Parisian Phoenix Publishing

By McKenna Graf, author of Mortals, Myths and Maybes.

Special Note: McKenna will have a poetry reading at Barnes and Noble Upper East Side at 6 p.m. August 22. The store is located at 87th and Third Avenue (1550 Third Avenue) New York City.

I am a reader at my core. I have always been known growing up as a voracious reader.

It was my brand I guess you could say.

And it still is.

I may have started to get a taste at what it’s like to be writing said books, but I will always prioritize reading first.

I’m a full time student, emerging author, daughter, granddaughter, niece, sister, partner, friend, and my own individual person. It’s a lot to balance.

It’s hard to keep my own priorities as well, priorities. But when the summer comes I’m finally able to reset. I get to read a lot more and I make that a priority. I used to be a badge checker at the Jersey Shore just so I could have a job but also get to read all day.

And I try to read everything. I love mysteries, romances, dramas, poetry, mythology. I love it all. And remembering to love it and not have it feel like research or a chore is very important to me. I have a rule that if I don’t like it after 100 pages, I put it away.

I don’t like to waste my time. I use books as an escape and I don’t want to feel myself wishing for an escape from my escape. So I prioritize books that make me happy.

Oftentimes that’s cringey romances. And one of my favorite authors, Tessa Bailey, reminds me not to be ashamed of that.

I’m having fun reading and that’s all that matters.

But other times I plow through poetry books. They’re very near and dear to my heart. Sometimes I get lost in the weeds of these big collections of a poets life’s work though and then I lose steam.

Recently I happened upon The Sealey Challenge. It’s a challenge to read a poetry book or chapbook (specifically emerging poets it seems) everyday for the month of August. Since poetry is such a bite sized piece of literature that can be consumed in a day this has been such an exciting venture for me to tackle.

I try to prioritize reading a lot over the summer but oftentimes work or family time gets in the way. And that’s completely normal. I try to remind myself that I need to live my life in order to truly appreciate that down time.

But sometimes I get discouraged. I feel like I never get to read anymore.

But The Sealey Challenge has been a pretty brilliant way around this. It doesn’t take me long to read these books. And yet I gain a lot from reading them.

And I hold myself accountable. So far I’ve posted a photo of my completed book everyday on my Instagram story. It’s been pretty inspiring.

I’ve tagged the authors of the books and have been able to get in contact with a few of them because of this emphasis on emerging poets. I’m not only increasing my reading time but I’m building a community and that has always been the most important thing to me.

So I encourage you, even if we’re a few days into August, take the step. Choose to build your community and read small press/self-published books. Choose to read my book or someone else you know. It’s never to let to fall in love with poetry. It’s everywhere, especially this August.

Follow my journey on my Instagram @mckennagrafwrites