High School Senior Publishes Poetry Book

EDUCATION

By Tyria McCray-Bourda
Correspondent

CARRBORO –What began as a passion project rooted in past trauma, Carrboro High School student Alys Traylor has now evolved her experiences into a published book.   “Speech Therapy, Eating Disorders, & Dyslexic Speculation,” officially launched on Sept. 20, explores the intricacies of how trauma can influence and permeate life and the human body. Throughout the book, Traylor provides a candid portrayal of the complicated emotions involved in loving, letting go, and the struggle of not quite hating, highlighting the challenges that accompany these feelings.

“I was seeing a lot of connections between my past and my present and the nuances present. I was also moved to write it after being able to process some of my trauma and having distance from it. Poetry is inherently open to interpretation, and I like to think that I made this work so that it can be interpreted how the reader needs it to apply to themselves. That being said, I did make it with certain themes in mind and my own messages, and those are resilience that resides inside of us and how we will tap into that and use it to grow from the darkness that seeps into our lives.”

The collection centers on the theme of childhood trauma, giving voice to Traylor’s relationship with her estranged brother. She revealed that during the writing journey, she was able to articulate her emotions, which allowed her to confront her trauma without reservation. Before starting her writing, Traylor often likened her trauma to a magician’s endless handkerchief trick, feeling as though it would never cease. However, since embarking on her writing journey, she noted that the feeling of endlessness has been better managed, though she acknowledges there is still room for personal growth.

“In some ways, I feel like I will never get closure, or at least the closure I want, so there’s still growth and processing to be done in terms of what closure will be and when I’ll consider it all “done”. In terms of personal growth, poetry hasn’t directly caused growth, but I’m sure it has aided my growth in growing out of my shell and branching out and becoming my own person.”

Any unexpected insights you gained during the writing journey?

“Something unexpected while writing this collection was finding I had a lot of unexpressed anger, for lack of a better term. I also went through a tumultuous friendship during the writing of this book, and it gave me even more perspective on how my trauma has bled into the other parts of my life and how it affects every part of my other relationships. I realized, again, how deep the wounds are and the subconscious effects it has on how I perceive other people.”

What guidance would you offer to new authors?

“My advice to new authors, both traditional and self-published, is to try not to get frustrated with the process. The process can be very frustrating, every part of it: the writing, the editing, the formatting, the cover, the copyright, waiting for things to process and get back to you. It’s all very frustrating. My best advice is to be patient, be flexible, and just know that at the end of it all, you’ll have a product that you’re proud of out in the world.”

As a senior, do you plan to publish more books in the future?

“I am hopeful that I will be able to write and publish other books in the future. A goal of mine now is definitely to be traditionally published by a publishing house, and depending on where I decide to go to college, there will be opportunities for me to get my writing out there in terms of publishing.”

What tips do you have for fellow writers aiming to address trauma responsibly?

“Yes, acknowledge the faults of the people involved or the situation; their humanity is just as important as yours. But your pain is your truth; one must find the balance of acknowledging their humanity while also speaking to their pain and highlighting the humanity in you that has been ignored. Also, give yourself space to process, work through, and express everything you have been told is not allowed to come out. It’s delicate, but put yourself first without destroying others.”

Raquel Harris, a creative writing instructor at Carrboro High School, shared her pride in Traylor and her determination to overcome obstacles.

“I find that I cannot accurately express how proud I am of Alys in the limitation of words. Going from a shy student who was afraid to share their brilliance to an active leader in several artistic and literary programs and clubs is exactly what I wished for them. Alys’s published book is a testimony to the power of words to heal, to break barriers, and to express love and life in a way that is tangible and felt.”

The book is for sale for $15.00 through the self-publishing platform IngramSpark, and can be found here: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=veR25vJ1pQDgNwRzShBQBoQE3u2p7Ot5TnxAjoUuuHG.

Tyria McCray-Bourda is a story-driven journalist whose work has previously appeared in The Carolinian newspaper in Raleigh. Attaining a bachelor’s degree in communication from Southern New Hampshire University, she has the distinction of having interviewed President Joe Biden when he was a candidate on the campaign trail, as well as Vice President Kamala Harris. This reporter can be reached at: Information@TheLocalReporter.press