Author Event with Esther Graham

Join us as we celebrate the release of BELOW EXISTENCE by Esther Graham, a young author, at sixteen, who is wise beyond her years.

About this Event

Join us as we celebrate the release of BELOW EXISTENCE by Esther Graham, a young author, at sixteen, who is wise beyond her years, talented beyond belief and brave enough to share the depth of her personal experience thus far. Please join us for charcuterie snacks, a reading and Q&A with the author as we launch this collection at A Likely Story in Midway on Friday, July 25th from 5:00-7:00PM.

Esther Graham is born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky. She attends Henry Clay High School and will be going into the eleventh grade this August. "Below Existence" began as a collection of short stories in 2023. As her literary aesthetic evolved, it was clear to both Esther and her editor that her experiences were better told through poetry. Her passion for creating through writing goes beyond poetry. Esther has already begun her first screenplay and is interested in acting and all aspects of the film industry. Finally, she looks forward to lending her writing skills to help others tell their stories.

"The meanings of these poems are meanings I want to leave behind. I want to leave them below existence." - Esther Graham

Here's what others are saying:

"Esther Graham is one of these rare poets who is able to illustrate and teach since young age, and her debut poetry collection, BELOW EXISTENCE, is proof. This slim book plunges the reader into a world of a speaker who is fearless in facing internal pain and gritty in describing it. Yet, ultimately the poems deliver not only truth but also hope. Hope for all who suffer and need Esther Graham's example of ruthless seeking, unflinching self-reflection and tireless pursuit of a perfect life." -Katerina Stoykova, author of Between a Bird Cage and a Bird House

"In this brave debut collection of poems, Esther Graham details the angst and agony of adolescence. Balancing the philosophical with gritty realism, Graham explores the ups and downs of depression as she begins to recover and embrace a new perspective on life. These poems shed light on the poet’s journey of maturation, both as a young woman and a new writer. Vulnerable, courageous, and wise for her age, Graham is a poet to watch." -B. Elizabeth Beck, Founder of the Teen Howl Poetry Series; Author of Dancing on the Page and others

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