Some poems don’t move toward an ending. Some are meant to remain open. There are ways of writing that do not begin with instruction. They begin with recognition, with something familiar, even before it is put into words. This book begins there. It draws from lived experience, literary tradition, and original poetry to name a way of writing that has long existed without being clearly defined. Sepia Modernism does not separate past from present or move toward an ending just to ...

Am I seeking a literary agent? Absolutely. I still intend for my work to find its way to the top publishing houses, only I am not desperate it—and just maybe I should be. Nonetheless, I refuse to blindly chase after anything. I do believe in alignment. What is meant for me will be mind and it will arrive in the nick of time. I’ve been in the literary industry long enough to know the difference between opportunity and illusion. I understand that not every door is meant to open.

Terry A. O'Neal has made a considerable impact in the world of creative writing, inspiring countless individuals through innovative...