Some books tell stories, while others quietly hold a mirror to emotions we often struggle to put into words. The Cracks in My Dollhouse is one such collection a deeply moving work of literary poetry that explores childhood, trauma, longing, healing, and the lasting impact of the love we receive or don’t receive during our earliest years.
In this exclusive conversation, we sit down with the author to discuss the inspiration behind the collection, the emotional process of writing it, and the hope they wish readers carry with them long after turning the final page. Their thoughtful and honest responses offer a beautiful glimpse into both the book and the person behind it.
Q1. What inspired you to write The Cracks in My Dollhouse, and what made you choose poetry to tell this story?
I realised that we romanticise childhoods so much as a society, people want to go back to it. There is a lot of innocence and affection attached to that time, but at the same time there are a number of people who have experienced it as a nightmare. These people are doing their best to leave their childhood behind, everyday they run a little harder to escape it, I was one of those people and I wanted to tell this story so people like that feel seen and find each other through the lines they love or highlight.
Poetry has been a dear medium to me for a long time; it’s how my journey of writing began. It allowed me to say a lot in little words and I didn’t have to be meticulous, metaphors gave me freedom and if someday someone were to read those, I knew they could make it their own.
“Childhood is often remembered as a time of innocence, but your collection invites readers to see another side of that experience.”
Q2. If readers could take away one message from this collection, what would you hope it would be?
Hope and healing exist in the most unusual forms, in the littlest of steps, in the tiniest changes. Your life won’t always look the same, things will change, your feelings will change, you will change, just hold on till then. It takes an amount of curiosity to live.
“Despite the emotional depth of the collection, there is also a sense of resilience.”
Q3. The book explores how childhood experiences shape adulthood. Why do you think those early years stay with us for so long?
They are the most formative years, all the good and bad gets woven into the fabric of life. And our earliest of memories navigate us because that’s what we have known, which is why they stay for so long. Growing up is learning first, unlearning second and then relearning. Conditioning and beliefs are always tough to break, it’s hard to walk away from what you’ve known forever.
“Your poems beautifully illustrate how childhood echoes throughout adulthood.”
Q4. Was there a particular poem that was especially difficult or emotional to write?
Most of this collection has been an emotional journey, but one particularly difficult poem was “The Battered Woman and The Troubled Man.” It is the most plain yet brutal poem I have written so far. It is based on the closest people to me and making that commentary as an adult who now understands everything wasn’t easy, but I had to write from the place of the wounded child in me, which is what made it so vulnerable, honest and brutal to write. I had to let the wounded child take the centre stage which she was so deprived of.
“Every collection has pieces that leave a deeper mark on the writer than others.”
Q5. Did writing this collection help you understand yourself differently?
Definitely. But it was like oscillating between different versions of myself and understanding each one seperately. It made me realise how much I have changed and evolved because I didn’t feel the same way anymore and yet those versions mattered because they got me so far.
“Writing often becomes a journey of self-discovery.”
Q6. How do you balance being deeply personal while still leaving space for readers to see their own stories in your poems?
It’s the reason I chose poetry; it is such a dynamic medium because it has a lot of room for interpretation and every metaphor becomes a medium for readers to see themselves. We all may not have gone through the same thing and yet we all have experienced abandonment, loss in some way, shape or form. That’s how I found my balance.
“Your work feels incredibly intimate while remaining universally relatable.”
Q7. What role has poetry played in your own healing and self-expression?
It has played a significant role for sure. Writing poetry has been a cathartic experience but most importantly it has held space for each version of me no matter how imperfect or flawed. It gave me a space to grow. Going through it even years later showed me my own evolution. Which is why I believe so firmly that things change, they don’t stay the same.
“Beyond storytelling, poetry can also become a powerful companion.”
Q8. Who do you think will connect most deeply with The Cracks in My Dollhouse?
For people with similar experiences for sure, but for anyone who has suffered some kind of loss in their lives, for people who may have not had a great start and for people who still feel the echoes of their past in the present.
“It’s remarkable how your poems create space for readers to see their own stories.”
Q9. Has writing this book changed the kind of stories or poems you want to write in the future?
Not really. In fact, it has just strengthened my resolve to write from a place of honesty, vulnerability and lived experience. But I do wish to experiment with some genres, however I do promise that the stories will always be rooted in the human psyche. I am very fascinated by the complexity of our inner lives, so I believe it will always reflect in my future works.
“It’s fascinating how every book shapes an author’s creative journey.”
Q10. How has your journey of bringing this book to readers with Paper Towns Publishers been, and what has the experience taught you as an author?
It has been the most fulfiling experience, I appreciate the amount of autonomy I had when designing and selecting between formats. I was very grateful that my choices were always taken into consideration and my requests were promptly answered. Very thankful to Paper Towns for that. Paper Towns made me an author from a writer and it’s been a deeply fulfiling journey. This experience taught me how important it is to choose publishers who put the author first. It can be an overwhelming process as well at times so it helps to have someone supportive in your corner.
“It’s wonderful to hear how deeply personal this journey has been for you. Publishing a book is about much more than seeing your name in print it’s about finding the right people to support your vision.”
The Cracks in My Dollhouse is more than a poetry collection it is an honest exploration of memory, trauma, healing, and the resilience of the human spirit. Through deeply personal reflections and evocative imagery, the author reminds us that understanding ourselves is often a lifelong journey, and that even our deepest wounds can become places of connection.
If you’re drawn to poetry that is raw, compassionate, and profoundly human, The Cracks in My Dollhouse is a collection that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page.
Grab your copy of The Cracks in My Dollhouse and begin your journey of healing, hope, and self-discovery today.
