Written Works

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 while bookended by Nichols’ fiery southern charm. The Stuff of Stars addresses themes of generational trauma, patriarchy, climate change, deconstruction, rebuilding through love and community, and more.