The Stuff of Stars

Emerging poet Kayla Nichols takes readers into the very marrow of what it means to be a person in her debut collection, The Stuff of Stars, exploring those things which make, unmake, and rebirth us from a perspective grounded in Appalachian and queer culture and wrestling with the juxtapositions therein. The opening poem, "outgrowth" sets a hauntingly vulnerable tone and sets the literary stage for four acts that seek to balance wit with tenderness and nuance with brutal bluntness, all the while bookended by Nichols' fiery southern charm. The Stuff of Stars addresses themes of generational trauma, patriarchy, climate change, deconstructing after religious trauma, rebuilding through love and community, and more. Kayla Nichols is a writer and community builder from Fall Branch, Tennessee. Her poetry has been featured or is forthcoming in Stories of the Season, Writerly Magazine, Exist Otherwise, and the Tennessee Voices Anthology. In addition to writing, Kayla facilitates community groups, workshops, and open mic nights in Northeast Tennessee and is dedicated to cultivating community.