Interview With Author May Garner
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is May Garner, and I am an author and poet based out of Dayton, Ohio. I have been writing for nearly fifteen years, over a decade of those years spent sharing my work online on various social media platforms. I am the author of two poetry collections, ‘Withered Rising’ and ‘Melancholic Muse’. My work can also be read in Querencia Press, Arcana Poetry Press, Cozy Ink Press, and the Ohio Bards. Writing is my biggest passion and what I hope to do as full-time career one day.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest poetry collection is titled Melancholic Muse, a book filled with tales of young love, hardships, and what it means to heal. This collection is a tribute to my first online poetry book, Melancholy, published on Wattpad in 2016. I knew I wanted the title to represent the original collection in some way, and seeing many of the poems were written about my muse at the time, Melancholic Muse just found its way to me so naturally, almost as if it were always meant to be.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve moved on from being nocturnal in my writing time, and instead, prefer the daytime to be productive. That might have something to do with the fact that I work as an Operations Coordinator at a non-profit art center, where I get more time during the day to work on projects. I would say that’s deemed unusual to a lot of writers. I also cannot write while listening to anything, which unfortunately includes music.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love Stephen King, Nick Cutter, and Jack Ketchum’s works. I also admire the poetry of Amanda Lovelace, Gigi Flanard, and Amy Elizabeth Vaughn. I can’t forget the first poet I was introduced to, of course; Rupi Kaur. I wouldn’t be the author I am without all of their amazing work.
What are you working on now?
I am currently drafting my third poetry collection, ‘Suicidal Cathedrals’. This collection will focus on themes of grief, childhood trauma, losing a parent, and the aftermath of suicide. This will, by far, be my most personal collection and the heaviest of the three. My goal is Spring 2026!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve been writing for nearly fifteen years and have spent a decade of those years sharing my writing online. I began on Wattpad, sharing my fanfiction and poetry, then began expanding to various platforms as I grew. Currently, my favorite platforms to share my work on are Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write for you, share for you. Your work holds value, even if it’s never been read by another set of eyes. Always hold your passion and dreams tight, and never let go, no matter how hard the fight gets. Your dreams deserve to see the light.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just because things aren’t okay now doesn’t mean they’ll be like this forever. My grandpa told me that many, many years ago, and I hold onto it when things get rough. This is such a universal piece of advice; writing or not.
What are you reading now?
Currently, I am reading two books. ‘Reckless’ by Elsie Silver, from her series, Chestnut Springs, is my current romance read. Then, ‘the darkest of times, the darkest of thoughts’ by one of my best writing pals, Megan Diedericks, is my current poetry read!
What’s next for you as a writer?
2025 has been a very productive, uplifting year for me. I set out with a goal at the beginning of January to have a feature / publication release each month of the year, a total of 12 acceptances if I were lucky. I’ve been that and beyond. As I type this, I’ve received over 20 acceptances so far, and it’s only August! My work is set to be featured in Speckled Trout Review, Moss Puppy Magazine, The Mackinaw, and many others. I’m currently waiting on a September publication, but as for the rest, I have something scheduled all the way through December. I hope to snag a September publication and hope to make progress on my third collection as the year wraps up!
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Misery by Stephen King. Cash: An Autobiography by Johnny Cash. The Troop by Nick Cutter. No Way Home by Gigi Flanard.
Author Websites and Profiles
May Garner’s Social Media Links
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