Lyra Wilder
Author of “In Verse” – interviewed September 14, 2025.
Lyra Wilder is the author of In-Verse and is from the USA. I have had the pleasure of reading this book and as well as it being personal to Lyra, I found it innovative to the point that if I could nominate it for a prize I would. My full review can be read on the Amazon listing under the name JKM.
Lyra Wilder gifts are available here.
You are currently in college, what are you studying and how is it going so far?
I am currently a senior in college, and I am studying nursing! My ultimate goal is to become a nurse practitioner and work in a community-based, preventative/primary care setting. I love talking about health, wellness, and holistic care, and my writing often reflects that. Classes and clinical keep me busy, but I know that each day moves me closer to my goals.
In-Verse is based on personal experiences, how difficult was it for you write?
I did not set out to write a book, actually. I have always loved reading and writing, but in recent years, classes have taken up the majority of my time, and I have had little room to pursue these passions. By chance, I happened to pick up a book called Lawless Spaces by Corey Ann Haydu. The book was written in verse, and I was particularly inspired by how the main character started a journal that she deemed a “lawless space” to jot down any and all thoughts with no judgment. The concept appealed to me – I am an eldest daughter after all. I put a lot of responsibility on myself. So, to have a space where I could say anything was a special kind of freedom. I started a section in my Notes app titled “lawless space,” and gradually opened up more as I filled the word count of each page. I didn’t have time to write long stories like I used to, but I started scrawling poems and verses on scraps of notebook paper, printer paper, journals, anything I could get my hands on. The poems I included in In-Verse were scattered throughout these lawless spaces I had. So, I would say no, most of the poems were not difficult for me to write. They were freeing.
Did some poems take longer than others to get to the point you were happy with?
Absolutely! The poem I probably struggled with the most was “Bruised.” I made a lot of edits and even debated as to whether or not I should include it in the book at all because it is so deeply personal to me. For those of you who have not read the poem, it discusses my experiences with my mom’s incurable cancer. I go through a lot of emotions, including some anger, fear, sadness, and frustration with my mom. I love my mom endlessly and seeing her in some moments where the cancer had the upper hand was hard. Ultimately, I decided to include the poem. It is uncomfortable for me, but I try to be as transparent, real, and raw as I can. I would have appreciated hearing these words when I was younger, knowing I was not alone. I hope that I can be that voice for someone else.
Some of the poems like “Dizzying Extremes” are formatted differently I am thinking that is to emphasise your feelings at the time? Where did the idea to experiment with the format come from?
My unique poem formatting was actually a happy accident! I was at lunch during high school, and I had a random thought that came into my head, and I wanted to jot it down in my Notes app. For some reason, I decided to play with the spacing, and it just felt right. I have a hard time connecting with my emotions sometimes, but I felt like I had captured the feeling perfectly. From then on, I was hooked.
The style is very unique to you, did this come naturally or was it something you developed as your writing progressed?
This builds off the last question – I do feel my writing style comes naturally to me, but it is something I am still developing. The more I write, the better my poems get
Do you have plans to write more books? If so, what might we expect next?
I would love to write more books! Right now, I am still riding the creative high from releasing In-Verse. I still cannot believe I actually did it. My words are out there in the world, and it is both terrifying and exhilarating. However, I still think the process of writing the book was far more meaningful to me than publishing it. I learned a lot about myself and my role in the world. It has pushed me to find more time to engage in my poetic passions. The more I write, the more I want to write. I have been thinking of writing something else – I am currently outlining a novella that would be written in prose. I also have a couple ideas for future poetry books or short stories. As of now, I just continue to fill all the notebooks and pages I can, and I post some of my thoughts on my Instagram (@versesbylyra). We shall see where the wind takes me!
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