McKayla DeBonis, a 20-year-old self-published author from New York, has made a mark with her two poetry collections, *Bones in the Garden* and *Semicolon*. Alongside her writing, she assists her mother with photography projects and works part-time at Dunkin Donuts. DeBonis developed a love for writing early on, using it as an escape to create her own narratives.
Read More
Her initial foray into writing began with a short story featuring Laura Croft, inspired by her fondness for the *Tomb Raider* games that she and her father enjoyed during weekends. DeBonis has been actively publishing since 2017, opting for self-publishing to maintain creative control over her work.
In *Bones in the Garden*, she explores the impact of an abusive relationship, using the metaphor of buried flowers and bones to illustrate her past experiences. Her second book, *Semicolon*, addresses themes of depression and anxiety while focusing on healing and personal growth.
DeBonis regards writing as a therapeutic outlet, emphasizing the importance of writing for oneself rather than for external validation. She is currently working on a futuristic fiction novel, which features a protagonist who is trapped underground and seeks to discover what lies above.
DeBonis advises aspiring writers to prioritize their own voice in their writing process. "If I could give advice to the writer next to me, I would say to write for yourself because you matter," she stated, stressing that the essence of writing lies in personal expression.
More information regarding McKayla DeBonis's poetry collections is available on Goodreads.