Mornington Peninsula writer M.K. Standby dug deep into her past for her new book Spilled Ink & Coffee Stains. Described in a press release as “a debut poetry collection exploring the impact of connection on self-perception and identity”, Spilled Ink & Coffee Stains is a collection of “non-traditional prose, using a free verse structure and a unique voice to redefine the boundaries of modern poetry”.
“Blended with an appreciation of nature, particularly that of unkempt or abandoned spaces, the collection draws parallels between the natural and emotional facets of life,” the release said.
Standby said the writing in Spilled Ink & Coffee Stains was inspired by the happiest and saddest moments of her life, which she experienced in her early 20s. Writing the book helped her interpret and understand a new stage of life that consisted of navigating new and complex relationships with romantic partners, friends and family.
“Writing felt very natural to me, and often I would scribble on any loose pieces of paper that happened to be close to hand – ripped-out journal pages, displaced paperwork and old receipts – to document certain moments and feelings,” she said. “When the time came to bring together the poetry and organise it into what now comprises the collection, it felt like flipping through a scrapbook of my memories.
“Heartache tends to be a very isolating experience, and one of the reasons that I find poetry to be so magical is that it reminds you that there are lots of people experiencing it alongside you.”
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