the learning curb has been steep but fun. The decision feels right.

In personal news: I have never noticed these flowers before until recently, when I spotted them in two different nearby creeks. I love how weirdly pretty they are with their pink speckles. I have lived in Southern California for much of my life so I have no idea how they escaped my attention previously. Upon Googling my photo of them I was able to read a little about how they have medicinal properties. I’m currently on a quest to learn more about local plants and insects.