MY TETHERED HEART
a memoir
a brief note
This is a book of my stories, through the medium of poetry. An edited compilation of the storm that goes on in my head, now perpetuated on paper, for better or for worse. These are memories from all over. Some have swam for a long time through the surface of my thoughts, and some I've had to dive deep to find. Regardless, they're all crucial in how God has shaped me to be who I am today.
a sample
Dreams climbing from damp earth
a battering ram of rain
quieting to tip-toes
goggles glued to grinning eyes
side by side on slippery pavement
we stare at the sky
and link arms with the universe
another sample
the sun, isn’t it divine?
we greet it with
welcome mats,
sun-screened arms,
staying wary
pencil lead snaps,
crumbles,
scrawl in a number, and we’re
off, off
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sneakers slapping on
slick cement
settling in below starry skies
and scatterbrained spotlights
come back mid-August,
dive into adjustment,
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home takes time
a more thorough note
The poems in this book started a little over a year ago. On and off over the past six months I've worked on compiling them, but being able to actually publish my collection was nothing more than a vague dream until early August. Now it has somehow, by God's grace, become a reality.
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For years, writing has been a way for me to process. A catharsis. This has manifested through prayer journals, pieces of fiction, songwriting, notebooks full of random thoughts--and then in 2020, I found a love of poetry.
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In summer '21, this love of poetry fused with the desire to tell my stories. This book is the result of that. All the stories I have, the people I've met, the experiences I've had--they live on, perpetually, in my head. And they grow. I wrote this book to have a way to get these memories, hopes, fears, out of my crowded head and somewhere else. And with a, God willing, publishing on the horizon, it is my hope that the people who are kind enough to be willing to hear what I have to say will be able to take something away from these poems.
I believe God has given me this passion for writing and I want to make full use of it. Through moving over the past year and the crazy ups and downs that followed, working on my poetry and this book has kept me sane. It's given me a purpose, when I've felt scared and sad and lonely.
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Many of my poems are on the sadder side, and stem from the roller coaster of emotions that come with being a third culture kid. But even though writing this memoir has dug up a lot of painful memories, I think it has been an important step in me being able to see how God has continually worked throughout my life. There has been sorrow, but there has been incredible joy as well. And I hope that people who read this are able to see that despite the hurt, God is good. That even in the heartbreak, in the grief, hope keeps showing up.
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some hopefully helpful information...
WHAT?
My book is called "My Tethered Heart". I think of it as a poetry memoir, and it's based on the first sixteen years of my life. You can see part of my cover below!
WHEN?
My plan at the moment is to get my book out around October 15. If this changes, I'll update on here.
WHERE?
I'm going to be working over the next few weeks on figuring out how to self-publish on Amazon, and will have a Kindle version and a printable version available there. Once it's up I will post a link on this website.
Here in Cambodia, since Amazon doesn't work, I'll be printing out copies myself to give to anyone here who purchases the book. (And if any of my Jordan acquaintances are reading this, I'm hoping to come visit next semester and can bring out copies if they're wanted :). )
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some of my cover!
contact me!
If you have any questions, please email me at zoedoudt@gmail.com.
Or if you're friends with me on Facebook (or I have your contact in any other way), just message me!
