Books / Poetry
Nicola Dellard-Lyle publishes debut poetry book on ‘the uproar and joys’ of motherhood
Nicola Dellard-Lyle is a writer and poet, and originator of Thread Pressed.
Although she had already been writing creatively for some years before motherhood, it was after having her son in 2016 that she found herself to be “overflowing” with inspiration.
“It was the onset of emotion, growth and the daily muddling of joys with struggles, happiness with overwhelm,” she recalls.
Image: courtesy of the author; artwork by Charlotte Ortegon Rees (@petite.words)
“I found calm in writing these thoughts and sentiments into poetry, and when I began to share my writing with the world I found other mothers were having similar experiences and appreciated the honesty.”
She has now released her debut poetry collection, written, she notes, “from a place of darkness, through struggles, and back into a place of rootedness with my head above the surface, able to breathe clearer”.
Image: courtesy of the author; artwork by Charlotte Ortegon Rees (@petite.words)
From Above the Surface brings together Dellard-Lyle’s poems with illustrations from Bristol-based Charlotte Ortegon Rees, and photography from Jo Haycock.
She is hopeful that the book’s unflinchingly honest depictions will be a touchstone for solidarity and strength to new mothers, ultimately “encapsulating a journey of healing, release and realisation”.
Photo: Thread Pressed
Nicola Dellard-Lyle: From Above the Surface is out now from www.threadpressed.com. Follow Nicola @threadpressed.
Main photo: Jo Haycock
Read more: Karni Arieli’s collaborative photographic project ‘Eye Mama’ celebrates exhibition and book launch
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