Megan McDermott, ‘18 M.Div.

This May, a small collection of my poetry (referred to as a chapbook), Woman as Communion, was published by Boston-based small press, Game Over Books.

Poet Jeffrey Pethybridge describes the collection as “[extending] the tradition of poetic reading & exegesis of sacred texts through a range of tones: sensual, irreverent, searching, awe-struck, and queer-feminist critique,” while poet Catherine Weiss calls it “a powerful collection of poetry that gives voice to women of scripture, and ultimately reimagines the relationship between the self and faith.” Poet Dayna Patterson writes: “For anyone who’s absorbed Bible stories and felt diminished or harmed by the gaps, silences, erasures, these poems are for you. McDermott’s work is both balm and blessing: enter and welcome.”

In December 2021, another chapbook, Prayer Book for Contemporary Dating, was published by Ethel Zine and Micro-Press. These poems draw on Christian faith and the concept of prayer while also being unfiltered – not attempting to be pious, but instead, honest and raw about dating, sexuality, and heartbreak.

My first full-length book, Jesus Merch: A Catalog in Poems, is due out late 2022/early 2023 from Fernwood Press, the poetry imprint of small Quaker publisher Barclay Press. The book’s poems explore the potential theologies, insights, and problems of Christian merchandise. Subjects include mid-20th century Sunday School materials and games, items available now through OrientalTrading.com, and Victorian board games.

You can find out more about any of these publications at meganmcdermottpoet.com.