Against Vanishing by Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz

From devastating loss to hard-won hope—a masterwork that transforms personal catastrophe into universal connection"

Launch, April 11th, 2025

ABOUT THE BOOK

When life vanishes and returns, an acclaimed poet maps the territory between mother and daughter, loss and birth. Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz's poetry has moved, inspired, and comforted readers worldwide for almost two decades across seven collections. Now, after a seven-year silence, this beloved poet returns with her most powerful work. Through the lens of her late mother's wisdom, Against Vanishing fearlessly explores life's pivotal moments—pregnancy, miscarriage, motherhood, grief, joy, and love—with radiant honesty, accessible humor, and masterful craft.

PRAISE FOR AGAINST VANISHING

"Within these pages reside a poet's painstaking journey towards loss, childbirth, unmatched expectations, and the forgiveness of a rising sun. Against Vanishing, as the founding text is a guardrail, and Aptowicz's literary work is a live wire!"

—Mahogany L. Browne, Author of Chrome Valley, Poet-in-Residence, Lincoln Center

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz is a New York Times best-selling author and poet whose work has earned fellowships from the National Endowment of the Arts, the University of Pennsylvania, the Amy Clampitt House, and Hedgebrook. Her previous collection *The Year of No Mistakes* was named Poetry Book of the Year by the Writers League of Texas. She lives in Austin, TX, with her family.

PREVIOUS BOOKS

Dr. Mutters Marvels by Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz (historical fiction)

The Year of No Mistakes by Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz (similar in tone)

How To Love The Empty Air by Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz (similar in tone)

FROM THE COLLECTION

• "And the balloon became a talisman, floating in the air long after it should have laid on the ground to die. We kept it in the kitchen so I could see it persevere..."

• "I shut my eyes, stayed in the dark, powerless. Afterwards, the doctor told me these things, these things just happen. Asked me to remember the sun will come up again tomorrow. But if it did, we didn't see it. All we saw was rain."

• "You were not there to arrange the bridal veil around my small round face, or admire the ring which I inherited from your favorite aunt... Except, of course, you were. Of course you were. Mom, of course, you were. You never left my side."

Publication Date: April 11, 2025

Book available to order: March 17, 2025

Publisher: Write Bloody Publishing, Los Angeles, CA

Distributor: IPG, Chicago

Format: 6" x 9" Paperback, 120 pages

ISBN: 978-1-949342-70-3 (Paperback)

ISBN: 978-0-9845031-9-3 (ebook)

Cover Price: 18.00 US