In my poetry chapbook, Built to Last, I weave the voices of survivors into poems to take a fearless look at domestic violence and the support systems that make it possible to heal from the trauma.

Built to Last was awarded the poetry category prize at the 2022 The Hope Pyx Global Conference on Abuse and International Book Awards.

Besides tough issues such as domestic violence, I also write poetry about nature, spirituality, and motherhood and utilizes them in my spiritual direction practice. Brené Brown stated, “When we deny our stories, they define us. When we own our stories, we get to write a brave new ending.”  I look forward to many years of sharing my experiences, and “living a brave new ending“ through the music of poetry.

“…at the core of this trilogy of suffering and survival, there is a

deep reverence for those both Divine and earthly who have

journeyed with her in the darkness/ sharing [their] wisdom and

faith.”

—Cathy Smith Bowers,

Poet Laureate of North Carolina 2010-2012

“This collection of poetry empathically speaks their truth. And

more than their truth, it records their hard-won transformation

from victim to survivor.”

—Ingrid Knox

“You cannot read this poetry and not be affected by it.”

—Mary Kay Hunyady, RSCJ, PsyD

“At times sad and disturbing, at others hopeful and even funny,

Carnes recounts the realities and hurdles an abused woman,

especially one with children, faces in a society where everyone

would just as soon Not Know.”

—Linda Weiland

To purchase a copy, click here.