Poetry Reading and Book Launch with Molly Ann McDonough and Kayla Nichols

Emerging writers Molly Ann McDonough and Kayla Nichols will launch their debut poetry collections on International Women’s Day at a special poetry reading and open mic event focusing on femininity at The Philosopher’s House in Johnson City.
McDonough’s “Hope in Hateful Times” leans into familial tenderness, local belonging, and global class solidarity while Nichols’ “The Stuff of Stars” is rooted in queer Appalachian identity and community cultivation. Both collections center themes of feminism, mythology, resilience, reclamation, and the urgent tenderness of building community in difficult times.

How to register: Drop-in

Location: FIreplace/Living room, 1st floor

Cost: Food/drink purchases encouraged OR donation to teahouse nonprofit. Authors will have books available for purchase.

Molly and Kayla met in 2024 at The Philosopher’s House and quickly began collaborating on their shared interests of poetry and fiction writing. Both poets struggled to find a place for their direct, often blunt, work in the established world of literary poetry publishing, and thus decided to carve out their own place at the table by self-publishing their work alongside one another.

Hope in Hateful Times and The Stuff of Stars share many themes and center similar values, but each have a defined and unique poetic style. McDonough often employs complex rhyme and meter schemes that ferry the reader through stunning emotional depth. Nichols’ stripped down free verse leans on metaphor and introspection to convey rich emotion and imagery. The poets’ intertwined themes and unique styles come into perfect focus in their braided poem, MAIDENMOTHERCRONE, published in both collections, which explores feminine archetypes by juxtaposing the patriarchy’s lens with individual reclamation.

This reading will include an open mic (sign ups for which will open 15 minutes before the event starts, so please come early to sign up!), as well as readings by special guests:
– Sarah Jane Gilliam
– Lydia Gwyn
– Rita Spalding
– Rachel Throp

Readers will have books available for purchase. This is a free event open to the public, but donations to the teahouse are strongly encouraged.